GROUNDING and BONDING

For TELECOMMUNICATIONS
in COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Presented by: Ansif Fasiludeen
INTRODUCTION:

With the increasing demand in ICT for computer network

installations, telecommunications grounding and bonding
has become a growing and challenging opportunity for
Telecommunication contractors.

As with traditional electrical grounding, telecommunications

networks and equipment should be grounded to the electrical
service. But the sensitivity of the electronic equipment
requires that the telecommunications cabling and power be
effectively equalized to prevent loops or transients that can
damage the equipment.

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 As per BICSI TDMM
This does not replace the requirements for electrical
power grounding system (as per NEC) but
supplements them with additional bonding that
generally follows telecommunications cable pathways
between entrance facilities (EFs), equipment rooms
(ERs), and telecommunications rooms (TRs).

As per SAES-T-916 Para. 4.7.1.3

 Communication Bonding and Grounding System
is one of the recognized system performing a
unique function within a building. It provides
protection for the building and its occupants.
 BONDING VS. GROUNDING
 It is important to note that bonding and grounding
are not the same. Bonding is the connection of two
or more conductive objects to one another by
means of a conductor such as a wire. Grounding,
also referred to as “earthing”, is a specific form of
bonding wherein one or more conductive objects
are connected to the ground by means of a
conductor such as a wire or rod. But, a “complete
ground system” is a combination of bonding and
grounding

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 REF. SAES-T-916 ILLUSTRATION 3.. SEE
ATTACHMENT.
BONDING AND GROUNDING COMPONENTS

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1. Electrical Service Ground
 A direct electrical service ground shall be the first choice for
grounding communications systems. The accessible means
shall be external to enclosures for connecting inter-systems
bonding and grounding conductors and be provided at the
electrical service equipment by one of the following means
(2002, NEC 250-94):

 Exposed metallic service raceways.

 Exposed grounding electrode conductor.
 A direct connection to the building ground grid.

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2. The Ground Electrode Conductor

- This conductor connects the Communication

System Grounding directly to the ground or earth.

The installation of a communication electrode (ground rod)

is allowed when:

There is no electrical service ground.

OR
Additional grounding is needed (refer to NEC section 800-
40-b). The newly installed electrode shall be bonded to the
existing ground electrode system.

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The following conditions shall be maintained:

 Any installed grounding electrode must be at least twice the length of the
grounding electrode away from other existing electrodes.
 WARNING: installed grounding electrode must be at least 6 feet away
from another existing electrode.
 The electrode shall be 5/8 inch in diameter, 8 foot long that measures 25
ohms or less.
 The installed grounding electrode shall be driven to a depth of not less
than 2.44m (8 ft).
 Electrodes or down conductors that are part of a lightning protection
system are not allowed for use as an electrode for the purpose of bonding
telecommunications ground systems.
 Gas pipes, and steam pipes, or hot water pipes shall not be considered
for use as a ground electrode.
 Cold water (sweet/raw) metallic pipes shall not be considered as a ground
electrode due to the extensive use of plastic pipe in these systems.
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 3. BONDING & GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
This conductor is used to interconnect the
telecommunications bonding infrastructures to the
building ground grid through TMGB.
Three important design considerations :
 The copper core conductor must be insulated and
be at least No. 6 AWG in size.
 These conductors should not be placed in metallic conduit. If
this cannot be avoided, the conductors must be bonded to
each end of the conduit if the run is longer than 1 m (3 ft) in
length.
 Ensure that bonding conductors are marked
appropriately.

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 The Communication bonding conductors shall
be made of either copper, copper alloy or tin-
plated copper (for direct buried applications). It
shall be made directly to the points being
bonded and have minimum bending radius as
follows:

 6 inch minimum for no. 6 AWG.

 12 inch minimum for 4/0 AWG.
 24 inch minimum for sizes greater than 4/0
AWG.
 4. Telecommunications Bonding Backbone (TBB)

 This is a copper conductor used to connect the telecom main

grounding bus bar (TMGB) to the telecoms grounding bus
bar (TGB) located on the floor farthest away.
 This is an insulated conductor used to interconnect
all TGB’s with the TMGB.
 The TBB starts at the TMGB and extends throughout the
building using telecoms backbone pathways.
 The TBB connects to TGB’s in all telecom rooms
and the equipment room.
 The primary function of the TBB is to reduce or equalize
potential differences between telecoms systems
bonded to it.
TBB SIZING ( Ref. BICSI Table 10.1 page 10-29)
Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

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5. Telecommunications Bonding
Backbone Interconnecting Bonding
Conductor [TBBIBC]

Where two or more vertical TBB’s are used within

a multistory building, the TBB shall be bonded
together with a TBB interconnecting bonding
conductor (TBBIBC) at the top floor and at a
minimum of every three floor in between.
 6. TMGB
 refers to a busbar bonded to the service equipment (power)
ground by the bonding conductor for telecommunications.
 The TMGB serves as a dedicated extension of the building
grounding electrode system for the telecommunications
infrastructure. It also acts as the central connection point for
TBBs and equipment.
The following TMGB design considerations must be
remembered.
 There is typically one TMGB per building. The TMGB can be
extended by using and following the rules for TGBs.

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 TMGB must be located so that it is accessible to
telecommunications personnel. It is often
located in the entrance room or the main
telecommunications room. A location should be
chosen that minimizes the bonding conductor
length for telecommunication connections.

 TMGBs are a minimum of 6 mm in thickness,

100 mm wide and 500mm length.
 It shall be rigid electro-tin plated copper bar
 Saudi Aramco: Company General Use

TMGB TYPE AND SIZE

 The TMGB must be predrilled copper busbar with

NEMA bolt hole sizing and spacing for the type and
size of the conductor being used.

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7. TGB
 Located in a telecommunications room or equipment
room, it serves as a common central point of connection
for telecommunications systems and equipment in the
area served by that TR or equipment room.
TGB characteristics:
 Pre-drilled copper busbar provided with standard NEMA
bolt
 hole sizing and spacing for type of connectors to be
used
 Minimum size 6 mm thick by 50 mm wide, variable
length

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TGB DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
 TBBs and other TGBs located in same space
must be bonded to the TGB.
 Bonding conductors used between a TBB and TGB
must be continuous and routed in the shortest,
straight-line path possible.
 Install the TGB as close as practical to the
panelboard.
 When a panelboard for telecommunications is located in
the same room as the TGB, bond the panel board's or
the enclosure to the TGB.
 Bond the TGB to the TBBIBC where required.

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8. CONNECTORS

Connectors shall be approved and “Listed” and may consist of

the following:
For exposed:
 Mechanical clamps or lugs.
 Compression type fittings.
For direct buried:
 Exothermic welding (Exothermic welding usually is used in
areas subject to corrosion or within a direct buried ground
electrode system).

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Thank You!