Substation Safety: Are You Rock Solid?

Jacob Rioux, Hood Patterson & DewarColumns, Spring 2026 Columns, Tech Tips

Substation design typically calls for two to six inches of aggregate (crushed rock) as a top layer upon completion of construction. This layer serves several purposes, including improved vehicle access, reduced erosion, and suppression of vegetation. Another significant function of this layer is to provide personnel safety by increasing the allowed (maximum permissible) touch and step potential values versus native …

Fall of Potential Testing Gone Wrong

Jacob Rioux, Hood Patterson & DewarColumns, Tech Tips, Winter 2025 Columns

As testers, where should we start? The standards! For grounding testing, the industry reference is IEEE Std. 81, Guide for Measuring Earth Resistivity, Ground Impedance, and Earth Surface Potentials of a Grounding System. As with most standards, familiarity and interpretation are key.  It can be a challenge to understand the intent, methods, and implementation of the prescribed testing. Fall of Potential …