Traditionally the most used material in any earthing/grounding system is copper. There are a few attributes which make copper appealing to designers: the electrical conductivity of the material, and familiarity.

Using copper as the main method of creating safe earth/ground systems costs rail infrastructure projects, indeed the wider construction industry, billions of dollars a year. Copper is a high cost item and is attractive to criminals who steal the valuable components. The true cost of copper theft extends beyond replacement elements.

After theft occurs it takes time to discover the event and undertake remedial action; this period without protection exposes the project, facility or zone to potentially life threatening hazards. Fortunately copper, or other metallic components, are no longer the only materials which can be used to create safe zones. The British company, FM Sudafix, provides earthing/grounding solutions to address any issue so we posed the problem of copper theft to Technical Director, John Maher: “The theft of metallic components has always been a problem facing earthing/grounding and lightning protection systems.

Fortunately copper, aluminium or stainless steel materials are not the only available methods of earthing/grounding fault current, and even when they are utilized it is entirely possible to offer theft protection to them. “One of the materials exclusively held in the FM Sudafix product range offers superior earthing/grounding opportunities making substantial quantities of metallic components redundant; that compound is called Conducrete. “The theft prevention properties of Conducrete ensure that materials contained within Conducrete remain where they were installed, providing the protection needed.” Steve Hutchinson, FM Sudafix CEO, was recently asked about Conducrete: “The versatility of Conducrete is changing a number of industries. It is a unique product that solves problems in numerous sectors. We are still discovering further applications. We have to keep substantial stocks due to the enormous demand.” Conducrete is approved on projects throughout the globe. It has been approved for use on the Dublin LUAS light rail system, amongst other infrastructure projects, and by utility organizations all over the world. Other options for earthing/grounding include items of cathodic protection; FM Sudafix host AEL Anodes and the environmentally friendly EnvirAnode™ either offering extended life systems designed specifically for each project. FM Sudafix continues to demonstrate why it is the superior manufacturer.