Professional Documents
Culture Documents
PROJECTS
DEPARTMENT
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES
DRAFT
By Guy Lakeman
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STATEMENT ...........................................................................................................................0
INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY ...........................................................................................0
GROUNDING...........................................................................................................................0
LIFE SAFETY GROUNDING ....................................................................................................................................... 0
GROUND FAULT PROTECTION .................................................................................................................................................0
LIGHTNING PROTECTION ........................................................................................................................................................0
ELECTRICAL NOISE - CONTROL GROUNDING ........................................................................................................... 0
SINGLE-POINT GROUND SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................................0
TRADITIONAL TRUNKING IMPLEMENTATION DRAWING ............................................................................................................................. 0
TRADITIONAL CONNECTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION DRAWING ...................................................................................................................... 0
MULTI-POINT GROUND SYSTEM ..............................................................................................................................................0
CELLULAR RAISED FLOOR AND ZSRG (ZERO SIGNAL REFERENCE GRID) ............................................................................................... 0
CABLE TRAYS AND STGP (SIGNAL TRANSPORT GROUND PLANES) ........................................................................................................ 0
SIGNAL CONDUIT ................................................................................................................................................................................ 0
ISOLATION TRANSFORMER W IRING....................................................................................................................................................... 0
LIMITING OF HIGH VOLTAGE ....................................................................................................................................................0
HUMIDITY CONTROL ............................................................................................................................................................................ 0
FLOOR SURFACE CONDUCTIVITY .......................................................................................................................................................... 0
ELECTROSTATIC DRAIN PATHS ............................................................................................................................................................ 0
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................0
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
STATEMENT
Two forms or grounding are discussed here and comparisons made.
Although traditional earth bus with star and spur distribution (no loop) earthing has been proven with what are
now considered to be low frequencies (5MHz and below) digital systems are currently in operation in the
150MHz region for standard definition television. This will soon rise to 750MHz when large scale full bandwidth
high definition systems are implemented.
The signal systems associated with broadcast television video and audio signals can be compared to those of
the medical electronics profession.
Whereas television signals do not enter the realms of being life threatening if distorted or polluted with noise the
Broadcast Engineer can be in the realms of being severely threatened by his or her CEO.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES STATEMENT 1
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES INTRODUCTION and SUMMARY 2
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
GROUNDING
Grounding requirements for Television Production facilities fall into the categories of:
Life Safety,
Electrical Noise Control and the
Limiting of High Voltage.
Although distinct in function the grounding systems that are implemented in a building servicing large technical
systems, such as those found within a television broadcast or production facility, are not separable.
An overall systems approach to the grounding requirements must be developed and universally adhered to as to
satisfactorily address Life Safety code regulations, equipment protection and electrical noise control
requirements. These multi-faceted requirements of Grounding often causes confusion and misapplication of
electrical codes and further, usually result in unsafe conditions and poor electrical noise control in large systems.
LIGHTNING PROTECTION
Refer to applicable local Lightning Protection code regulations.
Lightning pulses can carry currents in excess of 100,000 amps. The best protection plan is one that provides a
convenient and direct path for the lightning current to flow to earth. This path must be deliberately designed and
installed with the intent purpose of providing a very low inductance for the lightning current. In addition to high
current flows within the building, magnetic fields developed by these current flows can induce currents into
electronic circuits. Shielding of circuit paths and maintaining low impedance bonding of the shielding system,
grounding grid system, building steel and the lightning protection grounding electrode system provides the best
overall protection. Separate non-bonded ground systems within the building can become sources of large
gradient potential differences and therefore must not be allowed to exist.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 3
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
TDB
ALL TECHNICAL
RACKS, CONSOLES
AND MONITOR LIGHTING
STACKS MUST BE
ISOLATED FROM THE
FLOORING AND
BUILDING SURFACES OPERATOR
CONSOLE MONITOR STACK
IT
TELCO
LOCAL STAR
TECHNICAL AREA
LIGHTING
FORBIDDEN CROSSOVER
H&V
FORBIDDEN CROSSOVER LOCAL STAR
LIFTS
MOTORS
ETC
TECHNICAL EARTH
BUILDING EARTH
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 4
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
AND MONITOR
STACKS MUST BE
ISOLATED FROM THE
FLOORING AND
BUILDING SURFACES
LOCAL STAR
TECHNICAL AREA
IT
TELCO
LIGHTING
BUNDLE
H&V
CANTEEN
MOTORS
ETC
TECHNICAL EARTH
BUILDING EARTH
Historically the typical approach in addressing electrical noise control in a Television Production facility has been
to utilize a Single-Point ground system (i.e., "Production Systems Ground", "Clean Ground" or "Technical
Ground"). Much of the noise present in a facility grounding system is usually traceable to the primary, 50 or 60
HZ, power system. Single-Point grounding can be very effective in controlling this situation and has been often
successfully employed in smaller systems. However, in a large installation a major disadvantage of the Single-
Point ground configuration is the requirement for long runs of the grounding conductor. These long runs (i.e.,
any ground run over 20 feet) prevent the realization of maintaining a satisfactory low impedance reference plane
at higher frequencies.
Longer runs of greater than 20 feet, up to 100 feet, can be achieved by using stranded earth cable to maximise
the surface area of the conductors. High frequencies migrate to the surface of a conductor. Multi stranded
cables allow these frequencies a larger area to flow so reducing their impedance to earth.
The key word here is impedance. Although the ground conductor may provide a low resistance path, noise
phenomena is minimal at DC. How the grounding conductor acts at higher frequencies, 50/60 HZ to 30 MHz
and above is the predominant concern.
The goal of the grounding system is to maintain low impedance throughout the entire 50/60 Hz to 30 MHz and
above frequency range and therefore the ground conductors inductance and capacitive coupling are a major
concern. No single conductor can drive a ground plane to be at the same potential at a remote ground point.
The only way this can be approached is to extend the ground plane, low impedance path to the remote point.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 5
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
Impedance, Z, is the term used to describe the opposition to current flow when resistance, inductance and
capacitance are considered in combination and is expressed as
Z = R2 + ( X L + X C )
2
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 6
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
Below, each element of the Multi-Point grounding system is discussed in detail as to how it should be installed
and utilised.
Also refer to the Figures for assistance.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 7
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
DISTRIBUTION
SWITCHBOARD 2
9 2
m
600 m
7 2 8
2
5 10
TRANSFORMER 1
12
1 1
1
5
5 1
6 9 5
2 1
1 1
5 2
2 4
3
1 3 11
2 1 1
2
WATER
4 1
1 PIPE
3
1
1
2
11
CONDUIT 1
1
1 2
4
4 CONNECT A #4 SDBC CONDUCTOR BETWEEN CABLE TRAY AND ANY BUILDING STEEL OR LIGHTNING 1
2 CONNECT THE BUILDING GROUNDING ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO THE SRG USING #4/0 SDBC 8 PROTECTION DOWN CONDUCTOR WITHIN 1800 mm OR LESS OF THE CABLE TRAY.
CONNECTION KEY FOR
SDBC
EVERY 4th RAISED FLOOR SUPPORT PEDESTAL IN EACH DIRECTION MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE
(SOFT DRAWN BARE COPPER) 3 SRG USING A #6 SDBC CONDUCTOR. THE CONNECTION TO THE PEDSTAL AND THE SRG SHALL BE 6 9
EXEOTHERMICALLY WELDED. THE CONNECTION TO THE PEDESTAL SHALL BE MADE ABOVE THE
CONNECT EACH DISTRIBUTION SWITCHBOARD OR PANELBOARD TO THE SRG USING #4 SDBC 2
JACK SCREW. DETAILS ON SEPARATE DRAWING .
ALL CABLE TRAY TO BE MADE CONTINUOUS BY USING FLAT WASHER AND LOCKING WASHER
1 #6 SDBC (16 mm sq) ALL BUILDING STEEL, CONDUITS RACEWAYS, CABLE TRAYS, WATER PIPES, DUCTS, AND OTHER ASSEMBLY HARDWARE TO FORM A LOW IMPEDANCE PRESSURE CONNECTION. A #4 SDBC IS TO BE
4 METALLIC ITEMS ENTERING THE GRID AREA SHALL BE BONDED TO THE SRG USING #6 SDBC. ALL OF 1 10 ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CABLE TRAY EVERY 900 mm BY AN EXEOTHERMIC WELD AND 2
THESE ITEMS MOUNTED HRIZONTALLY SHALL BE BONDED AT BOTH ENDS. TO BOTH SIDES OF ANY JOINT. THIS CONDUCTOR MUST TERMINATED AT THE SRG AND BE ROUTED
2 #4 SDBC (25 mm sq) WITH EACH CABLE TRAY TO ITS DESTINATION.
3 #2 SDBC (35 mm sq) NEVER CONNECT ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT TO THE OUTER STRIPS OF THE . CONNECT
SRG
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AT LEAST 1800 mm INSIDE THE SRG. CONNECT ALL BUILDING STEEL, ALL CONDUIT AND PIPING MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE SRG USING PIPE CLAMP AND CONDUCTORS
5 CONDUITS, RACEWAYS, CABLE TRAYS, WATER PIPES, DUCTS AND OTHER METALLIC ITEMS TO THE 11 USING #6 SDBC. DETAILS ON SEPARATE DRAWING 1
4 #4/0 SDBC (95 mm sq) OUTER STRIP OF THE SRG AT THEIR ASSOCIATED INCOMING OR OUTGOING PENETRATION POINT.
5 LOW IMPEDANCE RISER CONNECT THE BUILDING STEEL CLOSEST TO THE EARTH BUS USING #2 SDBC. IF BUILDING STEEL IS
PROPER WIRING AND GROUNDING OF DISTRIBUTION SWITCHBOARDS MUST BE MAINTAINED.
6 NOT AVAILABLE IN THE AREA THEN MECHANICALLY BOND USING #2 SDBC CONDUCTOR TO AN 3 12 DETAILS ON SEPARATE DRAWING
ADJACENT 254 mm OR LARGER COPPER COLD WATER PIPE)
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 8
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
CHANNEL TYPE
SUPPORT STEEL SIGNAL 3 1800 MM OR LESS
WITH ALL CABLES
THREADED RODS 2
TO STRUCTURAL
1800 2
CONCRETE MM O
R LE
SS
CEILING
2
4 GALVANISED
STEEL LADDER 2
CABLE TRAY
BUILDING
STEEL
2
1
FURNISH AND INSTALL A 25 mm2 SOFT-DRAWN BARE COPPER CONDUCTOR (SDBC) ON THE
EXTERIOR OF THE CABLE TRAY. FASTEN THIS CONDUCTOR TO THE EXTERIOR OFTHE CABLE TRAY
2
1 AT NE METRE INTERVALS WITH NYLON SELF-LOCKING TIE WRAPS. THE 25 mm2 CONDUCTOR SHALL
BE EXOTHERMICVALLY WELDED ON BOTH SIDED OF ALL CABLE TRAY JOINTS
S
FURNISH AND INSTALL A 25 mm2 SDBC CONDUCTOR BETWEEN THE CABLE TRAY AND ANY BUILDING
2
LES
EQUIPMENT ALL OPEN BOTTOM TYPE LADDER CABLE TRAYS SHALL HAVE 22-GAUGE GALVANISED SHEET STEEL
MM
LAID IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAY AND WELDED TO THE TRAY EVERY METRE (WIRE FED WELD). IF
RACKS 3
SOLID BOTTOM CABLE TRAY IS USED THEN THE 22-GAUGE GALVANISED SHEET STEEL IS NOT
1800
REQUIRED. THE CABLE TRAY SHALL BE ASSEMBLED USING A FLAT WASHER AND A SPLIT LOCK
2 WASHER WITH THE ASSEMBLY HARDWARE TO PROVIDE A HIGH PRESSURE, LOW RESISTANCE
CONNECTION.
A 22-GAUGE GALVANISED SHEET STEEL STRIP SHALL BE USED TO TRANSITION WITH THE SIGNAL
2 4
CABLES FROM THE CABLE TRAY TO THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT RACK. THE SHEET STEEL STRIP
SGHALL BE AT LEAST 300 mm WIDE. THE STRIP SHALL BE FASTENED TO TH ECABLE TRAY AND THE
RACK WITH POP RIVETS AT THREE LOCATIONS AT EITHER END.
FURNISH AND INSTALL TWO LOW IMPEDANCE STRAPS FROM EACH ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT RACK
TO THE SRG. THE LIR SHALL BE BOLTED TO THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT RACK FRAME AND
5
5 EXOTHERMICALLY WELDED TO THE SRG. THE LENGTH OF LIR SHALL BE KEPT AS SHORT AS
POSSIBLE WITH NICE SWEEPING CURVATURE.
RAISED EXOTHERMICALLY WELD A 16 mm2 SDBC CONDUCTOR TO THE SRG AND RAISED FLOOR PEDESTAL
BUILDING FLOORING
BAS. EXTEND THE BASE END OF THE 16 mm2 CONDUCTOR UP TH EPEDESTAL AND ACROSS THE
JAVCK SCREW. BOND THE 16 mm2 CONDUCTOR TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PEDESTAL WITH A
1
6 STAINLESS STEEL WORM GEAR TYPE CLAMP. USE AN ANTI-OXIDANT PASTE AT THIS POINT
STEEL BETWEEN THE WIRE AND THE PEDESTAL. SECURE THE 16 mm2 CONDUCTOR TO THE PEDESTAL
WITH SELF-LOCKING NYLON TIE WRAPS.
EXOTHERMICALLY WELD A 16 mm2 SDBC CONDUCTOR TO THE SRG AND ALL EXPOSED BUILDING
1
7 STEELS.
5
5
7 5 5
CONNECTION KEY FOR
1 1 SDBC
(SOFT DRAWN BARE COPPER)
1
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 9
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
Signal Conduit
In areas of the building where signal cables must terminate and it is impractical or impossible to complete the
run with cable tray, metal conduit shall be used. This conduit shall be connected and bonded to the cable tray
and/or the ZSRG at its point of origin, at all intersections with building steel and at the terminating end to
adjacent metal enclosures and/or junction boxes.
As signal conduits are routed throughout the building they shall be bonded to any intersecting or adjacent
building steel, other conduit, metal piping and metal race way.
LINE 1
NEUTRAL
LINE 3
E E
IE
Weld
Mechanical E
M.O.D. standard SOLIDLY GROUND/BOND ALL
def stan 052. CONDUITS TO THE METAL
When bonding, use spring
washers, flat washers and a ENCLOSURE OF THE
star washer which bites into TRANSFORMER IA ALL CASES.
G
the copper strip. DO NOT USE INSULATION
ENCLOSURE
MECHANICAL FRAME OF
CONNECTION TRANSFORMER
AC SYSTEM TO FRAME 25 mm2
GROUNDING
ELECTRODE
CONDUCTOR IN METAL SIGNAL
WHEN A METAL CONDUIT
RACEWAY IS USED TO REFERENCE
ENCLOSE THE AC GRID
SYSTEM GROUNDING
ELECTRODE 95 mm2
16 mm2 BUILDING STEEL CLOSEST TO THE EARTH
CONDUCTOR, IT IS
BUS. IF BUILDING STEEL IS NOT AVALABLE IN
REQUIRED TO BE
THE AREA, THEN MECHANICAL BOND THE 95
GROUNDED/BONDED TO EARTH BUS BAR
MOUNTED ON WALL
mm2 CONDUCTOR TO AN ADJACENT 254 mm
THE ENCLOSURE 25 mm2 ADJACENT TO OR LARGER COPPER COLD WATER PIPE
CONDUCTOR EXACTLY TRANSFORMER
AS SHOWN
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 10
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
STEPDOWN - ISOLATION
TECHNICAL CIRCUIT
MAIN SWITCHBOARD PANEL TRANSFORMER, POWER EQUIPMENT RACK OR CONSOLE
DISTRIBUTION PANEL
CONDITIONER OR UPS
IG POWER
DISTRIBUTION
STRIP
EQUIPMENT
LOAD BOLTED
TO RACK RAIL
METAL
WIREWAY
IG
RECEPTICAL RACK RAIL
G G
RACK - CONSOLE
STEEL BONDED
TO RACK RAIL
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 11
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
Humidity Control
Implement humidity control throughout the Television Production facility as to maintain the relative humidity at 50
%. At no time shall the interior relative humidity be allowed to fall below 40% or rise about 65%.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES GROUNDING 12
ENGINEERING PROJECTS DEPARTMENT:
Submitted to: THE CONVERGENCE COMPANY LIMITED
Submitted by: Guy Lakeman
Date: 02/03/98
REFERENCES
IEE Regulations
R.Mossison and W.H. Lewis, Grounding and Shielding in Facilities, John Wiley and Sons inc.,1990
U.S. Department of Commerce. FIPS Guideline on Electrical Power for ADP Installations, FIPS PUB 94.
ENGINEERING STANDARDS
GROUNDING IN TECHNICAL FACILITIES REFERENCES 13