I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum in other forums, but I can't seem to nail down a specific topic that covers what I need (Search is not my friend today).
I'm looking for documentation showing specific requirements regarding sinking your own ground rod for grounding racks and other telecom/data equipment. My recollection is that the separate rod needs to be bonded to the electrical panel or ufer to prevent potential between the ground rod and the ground that's on the energized equipment mounted in the rack.
Can someone please straighten me out, with reference to code (electric, BICSI, etc.)?
Visit Atcom to get started with your new business VoIP phone system ASAP
Turn up is quick, painless, and can often be done same day.
Let us show you how to do VoIP right, resulting in crystal clear call quality and easy-to-use features that make everyone happy!
Proudly serving Canada from coast to coast.
This topic was posted a long time ago, but I believe it's still relevant.
Common bond was in the Bell System Practices, I'm not sure what all BICSI copied over, I know they did a lot of it, but all that could have changed. I'm not at all familiar with BICSI Standards. I would think common bond is still a followed practice. To me it's just common sense to have no difference in potential in the grounds.
EDIT: To add, I don't recall common bond ever being in the NEC.
Thanks! The link https://www.psihq.com/iread/strpgrnd.htm provides pretty clear reference. If you're following NEC guidelines only, it would be enough to tell you my understanding is correct. I was challenged by a "fact" that BICSI did not speak to the need for bonding supplemental grounds to the building grounding system, and that BICSI was over and above anything the NEC said. If BICSI doesn't speak to it, it should for this very reason.
The NEC covers Grounding and Bonding from a SAFETY standard.
BICSI, EIA/TIA/ANSI cover Grounding and Bonding from a PERFORMANCE standard.
B I G difference.
Grounding in the era of Steppers, XBar, 1A2 and the like was a lot easier then now. 2 or 3 volt imbalance won't effect a 1970 era phone system. But a "modern" VOIP system? It would hose it.
I worked for a company that was contracted by NBC to provide Telephone service to the Olympics in Russia (1984?). We opted to provide a XBar, because the question was raised whether a "new" electronic system (NEAX 22L) would function with the poor quality Russian infrastructure. Grounding was a major concern. Of course, because of Afghanistan we never got to do the job.
Sam
"Where are we going and why are we in this hand basket?"