Telecomm Ground Bar - Not Bonded to main elec room ground bar

[Platinum]

Hey guys,
I have a 2nd Floor IDF room that has a telecom ground bar (TGB). The racks are bonded to it, however, the contractor did not install the #6 bonding conductor that is supposed to go from the TGB to the main service ground bar in the 1st floor elec room which thus is tied to the grounding electrode system.

Instead, he just runs a bonding conductor from the TGB to a nearby panelboard's equipment grounding bus inside the panel. Is that a code violation? I know its not good practice to mix telecomm grounds and electrical grounds until you are at the main elec service room where they all tie together.

Building is now finished and contractor is concerned about routing new bonding wire all the way back to elec room. Trying to find an alternate solution...

Thanks,

 

[petersonra]

Hey guys,
I have a 2nd Floor IDF room that has a telecom ground bar (TGB). The racks are bonded to it, however, the contractor did not install the #6 bonding conductor that is supposed to go from the TGB to the main service ground bar in the 1st floor elec room which thus is tied to the grounding electrode system.

Instead, he just runs a bonding conductor from the TGB to a nearby panelboard's equipment grounding bus inside the panel. Is that a code violation? I know its not good practice to mix telecomm grounds and electrical grounds until you are at the main elec service room where they all tie together.

Building is now finished and contractor is concerned about routing new bonding wire all the way back to elec room. Trying to find an alternate solution...

Thanks,

this is not a code issue.

 

[ron]

Not a code violation.

Reasonable option if no other direction was given in the job specs

 

[petersonra]

Hey guys,
I have a 2nd Floor IDF room that has a telecom ground bar (TGB). The racks are bonded to it, however, the contractor did not install the #6 bonding conductor that is supposed to go from the TGB to the main service ground bar in the 1st floor elec room which thus is tied to the grounding electrode system.

Instead, he just runs a bonding conductor from the TGB to a nearby panelboard's equipment grounding bus inside the panel. Is that a code violation? I know its not good practice to mix telecomm grounds and electrical grounds until you are at the main elec service room where they all tie together.

Building is now finished and contractor is concerned about routing new bonding wire all the way back to elec room. Trying to find an alternate solution...

Thanks,

why would this be?

it might be a common spec but whether it is meaningful in any way is something else.

in any case, the PB ground bus eventually ties back to the GES for the building, which is presumably what you think should be done.

 

[Platinum]

why would this be?

it might be a common spec but whether it is meaningful in any way is something else.

in any case, the PB ground bus eventually ties back to the GES for the building, which is presumably what you think should be done.

Yes, common spec.........BICSI folks, IEEE Emerald, etc.

 

[petersonra]

Yes, common spec.........BICSI folks, IEEE Emerald, etc.

does not make it especially useful. a lot of these kind of specs are written because people are scared that code was not followed so they are making sure of what they have.

 

[ron]

why would this be?

it might be a common spec but whether it is meaningful in any way is something else.

in any case, the PB ground bus eventually ties back to the GES for the building, which is presumably what you think should be done.

The thought is to not mix until you get to the main grounding electrode bar, so there would be some wire impedance to dampen affect from an electrical grounding system from transmitting to a telecom grounding system (of course connected together at one point anyhow)

 

[petersonra]

The thought is to not mix until you get to the main grounding electrode bar, so there would be some wire impedance to dampen affect from an electrical grounding system from transmitting to a telecom grounding system (of course connected together at one point anyhow)

one wonders if that actually serves any useful purpose given all the conductive paths in most buildings that would tend to exist.