Ever thought about how your house is safeguarded against electrical shock or even fire? It can be found in electrical earthing which is a simple protection feature but I must say an important one. Although it may seem unimportant, earthing acts as a backbone to the safety of the people and the appliances within your house. In this blog, we'll have a peek on why earthing should be of concern in your household, and to help you understand, its significance security-wise.
What is Electrical Earthing?
Earthing or grounding in simple terms involves interconnecting the electrical system of the house to the earth. This system guarantees that high potentials that could be dangerous for individuals are bolted to the earth and hence electrical shocks, fires, etc are common phenomena. It entails providing a harmless exit of excess or discarded electric charges straightway to the soil, thus eliminating the chances of electrocution or damage to the apparatus.
Earthing is usually done by means of an earthing wire that is fixed at various locations of your electrical system. This system assists as a safety measure for the family as well as the home structure against electric faults.
Protects Against Electrical Shocks
The greatest risk that electrical errors bring is the threat of receiving an electric shock. Any fault in your electrical system, such as defective wires or appliances or mishaps of nature, can cause harmful electric shocks if you don't have an earthing system in place.
For example, when a washing machine is operated in a faulty condition as in the case of an exposed wiring fault, the machine's metal parts will become dangerously live. If the machine is not earthed then all persons who use the machine may suffer serious electric shocks. However, these risks are avoided when the metal casing of the machine is connected to earthing. The earthed circuitry will allow any excess voltage to be safely transmitted into the earth.
Earthing in electrical systems is therefore essential to protect humans from various injuries including death and includes the redirection of any redundant electric current in the system so as to not cause any harm. It's very simple to do, but home safety devices like this are important for kids and seniors.
Prevents Fire Hazards
Another safety hazard many homeowners have to deal with is a fire caused by electrical faults. Overheating of wires and components caused by poor internal wiring, short circuits, or an appliance malfunction can set fire to surrounding flammable things. This is where proper electrical earthing can be useful as it can eliminate these risks by allowing the excessive electrical current to be directed into the ground, thus preventing overheating.
If the earthing system is installed correctly, it's gonna help eliminate the chances of creating a flash that could ignite combustible materials present in the house. In case earthing is not installed, the chances of a fire hazard surge drastically. It is also essential that the earthing system is properly inspected and serviced at regular intervals to substantiate the protection offered by it.
Read Also:- 5 Benefits of Using a Digital Grounding Device
Protects Appliances and Electronics
Earthing electrically is equally important to ensure that any electrical surges or voltage spikes do not damage expensive electronics. When there is a surge, the extra voltage present can easily destroy sensitive electronics like TVs, laptops, and even fridges.
However, with proper earthing, no damage would concern you, for all it takes is directing the failure current directly to the earthing electrodes for the potential difference to not affect your electrical devices. Also, one of the benefits of earthing systems is that they balance the electricity in the house throughout, thus allowing electronics to function without any issues.
Lastly, I would also recommend an earth-enhancing compound with the earthing system to make the earthing process more efficient and to maintain good earth contact in the long run.
Compliance with Legal Standards
Earthing is defined as a practice not just in a legal context but as a safety measure as well. Multiple regulations and codes pertain to electrical installations and grounded structures, such as compliance with Codes, and earthing is one of such requirements. The absence or poor function of earth installations may incur heavy fines, and negligence may even influence the payment of victims' claims through insurance companies.
It is useful to note that every locality has different laws concerning earthing which any homeowner should understand. An electrical code application does not suffice since almost all regions of the earth have drawing boards and electricians who can secure their houses based on laws.
Conclusion
Earthing has a purpose in every household and that is security. It helps to prevent electrical shocks, minimize fire risks, safeguard electrical equipment and appliances, as well as achieve legal requirements. In a nutshell, effective earthing is a measure which guarantees the safety and well-being of the family and the house for years to come.
Lightning risk assessment may be needed for buildings located in areas that are prone to lighting risks. Apart from that, establishing an earth mat can enhance the effective earth installation of the system.
Have regular checks for the earthing system and get in touch with a reliable electrical contractor to ascertain it is in compliance. Given the appropriate earthing system is in place, do not stress yourself as your home is well secured against such electrical operations.
