Potential equalization? Ring earth or foundation earth...

Doesn't the ring ground have to be installed anyway according to the updated DIN 18014?

Hi, thanks! I don't know the DIN offhand. However, it is quite possible that this is the case (I'll google it right away).

As I said, personally I consider the ring ground to be better, safer, and more durable anyway.

Best regards
Thorsten

PS: An excerpt from the internet (so, you are definitely not wrong). Therefore, the electrical specialist of the OP must talk to the OP's basement builder and then decide what will be done.

The updated standard takes into account the changed conditions in the construction industry. Low-energy construction has now become the standard, where thermal insulation layers such as perimeter insulation or foam glass gravel around the foundations prevent direct contact of the foundation ground electrode with the soil. The same challenge arises in the case of a basement executed as a "white tank" made of waterproof concrete. This not only provides sealing against pressing water but also obstructs the electrical conductivity essential for the foundation ground electrode to the surrounding soil. In both cases, the updated standard requires the use of a ring ground made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel outside the foundation. Additionally, it demands a second closed ring as a separate equipotential bonding conductor in the building's floor slab, since the closed ring of the ring ground outside only ensures the grounding function. The mesh size of the functional equipotential bonding conductor is now also precisely defined – for larger areas to be spanned, a mesh size of 10 x 10 meters is recommended. Moreover, the equipotential bonding conductor must be connected to the ring ground once every 20 meters of the building perimeter.

Good day,

Surprising that the outdated statements have gone unchallenged for so long.

That's what you're here for now; if you also refrain from posting links, your contributions will surely be an asset to the forum users

Rhineland greetings

I don’t know the DIN now. ...
As I said, personally I consider the ring earth electrode to be better, safer, and more durable anyway.

Without knowledge of DIN 18014 and also the lightning protection standard DIN EN 62305, this is an unsubstantiated hypothesis, unless one assumes sloppy installation with insufficient concrete cover. For the distribution of lightning currents, planar grounding systems are better.

Since 2007, ring earth electrodes must be made of stainless steel (V4A) and are normatively only required for foundations or floor slabs with insufficient earth contact. Where the encompassed area is not sufficient, additional deep earth electrodes may be required for both types of electrodes. See DEHN lightning planner chapter 5.5.1, figures 5.5.1.2 and 5.5.1.3.

Unfortunately, even the now superseded DIN 18014:2009-09 is still too new for many construction participants to “already” know it. However, there was as much secondary literature for the 2007 edition as for the current DIN 18014:2014-03. If there is one standard for which one can forego a VDE subscription or the standard itself because of extensive secondary literature, it is DIN 18014.

PS: An excerpt from the net (meaning, you are definitely not wrong). Thus, the electrical specialist of the OP must talk to the OP’s basement builder and then decide what is to be done.

Now the mesh size of the functional equipotential bonding conductor has also been precisely specified – for larger areas to be spanned, a mesh size of 10 x 10 meters is recommended.

Although it is highly unusual for the author to make a slip, this statement does not correspond to the standard.

5.7.2 Combined equipotential bonding system
(en: common flush network)

To reduce electromagnetic interference, a combined equipotential bonding system according to DIN VDE 0100-444 (VDE 0100-444) is to be achieved. For this purpose, in addition to the ring earth electrode, a functional equipotential bonding conductor made of round or strip material is to be provided in the reinforced foundation along the outer walls. The functional equipotential bonding conductor must be permanently electrically connected to the reinforcement at intervals of no more than 2 m and has a mesh size of ≤ 20 x 20 m.
...
Additional measures may be required according to DIN EN 50310 (VDE 0800-2-310) and DIN 62305-4 (VDE 0185-305).

In DIN 18014:2009-09 it was stated that foundation and ring earth electrodes must have the same mesh size. This sentence was omitted in DIN 18014:2014-03. A mesh size of 10 x 10 meters is only to be applied for ring earth electrodes at buildings with lightning protection systems.

However, for example, for server rooms, a mesh size of 5 x 5 meters for the combined equipotential bonding system may be appropriate as an additional EMC measure.

Since 2009, foundation and ring earth electrodes may only be installed by licensed electrical specialists or under their supervision and must be measured and documented photographically before concreting.

But as is well known, one can only comply with what one knows.

That’s what you’re here for now; if you also refrain from adding links, your posts will certainly be an asset to the forum users.

I find anonymous quoting dubious; it smells like taking credit for someone else’s work.

Since I only read the restriction after sending the previous post, it has not yet been observed.

Since 2009, foundation and ring earth electrodes may only be installed by licensed electrical professionals or under their supervision and must be documented both by measurements and photographs before concreting.

And how often is this actually done, or where is it stated that this is legally required? Or is it just a "typical" DIN recommendation?

By the way, in our case, nothing was measured regarding the PE conductor, but I have had an electricity meter installed in the basement since the end of the year. I’m not saying this is correct, but it doesn’t seem to be strictly required either...?

This was actually one of the reasons why I didn’t want to rely on plastic for my house.

And how often is this done or where does it say that this is legally required? Or is it just a "typical" DIN recommendation?

By the way, nothing was measured regarding the PA at our place, but since the end of the year I have had an electricity meter in the basement. I don't want to say that this is really correct, but it doesn't seem to be really required either...?

By the way, that was one reason why I did not want to rely on plastic for my house

At our place, the master electrician could come by "ad hoc" with exactly the mentioned photo documentation and the measurement protocol, otherwise the utility company would have gone home without setting the meter.