Why is Earthing Essential in Food Processing Facilities and Industrial Plants?
Earthing is a critical safety feature in electrical systems used across industries, food processing plants, commercial buildings, and residences. It provides a low-resistance path for fault current to flow safely into the ground, preventing electrical shocks and equipment damage.
In the event of an electrical fault, exposed conductive parts of machinery may become live. Without proper earthing systems, the fault current may pass through a person, leading to serious electric shock. For food factories, food manufacturing units, and industrial consultants, ensuring robust earthing is essential for:
- Personnel safety
- Regulatory compliance (FSSAI, HACCP, BIS)
- Equipment protection
- Maintaining uninterrupted operations
In this below diagram, with grounding of eqipment, the whole leakage of current in equipment body passes through low resistance path called ground wire so there is a negligible chance of electrical shock.
Method of earthing
There are variuos types of earthing is done like rod earthing, strip earthing, plate earthing, pipe earthing and earthing through water mains but pipe and plate earthing is preferred so much.
Earthing mat
- Used in substations and food plants with high fault currents
- Comprises multiple rods joined by copper conductors
- Reduces overall grounding resistance
- Helps in potential equalization across systems
Earthing electrode
- Involves burying rods, pipes, or wires vertically/horizontally
- Used in distribution systems and switchyards
- Rods are typically 1m long in small setups; mats used in large plants
Pipe earthing
- Preferred method for food manufacturing and processing plants
- Uses GI or perforated galvanized steel pipes
- Pipe size: ~40mm diameter, 2.5m length (may increase for dry soils)
- Charcoal and salt mixture surrounds pipe to reduce soil resistance
- Moisture maintained by adding water during dry weather
Plate earthing
- Uses copper or galvanized iron plates (60cm × 60cm × 3–6mm)
- Buried vertically at a depth of >3 meters
- Connected via nut-bolt to earth wire
- Cost-effective for small-scale industrial applications
Earthing through water mains
- Wire connected to water pipe which is in contact with the ground
- Simple but less reliable for high-load industries
- Not preferred in food processing setups due to contamination risk
Conclusion
Effective earthing systems are a cornerstone of safe and reliable electrical design in any industrial setup—especially within food processing factories where equipment uptime, hygiene, and safety are paramount. Whether it's pipe earthing for general use, mat earthing for high-fault current zones, or plate earthing for compact layouts, selecting the right method ensures compliance with regulatory standards and safeguards both personnel and assets.
As a leading food industry consultant and engineering partner, PMG Engineering emphasizes the integration of robust earthing practices in every food factory design, ensuring operational continuity, minimized electrical hazards, and full alignment with global food safety standards.
References
Methods of Earthing – Circuit Globe
Electrical Safety & Earthing – Electrical India
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