FURSE® EARTH ELECTRODES FOR EARTHING PROTECTION
ABB's Furse earth electrodes range provides trusted copperbond, solid copper and stainless steel earth rods, solid copper plates, lattice copper earth mats and a complete range of backfill materials and inspection pits to build a low resistance earth termination system for any site condition and application. Manufactured and tested to international standards including UL 467, BS EN 50164-1 and BS EN 50164-2, and backed by over 130 years of Furse earthing expertise, the range is engineered to deliver reliable, long-lasting performance in even the most demanding soil environments.
DRIVE DEEPER, EARTH BETTER, LAST LONGER
An effective earth termination system is the foundation of every lightning protection and power earthing installation, providing the low resistance path to ground through which fault currents, lightning currents and electrostatic charge must be safely dissipated. The selection of the right earth electrode type, material and configuration for the specific soil conditions at each site is critical to achieving the required earth resistance value and maintaining it reliably over the life of the installation.
ABB's Furse earth electrodes range gives designers and installers the products to achieve this across the full spectrum of site conditions and application requirements. The copperbond earth rod range, manufactured from high tensile low carbon steel core with a minimum 250 micron molecularly bonded 99.9% pure electrolytic copper layer, provides the most cost effective combination of mechanical strength and corrosion resistance for the majority of installations, with threaded variants in 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch and 3/4 inch nominal diameters in lengths from 1,200 mm to 3,000 mm and counter-bored high copper alloy couplings designed for deep driven multi-rod installations. Unthreaded variants with taper couplings are available from 9 mm diameter. Where soil conditions are highly aggressive, solid copper rods in 15 mm and 20 mm diameters and stainless steel rods in 16 mm and 20 mm diameters provide the highest levels of corrosion resistance, with UL listed kit configurations available for both types. For sites where driven rods are not suitable due to shallow soils, rock or buried services, solid copper earth plates in 600 mm x 600 mm and 900 mm x 900 mm formats and high conductivity lattice copper earth mats provide an effective buried plate electrode solution. FurseCEM conductive aggregate, certified to IEC 62561-7, can be used to backfill any electrode type in difficult high resistivity soils, increasing the effective electrode surface area and reducing earth resistance without ongoing maintenance. ABB's Furse earth rod seal system provides a certified watertight seal where rods must pass through building foundations and damp proof membranes, and the lightweight polymer inspection pit, load rated to 5,000 kg, provides convenient access for periodic testing and maintenance of the earth termination system.
KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS
<p>ABB's Furse earth electrodes are designed and manufactured at the Furse facility in Nottingham, United Kingdom, where Furse has been developing earthing and lightning protection systems for over 130 years. ABB offers full earthing design, site survey and soil resistivity testing services to support the specification of the correct earth electrode system for every site, backed by comprehensive application guidance, product selection tools and technical support throughout the design and installation process.</p>
Durable
<p>Copperbond earth rods are manufactured from high tensile low carbon steel core with a minimum 250 micron layer of 99.9% pure electrolytic copper molecularly bonded to the surface, providing high corrosion resistance throughout the life of the installation, and counter-bored couplings in high copper alloy rather than commercial brass ensure coupling strength and corrosion resistance match that of the rod itself.</p>Corrosion resistant
<p>Solid copper rods in 15 mm and 20 mm diameters provide maximum corrosion resistance for installations in highly aggressive soils with high salt content or other severe conditions, and stainless steel rods in 16 mm and 20 mm diameters overcome the galvanic corrosion that can occur between dissimilar metals buried in close proximity, extending electrode service life in chemically complex soil environments.</p>Comprehensive range
<p>The range covers copperbond earth rods (threaded and unthreaded) in diameters from 9 mm to 17.2 mm and lengths from 1,200 mm to 3,000 mm, solid copper rods in 15 mm and 20 mm diameter, stainless steel rods in 16 mm and 20 mm diameter, solid copper earth plates from 600 mm x 600 mm to 900 mm x 900 mm, lattice copper earth mats, FurseCEM and bentonite backfill materials, earth rod seals and lightweight and concrete inspection pits.</p>Easy installation
<p> </p> <p>Threaded copperbond rods use UNC-2A threads machined by thread rolling rather than cutting, raising the thread diameter above shank diameter for superior coupling engagement, and the high tensile steel core enables driving by power hammer to great depths using the Atlas Copco Cobra TT petrol driven hammer rig and compatible earth rod adapter, with hardened steel driving studs and spikes completing the fitting set for each rod diameter.</p>Cost effective
<p>Copperbond earth rods deliver the optimum balance of mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and material cost for the majority of applications, and the range includes guidance on electrode diameter selection that demonstrates doubling rod diameter increases material cost by approximately 400% while reducing resistance by only 9.5%, enabling specifiers to select the most economical rod dimensions that site conditions permit.</p>Flexible
<p> </p> <p>Solid copper earth plates in 600 mm x 600 mm and 900 mm x 900 mm sizes in 1.5 mm and 3 mm thicknesses provide a horizontal buried plate electrode solution where high resistivity soil, rock or existing services prevent the driving of earth rods, and lattice copper earth mats in the same plan dimensions minimize step and touch voltages for operators at high voltage switching locations.</p>Reliable
<p>FurseCEM conductive aggregate, certified to IEC 62561-7, forms a conductive concrete when combined with cement and provides a permanent, maintenance free earth resistance improvement that will not leach from the soil, shrink, expand or vary significantly with seasonal moisture conditions, in contrast to chemical earth treatments that require regular replenishment to maintain their effectiveness.</p>Continuous operation
<p>The Furse earth rod seal system provides a watertight seal certified to IEC/BS EN 62561-5, pressure tested to 80 psi (5.5 bar), where earth rods pass through building foundations and damp proof membranes, using removable compression seal technology that requires no adhesive, sealant or mastic and is compatible with all Furse earth rod sizes and types, preventing water ingress while allowing the earth rod seal pack to be removed if required without risk of damage.</p>Accessible
<p>The lightweight polymer inspection pit (PT205), load rated to 5,000 kg for general to heavy duty use with a lockable lid, and the concrete inspection pit (PT005), load rated to 3,500 kg, both provide convenient access to buried earth electrodes and conductors to facilitate the periodic inspection, resistance testing and verification that is essential to confirm the continued performance of the earthing system.</p>Compliant
<p>Certifications include UL 467 (selected copperbond rods, solid copper and stainless steel rods and fittings), BS EN 50164-1 Class H, BS EN 50164-2, BS 7430, BS EN 12163 (solid copper earth plates), BS EN 13599 (solid copper earth plates), BS EN 13601 (lattice copper earth mats), IEC/BS EN 62561-5 (inspection pits and earth rod seals) and IEC 62561-7 / BS EN 50164-7 (FurseCEM conductive aggregate backfill).</p>INDUSTRIES WE SUPPORT
From residential construction to commercial and industrial projects, our products support professionals across diverse industries.
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Our products are designed to help professionals solve installation, safety and performance challenges in demanding applications.
Hazardous locations, Continuous operation, Cost reduction, Sustainability