Ground-Fault Protection

DOE-HDBK-1092-98

program to follow, and developing methods and procedures to plan, analyze, perform, verify, and

record.

Electrical drawings should be kept current. A system of recording changes in electrical systems and

then integrating those changes into the applicable drawings should be developed and implemented.

NFPA 70B, Chapter 5, includes designing to accommodate maintenance, scheduling maintenance,

personnel and equipment safety, circuit protection, and initial acceptance testing.

3.7 GROUND-FAULT PROTECTION

The EPM program should include the essential ingredients of Chapter 12 of NFPA 70B, "Ground-

Fault Protection." This includes ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and ground-fault protection

for equipment (GFPE).

Ground-fault protective devices are intended to protect personnel and equipment. There are two

distinct types, GFCI and GFPE, and it is of extreme importance to understand the difference between

them.

A GFCI is defined in Article 100 of the NEC as a device intended for the protection of personnel in

their job assignments. (See NEC Sections 210-7(d), 210-8, 215-9, 305-6, 427-26 and Section 2.71.)

A GFPE is defined in Article 100 of the NEC as a system intended to provide protection of equipment

from line-to-ground fault currents. GFPE systems (equipped with or without a test panel) shall be

inspected and tested at installation and at specified intervals as recommended by the manufacturer.

(See NEC Sections 215-10, 230-95, and 240-13 and Section 4.14.)

Figure 3-1 shows a zero sequence type of ground fault protection. See NEC Section 230-95 and

240-13 and NEMA PB2.2, "Application Guide for Ground Fault Protection Devices for Equipment."

See Appendix D, Reference Matrix

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