Compatible Electronics performs ground continuity and protective bonding testing as a mandatory component of NVLAP-accredited safety evaluations at our laboratory (Lab Code 200527-0). A failed ground continuity test is one of the most common causes of safety test failure — and a critical protection against electric shock.
Ground continuity testing — also called protective bonding or earth continuity testing — verifies that a low-impedance path exists between the mains supply earth terminal and all accessible conductive parts of the equipment. This path ensures that a fault current flowing through the equipment will trip the circuit breaker or fuse rather than flow through a user, preventing electric shock.
The test passes a high current (typically 10–25 A AC) through the protective earth circuit and measures the resulting resistance or voltage drop. Most IEC safety standards require the resistance between the supply earth pin and any accessible conductive part to be below 0.1 Ω. Ground continuity testing is always performed alongside dielectric strength testing and leakage current testing as part of a complete electrical safety evaluation.
💡 Common failure causes: Ground continuity failures typically result from loose earth connections, inadequate conductor cross-section, paint or anodising between bonded parts, insufficient thread engagement on earthing screws, or missing earth bonding jumpers on hinged panels.
Contact our safety engineers for a quote or to discuss your testing requirements.