Galvanized band irons (galvanized flat steel strip, earthing strip, lightning protection band) from ULAMEX are hot-dip galvanized flat steel strips used for earthing and grounding systems, lightning protection installations, structural strapping, outdoor construction connections and industrial packaging. Available in cross-sections from 20×3 mm to 40×5 mm, galvanized per DIN EN ISO 1461, these versatile flat bands serve critical safety functions in electrical earthing and lightning protection while also providing robust structural strapping for construction and logistics applications.
Earthing Strip (Grounding Band) — Electrical Safety Foundation
Galvanized earthing strip is the backbone of every building’s electrical safety system. Buried in the foundation concrete or laid in trenches around the building perimeter, earthing strip creates a low-resistance path to ground for fault currents, lightning strikes and static discharge. The hot-dip galvanized zinc coating ensures decades of corrosion-free performance in both buried and above-ground installations.
ULAMEX supplies earthing strip in the five most commonly specified cross-sections conforming to EN 50164-2 (earthing and lightning protection components):
| Cross-Section | Cross-Sectional Area | Resistance (µΩ/m at 20°C) | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20×3 mm | 60 mm² | ~287 | Residential earthing, equipotential bonding |
| 25×4 mm | 100 mm² | ~172 | Standard building earthing (most common) |
| 30×3.5 mm | 105 mm² | ~164 | Commercial earthing, down-conductors |
| 30×4 mm | 120 mm² | ~143 | Industrial earthing, ring conductors |
| 40×5 mm | 200 mm² | ~86 | Heavy-duty industrial earthing, substations |
Lightning Protection Band — EN 62305 Compliance
Lightning protection band (Blitzschutzband) serves as down-conductors, ring conductors and equipotential bonding connections within lightning protection systems designed per EN 62305 (Protection against lightning). The galvanized flat strip provides the required current-carrying capacity to safely conduct lightning strike currents (up to 200 kA for a first return stroke) from the air-termination system to the earthing system.
Commonly specified cross-sections for lightning protection are 20×3, 25×4 and 30×3.5 mm, which exceed the minimum 50 mm² conductor cross-section required by EN 62305-3 Table 6 for lightning protection level III and IV installations. For level I and II systems (highest protection), 30×4 mm or 40×5 mm may be specified.
Steel Strapping Band — Industrial Packaging
Galvanized steel strapping band is used for securing heavy loads, banding steel bundles, strapping timber packs and securing cargo for transport. Available in widths of 16, 19, 25 and 32 mm with thicknesses of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, strapping band is supplied in coils on oscillated or ribbon-wound reels for use with manual or pneumatic strapping tools.
Applications
- Foundation earthing (Fundamenterder) — 25×4 mm or 30×4 mm strip laid in foundation concrete per DIN 18014
- Ring earthing conductors — galvanized strip buried around building perimeters at 0.5–1.0 m depth
- Equipotential bonding (Potentialausgleich) — connecting metallic building services (water, gas, heating pipes) to the earthing system
- Lightning protection down-conductors — vertical strips from roof air-termination to foundation earth per EN 62305
- Lightning protection ring conductors — horizontal ring conductors connecting multiple down-conductors at building base level
- Structural connections — outdoor bracing straps, tension bands and hanger strips for galvanized steel structures
- Industrial strapping — securing steel coils, pipe bundles, timber packages and heavy cargo
- Solar mounting systems — earthing connections for photovoltaic mounting structures
Technical Specifications — Earthing and Lightning Protection Strip
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Cross-sections (earthing) | 20×3, 25×4, 30×3.5, 30×4, 40×5 mm |
| Cross-sections (strapping) | 16×0.5, 19×0.5, 19×0.8, 25×0.8, 32×1.0 mm |
| Steel grade | S235JR (1.0038) per EN 10025-2 |
| Surface treatment | Hot-dip galvanized per DIN EN ISO 1461 |
| Zinc coating thickness | ≥ 45 µm (earthing strip), ≥ 55 µm (≥ 6 mm material) |
| Tensile strength | 360–510 MPa |
| Packaging — earthing strip | Bundles of 6 m straight lengths or 25/50 m coils |
| Packaging — strapping | Oscillated coils (15–50 kg) on steel or plastic reels |
Standards and Compliance
- EN 50164-2 — Lightning protection components — Requirements for conductors and earth electrodes
- EN 62305 (Parts 1–4) — Protection against lightning (system design, risk management, physical damage protection, electrical systems protection)
- DIN 18014 — Foundation earth electrode — Planning, execution and documentation
- DIN EN ISO 1461 — Hot dip galvanized coatings on fabricated iron and steel articles
- EN 10025-2 — Hot rolled products of structural steels (base material)
- EN 13600 — Copper and copper alloy seamless tubes (referenced in earthing standards for comparison)
Why Galvanized Strip for Earthing (Not Copper)?
While copper earthing conductors offer lower electrical resistance, galvanized steel earthing strip is the overwhelmingly dominant choice in continental European construction for several reasons:
- Cost — galvanized steel is 3–5× cheaper than copper per equivalent conductor cross-section
- Theft resistance — copper’s scrap value makes it a target; galvanized steel has negligible scrap value
- Mechanical strength — steel strip is stronger and more resistant to accidental damage during construction
- Compatibility — steel strip is compatible with concrete (alkaline environment), whereas bare copper can accelerate corrosion of adjacent steel reinforcement
- Standards compliance — EN 62305 and DIN 18014 explicitly permit galvanized steel earthing conductors with minimum cross-section requirements
Why ULAMEX for Galvanized Band Irons
- All standard earthing cross-sections in stock — 20×3 through 40×5 mm for immediate dispatch
- Strapping band programme — 16–32 mm widths for industrial packaging
- EN 50164-2 compliant earthing strip with full test documentation
- Mill test certificates 3.1 (EN 10204) with every delivery
- Straight lengths and coils — 6 m bars or 25/50 m coils to suit your installation method
- EN 1090 certified supply chain — view certifications
- Pan-European delivery — serving electrical contractors, building services firms and distributors since 1988
Frequently Asked Questions
What size earthing strip do I need for a residential building?
For standard residential buildings, 25×4 mm galvanized earthing strip (100 mm² cross-section) is the most commonly specified size per DIN 18014. This exceeds the minimum 50 mm² required by EN 62305-3 and provides a comfortable safety margin. The strip is typically laid in the foundation concrete as a ring conductor (Fundamenterder) and brought up at designated connection points for the main earthing terminal.
Can galvanized earthing strip be buried directly in soil?
Yes. Hot-dip galvanized steel earthing strip per ISO 1461 is approved for direct burial in soil. The zinc coating provides corrosion protection in most soil types for 30–50+ years. In highly acidic soils (pH < 5) or soils with very high chloride content, additional protection measures or increased zinc coating thickness may be required. Always follow DIN 18014 and local installation guidelines for burial depth (typically 0.5–1.0 m) and connection details.
What is the difference between earthing strip and lightning protection band?
Physically, they are the same product — hot-dip galvanized flat steel strip. The distinction is in their function within the building’s electrical protection system. Earthing strip (Erdungsband) refers to the buried or embedded conductor that provides the ground connection. Lightning protection band (Blitzschutzband) refers to the visible above-ground conductors — down-leads from roof to ground, ring conductors and bonding connections. Both must comply with EN 62305 and EN 50164-2.
Request a Quote
From foundation earthing strip to lightning protection band and industrial strapping, ULAMEX supplies the full range of galvanized band irons from stock across Europe. Contact our sales team for pricing, technical specifications and delivery. See also our steel band irons for uncoated variants and our complete galvanized steel product catalogue.