Division 13 verifies that the AGL earthing and bonding system is correctly installed, electrically continuous, mechanically secure and capable of providing the intended fault-current, equipment-protection and surge/lightning-protection paths before system acceptance. It establishes a complete verification chain from the earth electrode/earth pit through the earthing conductors, equipment bonds and protective systems — covering the CCR, panels, transformers, signs and AGL fixtures.
Philosophy: a good earth-pit resistance value does not by itself prove that every AGL component is correctly earthed and bonded, and an equipment earth-continuity result does not by itself demonstrate that the earth electrode/system meets its required performance. The complete chain — earth electrode → earth conductor → earth bar/system → equipment earth → bonding → earth continuity → earth resistance → lightning protection → surge protection → test-result evaluation → acceptance — has to hold together. Division 13 is the dedicated protective-earth and equipotential-bonding verification division, while individual equipment electrical tests remain in their respective commissioning divisions.
Every earth pit, conductor, bond and protective device moves through the same underlying sequence before the earthing system is accepted, regardless of which equipment it serves.
The earthing and bonding system is evaluated as a complete chain — every link has to hold before the system is accepted.
| Link | What It Confirms |
|---|---|
| Earth Electrode | The physical earth pit and electrode are correctly constructed, connected and in sound condition |
| Earth Conductor | The conductor from electrode to earth bar is correctly sized, routed, identified and terminated |
| Earth Bar/System | The earth bar/terminal correctly collects and distributes the earthing system to connected equipment |
| Equipment Earth | CCR, panels, transformers, signs and fixtures are each correctly connected to the earthing system |
| Bonding | Metallic components that must remain at the same potential are correctly bonded together |
| Earth Continuity | A continuous, low-resistance earth path exists from equipment to the earth bar, with no open circuit |
| Earth Resistance | The earth pit/electrode/system resistance meets the approved project requirement |
| Lightning Protection | Air terminals, down conductors and earth connections function as an integrated protective system |
| Surge Protection | SPDs are correctly installed with a low-impedance earth/bonding path for the intended surge current |
| Test-Result Evaluation | Every result is technically reviewed against approved design, standards and manufacturer requirements |
| Acceptance | The complete earthing and bonding system is formally accepted and documented |
Two conditions should be established before earthing and bonding verification of any AGL component begins.
Grouped by verification focus, in the order the earthing and bonding system is normally worked through — click any topic to expand its verification checks and acceptance criteria.
Acceptance Criteria: each earth pit is correctly identified, accessible, physically sound and matches the approved earthing layout and schedule.
Hold Point: any mismatch against the approved earthing design or electrode specification is resolved before acceptance.
Acceptance Criteria: the earth conductor is correctly sized, routed, identified and soundly terminated at both the electrode and the equipment end.
Acceptance Criteria: every applicable item of AGL equipment is correctly and securely connected to the earthing system, with continuity confirmed.
Acceptance Criteria: bonding establishes electrical continuity between conductive parts that need to remain at substantially the same electrical potential.
Acceptance Criteria: each applicable fixture and its associated metallic structure is soundly bonded with continuity confirmed and logged by fixture ID.
Acceptance Criteria: applicable isolation transformers and their associated metallic components are soundly bonded to the earthing system.
Acceptance Criteria: airfield signs and their associated metallic structures are soundly bonded to the earth system where applicable.
Hold Point: CCR earthing should be verified both physically and electrically before release.
Acceptance Criteria: AGL control, distribution and auxiliary panels are correctly and completely earthed, including door and gland-plate bonding where required.
Hold Point: the acceptance criterion should come from the applicable project specification, design and equipment requirements — not from an assumed universal value.
Hold Point: results can be influenced by parallel paths, soil conditions, electrode arrangement and test configuration — record the test method and conditions, not just the resistance value.
Acceptance Criteria: every applicable bonding connection demonstrates continuity within the approved criterion, with no open or high-resistance bond.
Acceptance Criteria: lightning protection is assessed as an integrated system, not merely as an individual earth connection.
Hold Point: an SPD is only effective if its associated earthing/bonding path is correctly installed and low impedance for the intended surge current path.
Acceptance Criteria: every earthing and bonding test result is technically reviewed against approved requirements before it is accepted.
Acceptance Criteria: the complete earthing and bonding system — earth system, bonding, lightning protection and surge protection — is verified, tested, evaluated and formally accepted as ready for operation.
Acceptance Criteria: a dedicated, traceable Earthing & Bonding Test Report is completed and signed off — this closes Division 13 and supports final system acceptance.
Division 13 runs as a single continuous sequence, from earth-pit verification through to the final Earthing & Bonding Test Report and system acceptance.
Confirm approved earthing layout, design and earth-pit schedule.
Verify earth-pit construction and installed earth electrode.
Trace and verify the conductor from electrode to earth bar.
Verify each item of equipment is connected to the earth system.
Verify equipotential bonding between metallic components.
Verify bonding across each applicable equipment type.
Test the continuous earth path from equipment to earth bar.
Measure earth-pit/electrode/system resistance by the approved method.
Test continuity across bonding connections.
Verify lightning-protection and surge-protection arrangements.
Evaluate results and complete the earthing acceptance test.
Complete the Earthing & Bonding Test Report and obtain sign-off.
Quick answers about Division 13 — Earthing & Bonding Testing in the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual.
Division 13 of the AGL Testing & Commissioning Manual covers Earthing & Bonding Testing. Division 13 verifies that the AGL earthing and bonding system is correctly installed, electrically continuous, mechanically secure and capable of providing the intended fault-current, equipment-protection and surge/lightning-protection paths before system acceptance. It establishes a complete verification chain from the earth electrode/earth pit through the earthing conductors, equipment bonds and protective systems — covering the CCR, panels, transformers, signs and AGL fixtures. It contains 18 topics (TC-EBT-001 to TC-EBT-018) organised into 7 groups (A–G), each topic with its own verification checks.
A good earth-pit resistance value does not by itself prove that every AGL component is correctly earthed and bonded, and an equipment earth-continuity result does not by itself demonstrate that the earth electrode/system meets its required performance. The complete chain — earth electrode → earth conductor → earth bar/system → equipment earth → bonding → earth continuity → earth resistance → lightning protection → surge protection → test-result evaluation → acceptance — has to hold together. Division 13 is the dedicated protective-earth and equipotential-bonding verification division, while individual equipment electrical tests remain in their respective commissioning divisions.
Every earth pit, conductor, bond and protective device moves through the same underlying sequence before the earthing system is accepted, regardless of which equipment it serves. Steps: Earth Pit → Earth Electrode → Earth Conductor → Equipment Earth → Bonding → Continuity → Earth Resistance → Lightning Protection → Surge Protection → Result Evaluation → Acceptance → Test Report. Focus areas: Earth-pit & electrode integrity; Conductor & equipment earth continuity; Equipotential bonding; Earth resistance performance; Lightning & surge protection.
Division 13 has 18 topics in 7 groups. A — Earthing System Verification: Earth-Pit Verification, Earth-Electrode Verification, Earth-Conductor Verification, Equipment-Earth Verification. B — Bonding Verification: Bonding Verification, Fixture Bonding Verification, Transformer Bonding Verification, Sign Bonding Verification. C — CCR & Panel Earth: CCR Earth Verification, Panel Earth Verification. D — Earthing & Bonding Testing: Earth Continuity Test, Earth Resistance Test, Bonding Continuity Test. E — Lightning & Surge Protection: Lightning-Protection Verification, Surge-Protection Verification. F — Result Evaluation & Acceptance: Earth-Test Result Evaluation, Earthing Acceptance Test. G — Documentation: Earthing Test Report.
The earthing and bonding system is evaluated as a complete chain — every link has to hold before the system is accepted. Earth Electrode: The physical earth pit and electrode are correctly constructed, connected and in sound condition; Earth Conductor: The conductor from electrode to earth bar is correctly sized, routed, identified and terminated; Earth Bar/System: The earth bar/terminal correctly collects and distributes the earthing system to connected equipment; Equipment Earth: CCR, panels, transformers, signs and fixtures are each correctly connected to the earthing system; Bonding: Metallic components that must remain at the same potential are correctly bonded together; Earth Continuity: A continuous, low-resistance earth path exists from equipment to the earth bar, with no open circuit; Earth Resistance: The earth pit/electrode/system resistance meets the approved project requirement; Lightning Protection: Air terminals, down conductors and earth connections function as an integrated protective system; Surge Protection: SPDs are correctly installed with a low-impedance earth/bonding path for the intended surge current; Test-Result Evaluation: Every result is technically reviewed against approved design, standards and manufacturer requirements; Acceptance: The complete earthing and bonding system is formally accepted and documented.
Two conditions should be established before earthing and bonding verification of any AGL component begins. Acceptance Criteria Are Not Universal: Earth continuity and earth resistance acceptance criteria come from the applicable project specification, design and equipment requirements — never an assumed universal value; Earth-resistance results can be influenced by parallel earth paths, soil conditions, electrode arrangement and test configuration; The test report should record the test method and test conditions, not just the resistance value; Before testing: confirm the approved test method, identify parallel earth paths, determine whether disconnection is required, and ensure safe isolation.
Division boundary: Division 13 is the dedicated protective-earth and equipotential-bonding verification division for the AGL system; Individual equipment electrical tests remain in their respective commissioning divisions — CCR in Division 03, isolation transformers in Division 04, general electrical testing in Division 02; CCR, panel, transformer, sign and fixture earthing should be verified both physically and electrically; Lightning protection is assessed as an integrated system, not merely as an individual earth connection.
Division 13 runs as a single continuous sequence, from earth-pit verification through to the final Earthing & Bonding Test Report and system acceptance. (1) Pre-Commissioning Review — Confirm approved earthing layout, design and earth-pit schedule; (2) Earth-Pit & Electrode — Verify earth-pit construction and installed earth electrode; (3) Earth-Conductor Verification — Trace and verify the conductor from electrode to earth bar; (4) Equipment-Earth Verification — Verify each item of equipment is connected to the earth system; (5) Bonding Verification — Verify equipotential bonding between metallic components; (6) Fixture/Transformer/Sign/CCR/Panel — Verify bonding across each applicable equipment type; (7) Earth Continuity Test — Test the continuous earth path from equipment to earth bar; (8) Earth Resistance Test — Measure earth-pit/electrode/system resistance by the approved method; (9) Bonding Continuity Test — Test continuity across bonding connections; (10) Lightning & Surge Protection — Verify lightning-protection and surge-protection arrangements; (11) Result Evaluation & Acceptance — Evaluate results and complete the earthing acceptance test; (12) Test Report & Sign-Off — Complete the Earthing & Bonding Test Report and obtain sign-off.
Earthing and bonding testing confirms the fault path that keeps people and equipment safe.
Build the technical knowledge to understand resistance-to-earth testing, bonding continuity, and how soil conditions and installation quality determine whether protection actually works when it's needed.
Test with precision. Protect with confidence. Commission with certainty.
Please read before relying on any content on this page or on any record downloaded from it.