Ground Bars – What they are and what they are used for?

Ground bars are an essential electrical component used in current safety management. Essentially, they consist of specially designed bars made from current attracting materials that are then installed into the ground. When lightning strikes a building, the current will pass through conductive materials installed onto the building, and end up being grounded into the earth through the bars –usually located in specially pre-drilled holes.

To fully understand why this sort of current diverting system is important, you need only be aware of the truly damaging effects lighting can have. Not only is it dangerous for electrical equipment and components, it has the energy necessary to take off whole chunks of a building, including masonry. Furthermore, other than the potential damage it can cause to components and building materials, it is of course dangerous to humans and other animals.

Having a functioning safety system in place will help curtail virtually all damage and is relatively cheap to install – especially considering the damage strikes can cause. Especially tall buildings are of course most at risk; though currents are also easily transferred through antennas, satellite dishes, flagpoles, or anything else that protrudes from a building and attracts an electrical current. Lightning strikes occur much more frequently than you may think, causing a substantial amount of damage to homes and businesses.

The most common types of metal used in ground bars and grounding systems are copper, steel, and galvanized steel – though copper is by far the most widely used. All of these materials should be up to NEC regulations in order to make sure they are fit for use.

If you are planning on having one of these systems installed, there are a variety of options available to you. Not only are there different varieties of materials and designs to choose from, you can also opt for a specialist to come in or to do it yourself.

If you do decide to install your own system, make sure you take extreme care in its construction as well as in safety precautions while at work. Never wear metal jewellery or other items of clothing and think about wearing and using non-conductive clothing and equipment.

Alternatively, there are a host of companies that offer these sorts of installation services, or can also sometimes simply assist in the drilling of holes to accommodate the bars you may have ordered. If you are installing a system for commercial use then you must take extra precautions to make sure that all our equipment is up to regulation standards and that it has been overlooked by a specialist if needed.

Ground bars and other current diverting equipment has long been used to mitigate the effects of lightning and thunder strikes. Not only is it a good idea to have one installed, it is a great investment as the costs of having this kind of system installed far outweigh the potential impact one strike could have on your property or loved ones. If you are planning to get a system started yourself, make sure you consider all your options carefully and always follow safety procedures.