Earthing requirements for light fittings.

[Isetech]

What are the requirements for earthing light fittings?

A pendant light with a brass lamp holder mounted at 2.6 m above finished floor level.

A metal flood light mounted on the side of a building at 3 m.

A fibre glass flood light with a metal diffusor and connector block attached to the metal diffuser.

A ceiling fan mounted at 2.4 m AFFL.

A ceiling fan mounted at 3 m AFFL.

A light fitting mounted on a street light pole 7.5 m AFFL.

[Isetech]

6.12.3.2 The following conductive parts do not need to be earthed:
a) short unexposed lengths of metallic wireway used to protect wiring as it
passes through a building element;
b) exposed conductive parts of fixed electrical equipment that are
1 out of arm's reach from the floor (or walking) level,
2) out of arm's reach from a structure that is bonded to earth, and
3) not exposed to the weather or to the condensation, dripping, splashing
or accumulation of water, and
4) not touching a conductive surface;
c) conductive parts that cannot be touched by the standard test finger;
d) fixings such as cleats, clips, saddles and clamps;
e) equipment and appliances permanently connected to safety supplies;
f) small parts such as screws or nameplates that are isolated by insulating
material;
g) structural steelwork, including items such as fire escapes and cat ladders;
and
h) metallic fittings in bathrooms if they are isolated from earth (see 7.1.5).

[Isetech]

3.4
arm's reach
volume that is limited by the relevance of the following distances measured
from a surface expected to be occupied by persons (see annex A):
a) 2,5 m vertically upwards;
b) 1,25 m vertically downwards from the outer edge of the surface;
c) 1,25 m horizontally outwards from the outer edges of the surface; and
d) 0,75 m horizontally inwards from the outer edges of the surface and
underneath the surface

[Isetech]

6.14.4 Lamp holders
6.14.4.1 A lamp holder shall be shrouded in insulating material or shall be
earthed, unless it is simultaneously
a) out of arm's reach from the floor or walkway level,
b) out of arm's reach from a structure that is bonded to earth,
c) protected from the weather and the splashing, dripping, or accumulation of
water, and
d) not touching a conductive surface.

[Isetech]

The attached regulations are from the latest SANS 10142-1:2021 (ed 3.01)

[GCE]

You are reading the regulations to what may not be earthed - You need to read what must be earthed

If the light fitting has an earth terminal it must be connected to earth - The majority of fittings you mention above will have earth terminals


6.12.3 Earthing of exposed conductive parts
6.12.3.1 The following conductive parts shall be earthed:
a) all exposed conductive parts of an installation other than those described
in 6.12.3.2;
NOTE Metal enclosures on PVC conduit should be earthed if they can become live
and can be touched.
b) all conductive cable sheaths and armouring, wireways and catenary wires;
c) the earthing terminal of a socket-outlet;
d) the secondary winding of a transformer if it is not a safety transformer;
e) earthing terminals of all permanently connected electrical equipment and
appliances;
f) conductive parts of discharge luminaires and equipment that need special
earthing arrangements; and
g) all class I equipment.

[Derlyn]

GCE is quite correct.

If anything has an earthing terminal, it must be earthed whether its out of arms reach or not.

The best example I can think of to illustrate, is a geyser in the attic.
Clearly out of arms reach, but I'm sure you will agree that it must be earthed.

[Isetech]

You are reading the regulations to what may not be earthed - You need to read what must be earthed

If the light fitting has an earth terminal it must be connected to earth - The majority of fittings you mention above will have earth terminals


6.12.3 Earthing of exposed conductive parts
6.12.3.1 The following conductive parts shall be earthed:
a) all exposed conductive parts of an installation other than those described
in 6.12.3.2;
NOTE Metal enclosures on PVC conduit should be earthed if they can become live
and can be touched.
b) all conductive cable sheaths and armouring, wireways and catenary wires;
c) the earthing terminal of a socket-outlet;
d) the secondary winding of a transformer if it is not a safety transformer;
e) earthing terminals of all permanently connected electrical equipment and
appliances;
f) conductive parts of discharge luminaires and equipment that need special
earthing arrangements; and
g) all class I equipment.

You have to read all parts of the regs, the statement below your red highlighted portion in blue, clearly indicates "other than".

A metal fitting mounted higher than 2.5 m would not need to be earthed.

I personally would agree with you, however in reality the regs are the law.

Metal lights mounted in a factory 6 m AFFL or on a wooden light pole. I would think they should be earthed, considering they generally have an earth terminal.

An electrician working on a metal fitting mounted on a wooden pole would have a fibreglass ladder and rubber gloves and should have carried out safe isolation practise.

[GCE]

6.12.3.1 The following conductive parts shall be earthed:

The " shall be " does not give you a choice it must be earthed - So all earth terminals shall be earthed


the next part states that they do not need to be earthed but there is noting stopping you from earthing those parts

6.12.3.2 The following conductive parts do not need to be earthed:

A client cannot tell you that he does not want earth wire in the earth terminals - you have to do install the wires in the earth terminal.

You do not have to earth the structural steel , but the client could instruct you to earth the structural steel and you will need to do it - the regs do not state that you shall not earth it

[Isetech]

The " shall be " does not give you a choice it must be earthed - So all earth terminals shall be earthed


the next part states that they do not need to be earthed but there is noting stopping you from earthing those parts




A client cannot tell you that he does not want earth wire in the earth terminals - you have to do install the wires in the earth terminal.

You do not have to earth the structural steel , but the client could instruct you to earth the structural steel and you will need to do it - the regs do not state that you shall not earth it

I wish the people training the electricians would highlight this kind of topic. It seems the majority of electricians dont agree. Every time I get into this argument, 6.12.3.2 is used as refence for not earthing fans, metal light fittings and brass lamp holders above 2.5 m.

[GCE]

I wish the people training the electricians would highlight this kind of topic. It seems the majority of electricians dont agree. Every time I get into this argument, 6.12.3.2 is used as refence for not earthing fans, metal light fittings and brass lamp holders above 2.5 m.

I was always taught and now teach , that were the word " shall" is used in the regulations it becomes non negotiable regulation . If the sentences says " may " then it provides for a choice.

The problem we find the majority of the time is that the guys do not read/understand the regulations when performing the work and when the problem arises they go to read the regulations and look for a clause to get them out of trouble, not to see if they have done it correctly .

[Derlyn]

The regulations should be black and white. There should be no grey areas and one should not need a university agree to understand them.

Whenever I read a regulation, I ask myself why that regulation is there ? What is the point of having it ?

There are too many of them that I, an electrician of 42 years, cannot answer.

[Isetech]

The regulations should be black and white. There should be no grey areas and one should not need a university agree to understand them.

Whenever I read a regulation, I ask myself why that regulation is there ? What is the point of having it ?

There are too many of them that I, an electrician of 42 years, cannot answer.

The only way to clear the grey area is to have a platform where the information is available to "all" registered electrical contractors.

An open free public Platform like this would be a good start. If someone on this platform could relay queries to the DOL or get someone from the DOL to respond to queries, it would be great start.

Our comments are merely our opinion on a subject. I don't know that it would stand up in court if you were to be summons and put in the witness stand.

[Dylboy]

I personally find that the first half of the paragraph is perfect then they throw in an "or" or "except" and that is where the first paragraph is skipped for that "or"

Like the light fitting above 2.5, metal it may be like a downlights but no earth terminal so they jump straight to the "or" part where things may not be earthed...

Anyway I really enjoy this forum as I believe the opinions of all are worth salt and people here care.

I would like to try attend some refresher Sans courses and all that to learn how others see things.

Big issues is the mentor when in training did it that way and never bothered to keep up to date as "always been done like that"

I would like it if refreshers courses or an actual classroom where questions can be asked and discussed but with the people who know ans write the Sans book.

I mean basic circuit design some old school sparkles struggle with or don't fully know why it is done like that and if wrong or not as once more " always done like that and nothing has happened"

As always my opinion only and thanks all as usual for the discussions

Edit: I for one have a few questions on circuit design and certain conditions, and first to admit there is always learning and I am not perfect but not sure where to go to sit down and ask someone. I have resorted to books from UK and reached out to some electrical engineers . What was required to pass the 2 papers is touching the surface of all the design conditions and also the courses just rush you through and then self study is a challenge as well when there is something of confusion and no one to ask. Also when you do ask 3 sparks have 3 different opinions.



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[Isetech]

Dylboy, never be concerned about the reaction of others when asking a question, no matter how silly you might think it is. Only you will be stupid for not asking.