Purpose of PRAM checks – PRAM certificate and PRAM approval:

  • Prevention of electrocution of personnel who use the electrical installation and work equipment
  • Preventing the burning of buildings and preventing the destruction of electrical and electronic equipment
  • Periodic checking of electrical installations is legalized, because all installations deteriorate due to a number of factors such as: excessive circuit loading, wear and tear of equipment, corrosion, aging of insulation.

PRAM measurements for:

Earthing sockets – grounding, Earthing sockets for lightning arresters and lightning rods, Internal earthing belts in buildings, Potential equalization earthing sockets, Electrical panels, “PE” terminal blocks from electrical distribution panels, Secondary electrical panels, Single-phase 230V sockets, Three-phase 400V sockets , Extension cords, 230V sockets in modular construction, Equipment for production areas (patisseries, laundries, factories, restaurants, etc.), Electric motors, Motors and metal chassis of the production line, Equipotential parts – electrostatic discharges, Electrically insulating floors – individual protective equipment, gloves and electrically insulating boots, Soil resistivity – earth plug design and pH, Chillers, Pump and motor installations, Generating sets, etc., Socket with grounding, Cathodic protection.

Periodicity of PRAM checks. Frequency of PRAM checks

Periodicity PRAM checks generally represent the periodicity of the checks, which is 12 or 6 months. We recommend that you do the full PRAM check (ground socket, electrical panel, sockets and equipment) once a year – 12 months.

In order to keep under control the evolution of an earth outlet and to know its exact value, measurements must be made at least once every 6 months (winter and summer) because then we have frozen soil, dry soil and wet soil. The value of the dispersion resistance is not constant due to corrosion (rust), soil factors, but also the exploitation of the earth socket (lightning, wrong use as null, etc.).

Given that the resistivity of the soil is not homogeneous, and the distance between the test electrodes is chosen experimentally, it is recommended that the calculated value be the arithmetic mean between 3 (three) at different distances of the electrodes. The test method of the 3 or 4 electrodes with the opening of the separation piece (earthing clamp) is the most accurate.

The continuity of the connections from the earth socket to various consumers: 230V sockets, electrical panels, consumers, extension cords, etc. is limited to 1 year according to chapter 8 table of the I7/2011 standard.

PRAM certificate and checks:

PRAM checks include a wide range of electrical measurements, PRAM works (low voltage, medium voltage and high voltage, transformers, AAR, circuit breakers, etc.)

The most common PRAM measurements are on the low voltage side – given that this is the most frequently used on the territory of our country, Romania.

  • Dispersion resistance at the earth sockets / Lightning arrestor earthing socket
  • Continue connections to grounding (230V and 400V sockets, equipment, electrical panels)
  • Cable insulation resistance
  • Dielectric measurements for electro-insulating protective equipment
  • Mains loop impedance, and short-circuit loop
  • Checked the phase sequence and RST phase balancing
  • Checked the circuit breakers with the power kit
  • Checked the 10/30/300 mA differential protections
  • PAT measurements, leakage currents, power, etc
  • Inspections in the infrared spectrum with a thermal imaging camera – Predictive electrical maintenance
  • Energy audit using the network analyzer / Three-phase network analysis at transformers
  • Detection of imperfect contacts
  • Soil resistivity for the design phase of the natural or artificial earth connection
  • Illumination – for optimal HSE working conditions (offices, call-centers, tailors, etc.)
  • Noise – for optimal OSH working conditions (offices, call-centers, factories, production areas, etc.)
  • Compensation of the reactive energy resulting as losses in the winding of the transformers. Delimitation of the medium voltage electrical installation and the low voltage measuring and protection block.

PRAM Bulletins / PRAM Certificate / Reports of periodic checks:

Periodic records must be kept for continuous monitoring and maintenance.

The periodic checks performed by EL-CON are completed free of charge through a PRAM Bulletin / Periodic Verification Report, accompanied by the PRAM Notice. This PRAM Bulletin, PRAM Notice or PRAM Certificate must contain the minimum information required by legislation, namely:

  • Plug labeling
  • Stamping / Marking of measured and good sockets for operation
  • The details of the measured installation
  • The device used to measure the installation – electrical installation tester
  • The degree of humidity
  • The external and ambient temperature
  • The conclusions of the measurements
  • Recommendations and Observations
  • Maximum allowed limits

Checking the dispersion resistance at the earth sockets, PRAM authorization:

  • Visual inspection of welds and connections with screw/shoe to the grounding belt, marking, checking and greasing the joints at the separation piece, measuring the dispersion resistance of the grounding plug, replacing the rusty screws, cleaning the OL-ZN flatband with sandpaper. Lubrication is not done with ordinary vaseline because it is not a good electrical conductor, mounting the separation piece – the electrical installation connection plug.
  • The maximum allowed value is: 1 ohm for underground earthing installation, telecommunications installations, 4 ohm for normal earthing installations (ILP), 10 ohm for lightning protection installations (IPT – Lightning protection installations), 1 ohm for common ILP+IPT installations.