HomeTechnical notes › What Is an Equipotential Bonding Terminal Box For? How to Set One Up in a Bathroom or Equipment Room

05 Informational content / Technical articles 2026-09-11 Published ~ 11 min read GB 50303

What is the purpose of an equipotential bonding terminal box?
How to Set One Up in a Bathroom or Equipment Room

That inconspicuous little box in the bathroom could save a life— the purpose of an equipotential bonding terminal box is to bond metal parts in a local area to the same potential, eliminating electric shock hazards. This article follows GB 50303 to explain the working principle and installation requirements of equipotential bonding terminal boxes, with installation examples for bathrooms and equipment rooms. Zhejiang Golden Unicorn produces over 10,000 equipotential boxes annually.

1. What an Equipotential Bonding Terminal Box Does (Eliminating Potential Difference)

The core function of an equipotential bonding terminal box is toeliminate potential differences within a local area. When equipment leaks current or lightning strikes, there is no potential difference between metal parts, so no current flows through a person touching them simultaneously —no potential difference means no electric shock.

SCHEMATICBusbarsTerminal blocksMain circuit breakerControl & protection devicesTerminal block outgoing cables
Figure — 1. What an Equipotential Bonding Terminal Box DoesCabinet structure diagram · photo pending

2. Where Is an Equipotential Bonding Terminal Box Mandatory? (5 Categories of Required Locations)

LocationTypeRequirement
Bathroom / Shower RoomLEBMandatory per GB 50303
Swimming poolLEBMandatory per GB 50303
Hospital operating roomLEBMandatory per GB 50303
Equipment Room / Low-Voltage RoomLEBRecommended
Distribution RoomMEBMandatory per GB 50054

3. How to Set Up LEB in a Bathroom (Example)

Bathroom LEB

① LEB terminal box recessed in the bathroom wall, 0.3–0.5 m above floor level;
② PE conductor run from the floor PE bar to the LEB (BVR-16mm²);
③ Cold water pipe / hot water pipe / heating pipe bonded to LEB with BVR-6mm²;
④ Metal bathtub / metal shower rod / metal fixtures bonded to LEB;
⑤ Floor / wall structural rebar bonded to LEB;
⑥ LEB and MEB are bonded with BVR-16mm².

SCHEMATICBusbarsTerminal blocksMain circuit breakerControl & protection devicesTerminal block outgoing cables
Figure — 3. How to set up LEB in a bathroomCabinet structure diagram · photo pending

4. How is equipotential bonding set up in a server room? (lightning protection + grounding)

Equipotential bonding in the server room uses aM-type equipotential bonding network: ① Lay a copper strip grid under the anti-static raised floor (600×600mm); ② Bond all cabinets and equipment enclosures to the copper strip grid with BVR-6mm²; ③ Bond the copper strip grid to the server room LEB terminal box; ④ Bond the LEB terminal box to the building MEB and the grounding electrode, with a ground resistance ≤ 1Ω.

5. Equipotential bonding terminal box selection (LEB specifications)

ModelTerminalsEnclosure sizeConductor cross-section
LEB-44-position250×180×80≤ 6mm²
LEB-66-position300×200×80≤ 6mm²
LEB-88-way350×250×80≤ 10mm²
MEB-1212-way400×300×100≤ 25mm²

FAQ FAQ

What is the purpose of an equipotential bonding terminal box?

It eliminates potential differences within a local area, bonding metal pipes, equipment enclosures and structural rebar to the same potential to prevent electric shock.

Is an LEB mandatory in a bathroom?

Required by GB 50303A bathroom must have a local equipotential bonding terminal box; without one, it will not pass inspection.

Can LEB and MEB share one box?

No. The MEB is at the building entry point and the LEB is in a local area — different locations and different functions. The LEB must be bonded to the MEB but installed separately.

How is equipotential bonding wired in a server room?

Lay a copper strip grid under the anti-static raised floor, bond the cabinets to the grid, bond the grid to the LEB, and bond the LEB to the MEB and the grounding electrode, with a ground resistance ≤ 1Ω.

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