What might happen if grounding systems are not regularly maintained?

Regular maintenance of grounding systems is essential for ensuring their effectiveness in providing safety from electrical hazards. Over time, grounding systems can degrade due to environmental factors, corrosion, or physical damage. If these systems are not maintained, their ability to dissipate fault currents and protect equipment and personnel diminishes. This lack of functionality can lead to increased electrical hazards, such as shock risk, equipment failure, or fire hazards, as the grounding system may no longer provide a low-resistance path for fault currents.

Maintaining grounding systems helps ensure that they are functioning properly, effectively protecting against electrical faults, thereby reducing potential hazards that may arise from neglect. Proper checks, repairs, and upgrades as necessary are vital for ongoing safety and compliance with electrical standards.