aardingspunt

An aardingspunt is the point in an electrical installation where the protective earth conductor is connected to the earth. It defines the earth reference of the installation and provides a low-impedance path for fault currents to reach the ground, allowing protective devices to trip promptly and ensuring exposed metal parts are at earth potential.

Location and configurations vary by system. In many buildings the aardingspunt is at the service entry or main distribution board, where the installation’s earth conductor is bonded to an earth electrode such as a rod, plate, or buried conductor. The arrangement depends on the earthing system in use: in TT systems the installation has its own local earth electrode; in TN systems a PEN conductor may be used and bonded to earth at the aardingspunt, with neutral and earth separated downstream.

Functionally, the aardingspunt supports safety and equipment protection beyond fault clearing. It stabilizes voltage during transient events, aids surge protection, and provides a common bonding reference for metallic parts and conductive enclosures to minimize dangerous potential differences.

Maintenance and standards are important. The earth connection should remain low in impedance and free from corrosion, and alterations should be performed by qualified electricians. Dutch electrical installations follow national standards (such as NEN 1010 and related EN 60364 series) that govern earthing practices and the required characteristics of the aardingspunt and associated components.