Introduction Bonding, grounding and earthing in a data centre This white paper explains how to use earthing and bonding in a data centre. The usage of earthing is extensively prescrived in standards. This WP guides you through the different standards and explains which ones to use. It explains about the best earthing system for data centres and what todo for cabinets racks and containment. I clarifies how the mandatory usage of earthing for safety can seamlessly be integrated withthe functional aspects of earthing in creating an ‘optimal environment fr high speed data exchange, Andis finalised with the symbols Which are applicable and what colours are used for conductors, BONDING, GROUNDING AND EARTHING In publications on the subject ofthis WP the terms bonding, grounding and earthing are commonly used and itis seems sometimes hard to distinguish the differences. The term {grounding Is mainly used in the American English and has the same meaning as earthing which is mainly used in other English-speaking countries. Earthing means connecting tothe Earth. In clectrical terminology 2 conductor 's connected tothe earth potential. Bonding is connecting conductors together. In the context ofthis paper and in reerred standards, bonding is always relates to connecting tothe earth, The banding of conductors is dane to get an equipotentiat reference tothe earth, Depending on the function af the earthing system the conductors must have certain properties.