Comprehensive Guide to Data Center Bonding and Grounding System Design

Ensuring the proper bonding and grounding of a data center is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency, protecting equipment, and complying with safety standards. A well-designed bonding and grounding system minimizes electrical risks, reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI), and improves system reliability. Below is a comprehensive guide for implementing effective bonding and grounding systems in data centers.

Mesh-BN (Meshed Bonding Network)

The Mesh-BN is the backbone of the bonding system, designed to ensure a uniform electrical potential across the entire data center. It should include the following components:

• Supplementary Bonding Grid (SBG): This grid, made of copper, should be placed at 600mm to 3m centers, covering the entire computer room.

• Grid Spacing: The ideal spacing between grids is between 600mm and 1.2m for optimal performance.

• Copper Strips: Use prefabricated grids made from 0.40mm thick x 50mm wide copper strips. These strips should be strong and durable.

• Interconnections: Weld all crossing interconnections to ensure a stable, low-resistance connection.

Bonding Jumper (Size 6AWG)

Bonding jumpers are essential for connecting various elements of the data center’s infrastructure to the bonding system:

• Connection to Access Floor: Connect the access floor pedestal to the Mesh-BN/SBG using a bonding jumper of size 6AWG.

• Length: Keep the bonding jumper length under 600mm to minimize potential interference and resistance.

Cabinets, Racks, Frames, and Equipment Enclosures

It is critical to ensure that all enclosures, racks, cabinets, and frames are properly bonded to the Mesh-BN/SBG:

• Individual Connections: These should be connected individually to the bonding network, not in series, to ensure proper grounding and reduce resistance.

• Bonding Conductor: Use a 6 AWG conductor for each connection to maintain a strong bond.

Ground Ring

The ground ring serves as a crucial component for grounding the data center’s infrastructure:

• Material: Use a bare copper wire with a minimum size of 4/0 AWG.

• Buried Depth: Bury the ground ring at least 800mm deep to protect it from external environmental factors.

• Distance from Building: Ensure the ground ring is at least 1m away from the building wall to reduce interference from building infrastructure.

Ground Rods

Ground rods are used to provide a low-resistance path to earth:

• Connection to Ground Ring: Ground rods should be connected to the ground ring for an effective grounding system.

• Rod Specifications: Use copper-clad steel rods that are 19mm (3/4 in) in diameter and 3m long for optimal performance.

• Spacing: Space the ground rods every 6 to 12 meters along the perimeter of the ground loop to ensure continuous and effective grounding.

By following this guide, you can ensure that your data center’s bonding and grounding system is robust, reliable, and compliant with industry standards. Proper design and installation are essential to minimizing downtime and preventing electrical hazards, safeguarding both your equipment and personnel.

For more technical details or assistance with your data center’s bonding and grounding system, feel free to contact us at Northern Link.