Faults in electrical systems can result in ground faults. Ground faults occur when live wires come into contact with grounded or exposed components of the installation, or directly with the earth conductor. Such faults can potentially lead to fire and/or electric shock hazards.
If you have not installed a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in your residence or vacation home, we recommend doing so. We advise replacing old screw-in fuses with circuit breakers equipped with ground fault protection. Electrical work must be carried out by qualified professionals from a registered electrical contractor.
Examples of ground faults
Ground faults can occur in various locations such as in water heaters, washing machines, underfloor heating systems, or due to nail punctures through wires. What makes such faults unique is that they are difficult to pinpoint. The same ground fault may be measured and detected by all those connected to the same transformer station. A ground fault that triggers the measuring instruments may therefore be located either in your own installation, your neighbor's, or within the distribution network of the utility company.
Ground fault indication
If ground fault indication/protection is installed and activated, there is a high probability that the fault belongs to your own system. Homeowners should be familiar with the type of alarms installed in their own homes and their age. Previously, non-directional ground fault alarms/protections were installed that did not differentiate between faults in one's own system or others. Such older solutions make it more difficult to determine if the fault could lie with others connected to the same transformer station. If a ground fault indication/protection is triggered and the fault is within your own system, it is the owner's responsibility to rectify the fault. If the system is not immediately disconnected, caution should be exercised with electrical equipment until the fault is corrected.
Faults outside of one's own system
When professionals have determined that the fault is not within one's own system, the utility company should be contacted to locate and rectify the ground fault where it is identified. This is particularly relevant when ground faults are measured with instruments and there is uncertainty about the location of the fault.
If "shocks" are experienced when touching electrical equipment/components, an electrical contractor should be contacted to inspect one's own system. The utility company should be contacted if one's own system is found to be in order. Medical attention should be sought if the "shock" is experienced as severe.
Owner's responsibility for the electrical system's compliance
The owner of the electrical system is responsible for ensuring that their own system and equipment comply with applicable regulations (FEL/NEK400). In simplified terms, it is the homeowner who is responsible for the electrical system in their own house.