Copper Earth Tape

Copper Earth Tape – Manufacturer & Supplier from India

Copper Earth Tape

Cable Glands India is a leading manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of Copper Earth Tape (also known as Copper Earthing Strip, Copper Grounding Tape, or Flat Copper Conductor) from India. Our Copper Earth Tape is produced from high-conductivity electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper (minimum 99.9% purity) and oxygen-free high-conductivity copper (OFHC), rolled to precise flat tape dimensions for use as the primary conductor in earthing and grounding systems worldwide.

Copper Earth Tape is the most widely specified earthing conductor globally, owing to its excellent electrical conductivity (100% IACS), superior corrosion resistance, ductility, and long service life in soil, concrete, and aerial installations. Our tapes comply with internationally recognised standards including IS 1897:1978, BS EN 13601:2013, IEC 60228, BS 7430, IS 3043:2018, and IEEE Std 80-2013, making them the preferred choice for earthing systems in substations, power plants, buildings, railways, and lightning protection applications.

Product Overview

Parameter Details
Product Name Copper Earth Tape (Copper Earthing Strip / Flat Copper Conductor)
Material Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper (ETP) – Cu-ETP / C11000; or Oxygen-Free Copper (OFHC) – Cu-OF / C10100
Purity Minimum 99.9% Cu (ETP), 99.99% Cu (OFHC)
Conductivity ≥ 100% IACS (ETP), ≥ 101% IACS (OFHC)
Width 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm (custom widths available)
Thickness 3 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm
Cross Sectional Area 60 mm², 70 mm², 100 mm², 120 mm², 150 mm², 200 mm², 300 mm²
Supply Form Coil (20 m, 25 m, 30 m standard) / Cut lengths / Drums
Temper Soft (Annealed) / Half-Hard / Hard
Surface Finish Bare Copper / Tin-Plated / PVC Insulated
Standards IS 1897, BS EN 13601, IEC 60228 Class 2, IS 3043, IEEE 80, BS 7430, ASTM B187
Temperature Rating Up to 200°C (continuous) for bare copper
MOQ 50 kg / 100 m (coil or drum)
Origin Made in India

Standard Dimensions and Cross Sections

Width (mm) Thickness (mm) CSA (mm²) Weight (kg/m) DC Resistance (mΩ/m)
20 3 60 0.535 0.286
25 3 75 0.668 0.229
25 6 150 1.336 0.115
30 6 180 1.603 0.096
40 6 240 2.138 0.072
50 6 300 2.672 0.057
50 10 500 4.454 0.034
75 6 450 4.008 0.038
100 6 600 5.344 0.029

Applicable Standards

  • IS 1897:1978 – Specification for Copper Strip, Sheet, and Plate (Bureau of Indian Standards)
  • BS EN 13601:2013 – Copper and Copper Alloys – Copper Rod, Bar and Wire for General Electrical Purposes
  • IEC 60228:2004 – Conductors of Insulated Cables – defines conductor cross-sections
  • IS 3043:2018 – Code of Practice for Earthing – specifies copper tape as preferred earthing conductor
  • BS 7430:2011+A1:2015 – Code of Practice for Protective Earthing – copper tape sizing and installation
  • IEEE Std 80-2013 – Guide for Safety in AC Substation Grounding – copper conductor sizing for fault current
  • ASTM B187 / B187M – Standard Specification for Copper Bus Bar, Rod, and Shapes
  • IEC 62305-3:2010 – Lightning Protection – down conductor and earth conductor sizing
  • IS 8130:1984 – Conductors for Insulated Electric Cables and Flexible Cords

Key Features & Benefits

  • Highest Electrical Conductivity: ETP copper achieves ≥100% IACS conductivity, providing the lowest resistivity of any common earthing conductor material, ensuring superior fault current dissipation.
  • Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Copper forms a stable, protective patina in soil environments, making it ideal for direct burial without protective coatings in most soil types, per IS 3043 and BS 7430 specifications.
  • High Fault Current Capacity: Copper earth tape handles large fault currents (up to 100 kA for 1 second depending on cross-section) without thermal damage, as calculated using the IS 3043 and IEEE 80 conductor sizing formulae.
  • Flexible and Ductile: Annealed (soft) copper tape is highly flexible, allowing easy routing around corners, through conduits, and along irregular surfaces without risk of cracking or fracture.
  • Long Service Life: Copper earth tape installed in most soil conditions maintains its conductivity and mechanical integrity for 40–50+ years, minimising maintenance costs.
  • Bimetallic Compatibility: Tin-plated copper tape variants prevent galvanic corrosion where copper is connected to aluminium structural elements or aluminium tape in mixed-metal earthing systems.
  • Easy Connection: Flat tape profile is compatible with all standard bronze and brass earthing clamps, tape clips, U-clamps, and square tape clamps, enabling rapid, reliable connections throughout the earthing system.

Conductor Sizing Guide (per IS 3043 / BS 7430)

System Voltage Max Fault Current Fault Duration Minimum CSA (IS 3043) Recommended Tape Size
LV (up to 1 kV) Up to 16 kA 1 sec 70 mm² 25×3 mm or 25×6 mm
11 kV / 33 kV Up to 25 kA 1 sec 120 mm² 40×3 mm or 20×6 mm
132 kV / 220 kV Up to 40 kA 1 sec 200 mm² 50×6 mm or 40×6 mm
400 kV / 765 kV Up to 63 kA 1 sec 300 mm² 50×6 mm or 50×10 mm

Note: Conductor sizing should always be verified by a qualified earthing design engineer as per project-specific fault level and duration parameters.

Applications

  • Electrical substation and switchyard earthing grids (buried and surface)
  • Building and structure earthing systems (as per IS 3043)
  • Lightning Protection System (LPS) down conductors and ring conductors
  • Power plant switchyard and generator earthing
  • Railway traction earthing and track bonding
  • Telecommunications tower and BTS site earthing
  • Solar PV and wind turbine array earthing
  • Oil & gas plant, refinery, and pipeline cathodic protection bonding
  • Hospital, airport, and data centre precision earthing systems

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Copper Earth Tape and how is it used?

Copper Earth Tape (also called Copper Earthing Strip or Flat Copper Conductor) is a flat-profiled copper conductor used as the primary horizontal and vertical conductor in earthing and grounding systems. It connects earth electrodes (rods, plates, or rebars) to equipment, structures, and lightning protection down conductors, providing a low-resistance path for fault currents to dissipate safely into the ground.

Q2: What is the difference between ETP copper and OFHC copper for earthing?

ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) copper, with ≥99.9% purity and ≥100% IACS conductivity, is the standard choice for earthing tapes and is specified in IS 1897, BS EN 13601, and ASTM B187. OFHC (Oxygen-Free High Conductivity) copper, with ≥99.99% purity and ≥101% IACS, is preferred for sensitive electronic earthing, high-frequency applications, and environments where hydrogen embrittlement may be a concern.

Q3: What size copper earth tape should I use for a 33 kV substation?

For a 33 kV substation with a maximum fault current of 25 kA for 1 second, IS 3043:2018 recommends a minimum cross-section of 120 mm². This is typically achieved using 40 mm × 3 mm (120 mm²) or 20 mm × 6 mm (120 mm²) copper earth tape. Final sizing must be verified by an earthing design engineer.

Q4: Can copper earth tape be buried directly in soil?

Yes. Bare copper earth tape can be buried directly in most soil types as specified by IS 3043 and BS 7430. Copper is naturally resistant to soil corrosion in most environments. However, in highly acidic soils (pH < 4), soils contaminated with ammonia, or soils with high sulphate content, tin-plated or PVC-sheathed copper tape should be specified for additional protection.

Q5: What length coils do you supply copper earth tape in?

Our standard supply formats are 20 m, 25 m, and 30 m coils. For larger projects, we supply on 100 m or 500 m drums. Cut-to-length supply is also available for specific project requirements.

Q6: Do you supply tin-plated copper earth tape?

Yes. We supply tin-plated copper earth tape in all standard widths and thicknesses. Tin plating is recommended for marine environments, coastal applications, highly polluted industrial areas, and wherever copper tape connects to aluminium components to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Q7: What is the minimum conductor size for LV building earthing per IS 3043?

For LV (up to 1 kV) building earthing systems, IS 3043:2018 specifies a minimum copper earth conductor cross-section of 25 mm² for protective conductors and 16 mm² for bonding conductors. However, the main earthing tape run is typically sized at 25×3 mm (75 mm²) or 25×6 mm (150 mm²) for buildings of significant size.

Q8: Can you supply copper earth tape with material test certificates?

Yes. We supply Material Test Certificates (MTC) confirming chemical composition (purity), tensile strength, elongation, and electrical conductivity for every batch. Third-party inspection and NABL-accredited lab reports are available upon request.

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Why Source Copper Earth Tape from Cable Glands India?

Cable Glands India supplies high-purity ETP and OFHC copper earth tape rolled to precise dimensional tolerances and tested to IS 1897, BS EN 13601, and ASTM B187 standards. Our quality assurance process includes OES spectrometric purity analysis, tensile and elongation testing, dimensional gauging, and conductivity verification for every production batch.

With the ability to supply in standard coils, custom cut lengths, and large drum quantities, we cater to small electrical contractors and large EPC companies alike. Our tape is trusted in substation earthing projects, building construction, lightning protection systems, and renewable energy installations across 50+ countries. Competitive pricing, flexible MOQ, and fast dispatch make Cable Glands India your preferred copper earth tape supplier.

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