Aardingsnet

Aardingsnet, or earthing network, is a conductive grid of earth-connected conductors installed around or beneath a building to provide a safe, low-impedance path to earth for fault currents and to maintain equipotential bonding of exposed and metallic parts. It forms a key component of the protective earthing system that helps ensure electrical safety for people and equipment.

The network typically consists of copper or copper-clad steel conductors arranged as a mesh or grid, often embedded in slabs or buried in the soil around the structure. It is connected to one or more earth electrodes (rods, plates, or a buried conductor) and linked to the building’s main protective earth conductor. Additional bonds may connect the aardingsnet to structural steel, water or gas pipes, and other conductive parts to prevent potential differences between them.

Design and installation aim to achieve a sufficiently low earth impedance to allow overcurrent protective devices to interrupt fault currents promptly, while ensuring consistent potential across connected elements. Standards and guidelines for aardingsnet draw on international norms (such as IEC 60364) and national codes, with considerations including soil resistivity, building type, expected fault currents, and construction regulations.

Maintenance involves periodic inspection, continuity testing, and monitoring for corrosion or damage to bonds and connections. Regular verification helps ensure the network remains effective over time and under varying environmental conditions.