Ensuring the protection of sensitive equipment in your data center or telecommunications room is essential for maintaining operational efficiency and preventing costly damage.
Grounding and bonding systems play a vital role in minimizing the risk of electrical faults, transients, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) that can cause data disruptions or even permanent equipment damage.
To help you create an effective and reliable grounding and bonding system, Chatsworth Products (CPI) offers a comprehensive checklist that covers key components, best practices, and essential considerations to safeguard your IT infrastructure.
Key Steps for Building a Reliable Grounding and Bonding System
1. Install a Busbar for Equipment Rooms and Telecommunications Rooms
A Busbar serves as the central grounding point for all your equipment, ensuring that electrical faults or surges are safely directed away from your sensitive electronics. It’s essential to install a Busbar in each equipment room and telecommunications room with enough connections for all equipment and the telecommunications grounding system.
2. Add Busbars to Racks and Cabinets
For equipment that requires grounding—such as network switches and some patch panels—be sure to add a Busbar to the racks or cabinets where these devices are housed. This will provide a reliable bonding connection between your equipment and the grounding system.
3. Bond Each Rack and Cabinet to the Busbar
To establish a secure grounding path, connect each rack and cabinet to the Busbar using ground wires, jumpers, and straps. This ensures that any electrical surges are safely dissipated and prevents equipment damage.
4. Bond Cable Runway and Tray Across Splices
It’s crucial to bond cable runways and cable trays across splices and to the Busbar using ground wires, jumpers, and straps. This will help create a consistent grounding system throughout the infrastructure and maintain protection against electrical surges.
5. Bond Raised Floor Pedestals Together
If your data center utilizes a raised floor, make sure the pedestals are bonded together and to the Busbar using pedestal clamps. This helps prevent ground loops and ensures that the entire system is properly grounded.
6. Use Joint Compound for Bonding Connections
When making bonding connections between metal surfaces, such as racks, cabinets, cable runways, and Busbars, use joint compound to enhance conductivity and ensure a reliable connection. This reduces the risk of resistance, which could otherwise cause equipment malfunctions.
Why Grounding and Bonding Are Essential for Your Data Center
Grounding and bonding systems are your first line of defense against electrical surges and transient voltages. Large-scale electrical arcing, caused by lightning strikes or utility fluctuations, can lead to data disruptions, device resets, and in severe cases, permanent damage to critical equipment. A properly implemented grounding and bonding system significantly reduces the risk of damage, ensuring your systems remain operational and secure.
By addressing key aspects like electrical bonding, grounding paths, and secure connections, you’ll minimize the risk of downtime and enhance the longevity of your equipment.
Safeguard Your Infrastructure with CPI’s Grounding and Bonding Solutions
Chatsworth Products offers a comprehensive range of UL® Listed grounding and bonding products designed to protect against transient voltage and help safeguard the integrity of your sensitive equipment.
, and ensure your critical equipment remains safe and operational for years to come.