Electrical Safety with GRP: Eliminating Earthing Requirements
Introduction
Electrical safety is a top priority in the utilities and energy sectors, where any failure in protective measures can lead to severe injury, equipment damage, or service disruption. Traditional materials such as steel often require extensive earthing systems to prevent dangerous voltage build-up. This adds cost, complexity, and ongoing inspection requirements.
Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) offers an alternative approach. As a non-conductive material, GRP can remove the need for earthing altogether in many applications, reducing installation complexity while maintaining — and in some cases improving — safety performance.
Why Earthing is Required for Metals
Steel and other conductive materials can carry stray electrical currents if they come into contact with live equipment, faulty wiring, or lightning strikes. In substations, switchgear platforms, and transmission towers, these currents present a risk to personnel and can interfere with sensitive control systems.
Earthing systems channel these stray currents safely into the ground. However, they require:
● Specialist design and installation
● Copper or galvanised steel earth conductors
● Routine inspection and testing
● Ongoing maintenance to counter corrosion of earth paths
This adds both capital and operational cost to any installation that uses conductive materials.
GRP as a Non-Conductive Solution
GRP’s glass fibre reinforcement and resin matrix are inherently non-conductive, which means they do not provide a path for electrical current under normal service conditions. This allows:
● Platforms, handrails, and fencing to be installed without bonding to an earthing network
● Reduced risk of touch voltage in live areas
● Greater protection for workers operating near high-voltage equipment
In Alyth Substation, GRP palisade fencing was chosen partly for this reason, enabling perimeter security without connecting the fence to the earthing grid, saving installation time and eliminating an ongoing inspection requirement.
Safety Benefits Beyond Non-Conductivity
Non-conductivity is only one aspect of GRP’s suitability for electrical environments. Other advantages include:
● Slip resistance — Surfaces can be manufactured to BS 7976 standards to prevent slips in wet or contaminated areas
● Corrosion resistance — No risk of rust affecting connections or fixings
● Fire performance — Products can meet BS 476 Part 7 Class 2 fire spread requirements for safety-critical sites
These combined benefits allow GRP structures to maintain safety performance over decades without the deterioration that affects metal installations.
Cost and Maintenance Implications
Removing earthing from a design can produce substantial savings. In addition to the capital cost of copper conductors and connection hardware, there is a long-term maintenance saving from eliminating annual resistance testing, connection cleaning, and repair of corroded earth paths.
Over the lifespan of an asset, this can equate to thousands of pounds saved per site, particularly in networks with numerous small installations such as distribution substations.
Standards and Compliance
GRP structures for electrical environments can be designed to comply with:
● BS EN 13706 — Pultruded structural profiles
● BS EN 4592 — Industrial flooring panels
● BS 476 Part 7 Class 2 — Fire performance
● BS 7976 — Slip resistance
This ensures safety performance is backed by recognised standards as well as inherent material properties
Conclusion
GRP’s non-conductive nature allows it to eliminate earthing requirements in many utility and energy applications, reducing both initial costs and ongoing maintenance obligations. Combined with slip resistance, corrosion resistance, and proven fire performance, GRP offers a safer, more efficient choice for live electrical environments.
By integrating GRP into substations, switchgear platforms, and other high-voltage installations, operators can simplify designs, improve safety, and reduce long-term costs without compromising on compliance.
