Inspection of Electrical earthing and protection from lightning systems

Obligations for Electrical Systems

All employers must ensure the safety of electrical systems, earthing and lightning protection systems. This requirement is stated by law in DPR 462/2001, which obliges periodic inspections to be carried out by authorised bodies.

Steps Required

Periodic inspection must be carried out for:

• The earthing system

• Lightning protection systems 

• Electrical systems in environments with explosion risk

In addition, the inspection report must be retained and the choice of the accredited and authorised body to carry out periodic and extraordinary inspections must be communicated to INAIL through the CIVA portal.

Inspection Frequency

• Every 2 years for construction sites, medical or veterinary practices, environments with fire or explosion risk.

• Every 5 years for all other workplaces.

If the employer does not comply with these obligations, they may face fines, sanctions and even legal liability in case of accidents caused by non-compliant systems. Beyond the regulatory aspect, periodic inspection is a guarantee for the safety of workers and the protection of company assets.

Regulatory Framework

DPR 462/2001 was introduced to fill a regulatory gap related to the safety of electrical systems in workplaces, introducing the obligation for the employer to ensure periodic inspection and assigning the execution of such controls to external authorised bodies appointed by the Ministry of Economic Development.

The inspections apply to earthing systems, lightning protection systems, electrical systems installed in environments classified as ATEX. The inspection must verify that the protection measures against direct and indirect contacts are adequate, that automatic disconnection devices operate correctly and that the earth resistance of the earthing system complies with the limits imposed by the CEI 64-8 standard.

Starting from the Milleproroghe decree (Italian Law Decree 162/2019), it became mandatory to notify INAIL of the appointed body through the CIVA portal. Access to the platform requires SPID or CNS and allows the uploading of data relating to the system, the employer, the location and the type of intervention, first inspection, periodic or extraordinary. Once the data have been submitted, the body may accept the appointment and proceed with the inspection.

The applicable tariff is the ISPESL 2005 tariff schedule, which provides fixed and non-modifiable amounts based on the power of the system and its level of complexity. In addition, the body is required to pay INAIL a fee equal to 5 percent of the remuneration received for each inspection carried out.

The regulations provide that, if the earthing system and the lightning protection system are reported at the same time and the inspection is carried out on the same day and at the same site, the LPS system may be exempt from the payment of a new tariff, resulting in cost savings for the employer.

System classification

From a technical standpoint, the earthing system must ensure that touch voltages do not exceed safety limits (50 V in ordinary environments, 25 V in environments at greater risk) and that the earth resistance (Rt) is suitable to ensure the operation of residual current devices within the time limits required by the standard. In particular, in a TT system, disconnection must occur within 1 second for circuits up to 32 A. Equipotential bonding systems must be properly implemented and include extraneous conductive parts such as metal pipes and structural steelwork, in order to prevent dangerous potential differences in the event of a fault or lightning strike.

Protection against lightning is governed by the CEI EN 62305 series of standards, which define the risk assessment criteria and the required levels of protection. The employer is required to verify, with the support of a qualified technician, whether the building falls among those that must be protected by an LPS (Lightning Protection System). Where applicable, the system must be reported to INAIL and be subject to the same periodic inspections required for earthing systems.

Systems subject to inspection are classified into four technical areas:

Area 1: lightning protection systems (LPS)
Area 2: earthing systems with voltage ≤ 1000 V
Area 3: earthing systems > 1000 V (high voltage)
Area 4: electrical systems in explosive atmospheres (ATEX)

Finally, in relation to the electrical distribution system used (TT, TN-S, TN-C, IT), the appointed technician must assess the protection methods adopted, the disconnection times and the required continuity of service, particularly in industrial, healthcare or critical environments.