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.
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).
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
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.
The attached regulations are from the latest SANS 10142-1:2021 (ed 3.01)
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.
Last edited by Dave A; 27-Mar-22 at 08:59 AM.
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.
You have to read all parts of the regs, the statement below your red highlighted portion in blue, clearly indicates "other than".Originally Posted by GCE
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.
The " shall be " does not give you a choice it must be earthed - So all earth terminals shall be earthed6.12.3.1 The following conductive parts 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
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.
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