Ground & Earthing Testing for Critical Infrastructure

Every lightning protection system, every SPD, and every safety earthing connection depends on a properly performing earthing system. If the earth path is compromised, corrosion, high soil resistivity, failed joints, inadequate design, the protection chain breaks.

Aetheric tests earthing systems for new installations and existing facilities, combining soil resistivity profiling, earth resistance measurement, touch and step voltage assessment, and bonding continuity verification, building a complete picture of real-world performance.

Verify Your Earthing System

Whether it's commissioning a new installation or validating an existing system, we'll confirm your earthing meets design and safety requirements.

Field testing uses the Megger DET2/3 digital earth tester, accurate in high soil resistivity, EMI-affected sites, and interconnected earthing networks where conventional testers struggle. Data is processed in XGSLab to derive multi-layer earth structure models that feed directly into design, measured field data, not generic estimates.

Our testing programme covers every aspect of earthing system verification, from the soil beneath your facility to the last bonding connection in your switchroom.

Soil Resistivity Testing

Soil resistivity profiling underpins earthing system design and performance prediction. Wenner four-point resistivity measurements at multiple probe spacings produce accurate soil structure models, revealing stratification, identifying high-resistivity layers, and guiding electrode design.

For large facilities or complex geology, we map spatial variation across the site and evaluate seasonal effects in regions with significant temperature or moisture swings.

Earth Resistance Measurement

Fall-of-potential (FOP) testing quantifies resistance between the earthing system and remote earth, the fundamental parameter determining earthing performance and SPD effectiveness. Proper electrode placement protocols and multiple measurement points ensure accurate, reliable results. Where conventional FOP testing is impractical, we use clamp-on earth resistance meters and stakeless methods.

Touch and step voltage measurements verify that ground potential rise during fault conditions stays within safe limits per AS/NZS 1768:2021. Measurements are taken at personnel-accessible locations, equipment access points, fence lines, control building entrances, and compared against calculated values to validate the earthing system model and surface any unexpected hazards.

Continuity & Bonding Verification

Earthing integrity depends on reliable connections throughout the bonding network. Testing verifies continuity between major earthing components, structural steel, equipment frames, cable shields, lightning protection down conductors, and SPD earth connections. High-resistance joints are identified through low-resistance ohmmeter measurements, corrective action before system performance is compromised.

For exothermic welds and compression joints, resistance values are documented against acceptance criteria per IEEE 837, and re-tested at intervals to confirm integrity over the system lifecycle.

Concerned About Your Earthing System?

Degraded earthing compromises every protection system in your facility. Our testing identifies issues before they become incidents.

All Aetheric testing services follow internationally recognised standards:

Test equipment is calibrated and verified for accuracy. Protocols are documented in advance, measurement locations, equipment configuration, acceptance criteria, and safety procedures, and execution is supervised by qualified personnel.

Earthing testing requirements differ across sectors. We tailor our testing programmes to address the specific safety standards, equipment configurations, and compliance obligations of each industry.

Every earthing testing engagement produces a complete, auditable documentation package:

Earthing systems require testing at several key points in their lifecycle. If any of the following apply to your facility, it's time to talk to us:

• New installation commissioning: verify the as-built system meets design intent before energisation
• Periodic compliance verification: most standards and asset integrity programmes require testing at regular intervals (typically 1–5 years)
• Post-incident investigation: following a lightning strike, fault event, or equipment failure
• Facility acquisition due diligence: understand earthing condition before taking ownership
• System expansion or modification: verify performance after adding new equipment, buildings, or services
• Suspected performance degradation: corrosion, soil changes, or repeated equipment failures may indicate earthing issues

Earthing testing is most valuable when integrated with our broader protection engineering services: