EARTHING PITS

Earthing pits provide protected access to earth electrode test joints, disconnecting links and conductor connections at ground level. A mandatory component of NFC 17-102 and IEC 62305 compliant installations — periodic earthing resistance measurement requires accessible test points. Available in plastic, concrete and cast iron.

Materials

3 Types

Plastic, concrete, cast iron

Purpose

Test Access

Earthing resistance measurement

Variants

Reference codes available

Standard

IEC 62305

NFC 17-102 · EN 50164

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Earthing pits are the access chambers installed at ground level over the earth electrode test joint. NFC 17-102 and IEC 62305 require periodic measurement of earthing resistance — which means the test joint on each down conductor must be accessible without excavation. The earthing pit protects the test joint from mechanical damage, contamination and water ingress while providing easy access for measurement.

ORBITAL offers three pit types: plastic for lightweight installations and non-traffic areas, concrete for permanent installations under light traffic, and cast iron for high-traffic or heavy-duty applications such as roads, car parks and industrial floors.

Earth Pits

Plastic · Concrete · Cast Iron

Reference	Dimensions (mm)	Material	Weight (kg)
OLT-010H	250×250×250	Plastic	1.45
OLT-010K	410×410×300	Concrete	56.90
OLT-012K	390×390×26	Cast Iron	9.00

Custom pit dimensions available on request. Contact ORBITAL for project-specific requirements.

Material & Construction
Plastic (OLT-010H)	250×250×250mm — lightweight, non-traffic areas
Concrete (OLT-010K)	410×410×300mm — permanent, light traffic
Cast Iron (OLT-012K)	390×390×26mm — heavy-duty, traffic areas
Purpose	Access to test joint for periodic earthing resistance measurement
Performance
Copper Thickness	254µm — exceeds IEC 62561 minimum of 250µm
NFC 17-102 Requirement	Test joints must be accessible — earthing pits satisfy this requirement
Installation	Set in concrete surround at ground level over test joint
Compliance & Standards
Primary Standards	NFC 17-102:2011 · IEC 62305-3
Component Standard	EN 50164-2 · IEC 62561
CE Marking	Yes
Applications
Primary Use	Earth termination system for lightning protection systems
Advantage vs Solid Copper	Lower cost, higher mechanical strength — suitable for hard and rocky soils
Soil Suitability	All soil types — use with ORBetter® in high-resistivity soils

Positioning

Install the earthing pit directly above the test joint on each down conductor. The test joint should be at approximately 0.5m below the top of the finished pit. The pit top should be flush with or slightly below the surrounding surface level to prevent water ingress and tripping hazard.

Cut End Protection

If a rod must be cut to length, apply a corrosion-resistant compound to the cut end to seal the exposed steel core. The threaded ends are protected by the thread profile itself, but cut ends are vulnerable to accelerated corrosion if left unprotected in aggressive soils.

Earthing Resistance Target

Set the pit in a concrete surround to prevent movement and ingress. Ensure the lid is secure and clearly identifiable as an earthing access point. At each periodic inspection, open the pit, measure the earthing resistance through the test joint, and record the reading in the maintenance log.