Communications Grounding Bridge

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Gonzito83

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Brooklyn NY USA
In a new home construction in NYC, is it required by the contractor to install an Intersystem Grounding Bridge at the location for communication wires?
Can it pass inspection without it?
 
Contractor provided intersystem bridge inside by the service panels. But placed the communications wires in back of house. With no ground block. And no external bonding outside. Communication wires obviously further than 20ft.
 
NYC is still on the 2008 NEC here's the 2008 requirements:
250.94 Bonding for Other Systems. An intersystem bonding termination for connecting intersystem bonding
and grounding conductors required for other systems shall be provided external to enclosures at the service equipment
and at the disconnecting means for any additional buildings or structures. The intersystem bonding termination shall be
accessible for connection and inspection. The intersystem bonding termination shall have the capacity for connection
of not less than three intersystem bonding conductors. The intersystem bonding termination device shall not interfere
with opening a service or metering equipment enclosure. The intersystem bonding termination shall be one of the
following:
(1) A set of terminals securely mounted to the meter enclosure and electrically connected to the meter enclosure.
The terminals shall be listed as grounding and bonding equipment.
(2) A bonding bar near the service equipment enclosure, meter enclosure, or raceway for service conductors.
The bonding bar shall be connected with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor to an equipment grounding
conductor(s) in the service equipment enclosure, meter enclosure, or exposed nonflexible metallic raceway.
(3) A bonding bar near the grounding electrode conductor. The bonding bar shall be connected to the grounding
electrode conductor with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor.
Click to expand...
 
I know what it says, I'm just curious, can it pass inspection? Contractor didn't provide IBTB near communication wire nor external. It passed inspection but how? I'd say it will need another ground rod and an IBTB near the back of house.
 
The code seems to imply that the Intersystem Bonding bridge should be near the service equipment or (or building disconnect at remote structures). Kind of sucks when the comm wires need to come in at the opposite side of the house. What kind of comm wires are installed (phone, CATV, ??)? If there is no connection to the comm utility, it may not be required to be grounded yet. The intersystem bonding bridge install sounds compliant, but not useful.

Note that external means not in the meter pan or service panel, but doesn't mean it has to be outside the house. Mine is inside the garage, next to the main panel. They don't want the DISH guy having to open the panel to connect his ground.

I would agree that the proper solution is to install another bridge near where the comm lines are going to enter the building and run a long #6 back to the service. Just not sure the code mandates it. The onus will be on the comm installer when they show up to connect to the utility or dish/antenna.
 
Gonzito83 said:
Contractor provided intersystem bridge inside by the service panels. But placed the communications wires in back of house. With no ground block. And no external bonding outside. Communication wires obviously further than 20ft.
Click to expand...

Depends on whether the inspector is going to look at the communications wiring provided by the cable or phone company. Usually they don't. Sounds like the EC did his job. I assume an electrical inspection?

-Hal
 
Gonzito83 said:
I know what it says, I'm just curious, can it pass inspection? Contractor didn't provide IBTB near communication wire nor external. It passed inspection but how? I'd say it will need another ground rod and an IBTB near the back of house.
Click to expand...
I say what’s the use. I have used the same one for four different houses before. The cable company or the phone company will never connect to them anyway. They always use the same connectors they’re used to
 
suemarkp said:
The code seems to imply that the Intersystem Bonding bridge should be near the service equipment or (or building disconnect at remote structures). Kind of sucks when the comm wires need to come in at the opposite side of the house. What kind of comm wires are installed (phone, CATV, ??)? If there is no connection to the comm utility, it may not be required to be grounded yet. The intersystem bonding bridge install sounds compliant, but not useful.

Note that external means not in the meter pan or service panel, but doesn't mean it has to be outside the house. Mine is inside the garage, next to the main panel. They don't want the DISH guy having to open the panel to connect his ground.

I would agree that the proper solution is to install another bridge near where the comm lines are going to enter the building and run a long #6 back to the service. Just not sure the code mandates it. The onus will be on the comm installer when they show up to connect to the utility or dish/antenna.
Click to expand...





The thing is the contractor provided the communication wires in the back exterior. But no bridge. Why provide the comm wires if not providing bridge there. The code would require another ground rod no smaller than 5' because its further than 20ft.
 
Hv&Lv said:
I say what’s the use. I have used the same one for four different houses before. The cable company or the phone company will never connect to them anyway. They always use the same connectors they’re used to
Click to expand...



I didnt do this work but its a friends house newly built. As an electrician id like to see things code compliant.
 
Gonzito83 said:
The thing is the contractor provided the communication wires in the back exterior.
Click to expand...

Normal procedure is to bring all your phone and TV drops inside the house to the electrical service location. Not only is this for ground bonding, as you are concerned about, but it assumes the cable company and/or phone company will want to follow the same route from the street to the house as the POCO. Just makes sense to group all utilities together.

In this case I don't think the EC knew what he was doing or the other side of the house was the easy way and saved him wire.

-Hal
 
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