Grounding Audit Proven Process
Why Complete a Grounding Audit?
Safety is your top priority, and an audit of your site’s grounding system is a critical step toward keeping your facility and team safe. Ground resistance and continuity testing identify potential failures in the grounding system so corrective action can be taken. Choosing a grounding audit with Interstates means avoiding lost production time and ensuring the safety of your team members. We’ll find the problems, provide the solutions, and help you take corrective action. Let’s get started!
Your Guide to a Successful Grounding Audit What To Expect
Your Role
Your involvement keeps the project moving. Here are a few things we’ll need from you as we move through the process:
- Work with us to schedule the on-site grounding audit
- Provide existing grounding drawings and a facility site plan if available
- *Provide us with a guide who has a good understanding of the power distribution system to
assist - Review and approve monthly invoices
- Attend and participate during the kickoff, site recap, and review meetings
- Inform us of any corrective action taken based on the recommendations, including new
resistance readings. The final report will reflect the updated conditions. - Save final documents for future use
*Note: Depending on options selected in the proposal, Interstates may be contracted to complete this
item.
What You'll Receive
Over the course of your project, you can expect to receive:
- Progress reports
- Monthly invoices based on the project’s progression
- Up-to-date status of the grounding system
- Recommendations to address high and critical ohm readings to keep your employees safe and prevent electrical equipment damage
- Findings on any additional safety and reliability concerns associated with your facility’s grounding system
- A grounding audit report signed by a professional engineer in the associated state
Discovery Phase
You’ll receive a proposal for your grounding audit.
Client Request
Key Steps
- Request Quote
- Share Project Details
Grounding audits are a great preventative safety measure to protect your employees and keep equipment from being damaged. Once we receive your request, our team will reach out to learn more about your project.
Project Scope
Key Steps
- Scope Project
- Send Documents
After we understand your grounding audit goals, we’ll develop your proposal with the discussed project details. If available, send our team your facility’s grounding drawings, site layout, and standard operating procedures.
Proposal
Key Steps
- Review Proposal
- Approve Funding
Once the proposal is ready, our team will review it with you. Contact us at any time with questions or if you would like to make changes to the proposal. When you’re ready to move forward, please notify us. We look forward to working with you!
Site Audit Phase
You’ll receive a recap of the grounding system test results.
Kickoff
Key Steps
- Schedule Site Visit
- Prep for Site Audit Trip
Our team will stay in contact with you throughout the process. We’ll start with discussing the project details and scheduling the on-site grounding audit. As we prepare for the trip, we’ll ask you to provide current drawings of your facility. If you don’t have drawings, we can draft the drawing backgrounds as needed.
Site Visit
Key Steps
- Test Equipment
- Record Results
- Recap Site Audit
While on-site, our technician will meet with your point of contact to walk through the facility and begin ground resistance tests. We’ll document the ohm value for each test point, mark test point locations, and ensure equipment is properly grounded and bonded. Before the technician leaves your facility, they’ll summarize the grounding audit and alert you of test points with a critical ohm reading and any immediate concerns.
Analysis Phase
You’ll receive the first draft of the grounding audit report.
Drafted Report
Key Steps
- Develop Report
- Send for Review
Our team will develop a report and provide recommendations for test results over specified limits to improve the grounding system. This report is peer-reviewed to give you a thorough, comprehensive audit. We’ll distribute the first draft of the report so you can read it before the review meeting.
Review
Key Steps
- Hold Review Meeting
- Discuss Findings
You’ll meet with us to review the report layout, discuss the findings, and go over the recommendations to improve the grounding system at your facility. This meeting is your chance to understand, ask questions, and make comments on the report.
Results Phase
You’ll receive the finalized report with recommendations to improve your grounding system to protect employees and prevent equipment damage.
Facility Changes
Key Steps
- Implement Recommendations
- Confirm Facility Changes
You may want to take action on some of our recommendations before receiving the finalized report. While you might not choose to complete all of them, the recommended changes will give you a safer, more reliable facility. Please notify us about the changes you are making and would like incorporated into the finalized report.
Final Documents
Key Steps
- Finalize Report
- Sign Report
- Receive Final Documents
We’ll update the grounding audit report to reflect any changes implemented at your facility and the comments from the review meeting. A professional engineer licensed in the associated state will sign the report, and our team will send you the finalized version. We recommend completing this audit every 3-5 years.