Multiple IDF racks

A

Anthony Forte

Member
Location
Ma
Occupation
Electrician
I am looking into a building with 11 IDF racks and 1 MDF, They are scattered throughout the building. They are looking to have the individual IDF racks bonded. Since there is no route back to the MDF for some of them, can I ground each rack to the nearest subpanel? This is a old building with multiple additions.
 
Are you asking about running a separate bonding jumper to each rack? The NEC would allow the EGC with any branch circuit conductor associated with the rack to provide bonding if it is likely to become energized. No additional bonding is required. There may be telecom rules that apply but that is outside of the scope of the NEC.

Welcome to the Forum. :)
 
I suspect you are referring to optional bonding outside of NEC requirements.

There is no one standard to follow, but many design professionals follow ANSI/TIA-607-E, which would have you bond to a PBB (primary) or SBB (secondary bonding busbar) which is bonded to the grounding electrode system.
 
They are looking for a separate jumper.

The IT company has recommend this. These are there exact words, Recommend to provide an earth ground and bonding conductor and extend a connection point for the grounding to the MDF. And for each of the IDF Install a grounding bar in the MDF and connect it to the provided connection point. Mount on backboard placed for cabinet. Connect the rack to the grounding bar via 6awg.

I thought I read somewhere I could bond each rack individually to the nearest subpanel, I am not sure if this is correct or not.
 
We've always bonded them back to the building GES either directly or indirectly but that was by design and is what they were paying for. They should be telling you exactly what they want. Is there building steel in these IDF rooms?
 
infinity said:
We've always bonded them back to the building GES either directly or indirectly but that was by design and is what they were paying for. They should be telling you exactly what they want. Is there building steel in these IDF rooms?
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Some have it and some do not.
 
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