Features & Benefits
Excellent Grounding Qualities
Conductive Concrete installed in dry powder form, is both convenient and effective. It makes ideal contact with the ground possible over large effective areas and has qualities far superior to more traditional grounding techniques.
Environmentally Safe
Conductive Concrete provides completely pollution free grounding because it is composed of very safe inert chemical matter. It will neither melt into the soil nor change into an electrolyte.
Electrolytic Corrosion Resistance
Conductive Concrete significantly extends the life of grounding systems. In normal conditions, an electrolytic reaction occurs when any metal buried in the ground is exposed to a positive electric current, resulting in serious corrosion of the metal. Covering the metal with Conductive Concrete creates conduction between the metal and Conductive Concrete, thereby reducing the electrolytic reaction and preventing the metal from corroding.
Cost Efficient Grounding
In general, no water is required when grounding with Conductive Concrete. Once installed, it absorbs moisture from the surrounding soil and hardens. Common obstacles such as rocks or stumps will not interfere with grounding and need not be removed. Because the product is granular and not liquid in nature, trouble free installation is possible even when the site is sloped.
Easy to Install Anywhere
Conductive Concrete was first used to aid in the grounding of electric power transmission lines in mountainous areas where construction is difficult and soil resitivities tend to be high. It can be installed straight out of the bag without water and in vertical or horizontal trenches.
Reduces Opportunity for Theft
Traditional grounding systems are prone to theft due to the scrap value of copper. By using Conductive Concrete, the grounding system is safe from threat of theft or sabotage.
How It’s Built
Conductive Concrete grounding electrodes are easily installed by spreading the dry powder in a strip over and around a conductor in a horizontal trench.
When the trench is refilled, Conductive Concrete absorbs moisture from the surrounding soil and hardens to become part of the grounding electrode.
Surge Impedance
Technical Performance
- Surge impedance is reduced by more than 50%.
- The surge impedance of the Conductive Concrete electrode is particularly low during the first critical 0-0.1 µsec of the surge.
- Fast response provides enhanced protection for sensitive equipment.
- Significant advantage over other grounding methods.
Ground Resistance
Technical Performance
- Conductive Concrete electrode resistance is 60-70% lower than bare copper counterpoise wire.
- Resistance of the 5m Conductive Concrete electrode is the same as the 20m long bare copper wire.
- Ideal contact with the soil is achieved because Conductive Concrete conforms to the shape of the trench.
- The effective surface area of the Conductive Concrete grounding electrode is about 25 times larger than the counterpoise wire.
Related Projects
A77 Average Speed Cameras: Conductive Concrete
Symington - Scotland
Toolbox Talks: Conductive Concrete Retrospective Install, Openreach
Lurgan - Northern Ireland
