Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: aaronbailey52, Location: New Jersey
Asked on: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 2:31 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:05 am EDT
Question: It's not an NEC issue, but let's say I specified an insulated bonding backbone for my telecommunications spaces. Then let's say my contractor decided to strip off the last 18" of insulation for the leg between the EMT and the ground lug to save the trouble of running an additional bonding conductor back to serve the conduit. The wire exits the conduit through a grounding bushing. So, the wire is insulated while in the conduit, but then bare and exposed for 1-3 ft. Who can weigh in on this? I swear I found somewhere a distance limitation on bare ground wire in telecom spaces and the rationale for insulating said wires, but I cannot locate this. In my mind, stripping more than the minimum necessary insulation from the wire results in it no longer being an insulated wire and it should technically be replaced.
Relevant Standard
TIA-942, Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers
Guidance
According to TIA-942, Section 7.2.
1.4, insulated bonding conductors shall be used "throughout the telecommunications grounding and bonding system." No specific distance limitation for bare ground wire in telecom spaces is provided.
Rationale for Insulating Wires
Safety
Insulating ground wires reduces the risk of electric shock to personnel working in the telecommunications space.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Insulated ground wires can help reduce EMI by preventing ground currents from radiating and interfering with sensitive equipment.
Corrosion Protection
Insulation protects ground wires from corrosion, which can impair their conductivity.
Consequences of Stripping Insulation
By stripping the insulation from the last 18 inches of the bonding wire, the contractor has created a potential safety hazard and reduced the effectiveness of the grounding system. The wire is no longer considered insulated and could pose a shock hazard to personnel. Additionally, the exposed bare wire could corrode over time, reducing the conductivity of the ground path.
Recommended Action
The insulated bonding backbone should be restored to its original condition by replacing the stripped section of wire with an insulated conductor of the same gauge. This will ensure the safety and effectiveness of the grounding system.
Who Can Weigh In
Qualified Electrical Engineer
An electrical engineer with expertise in telecommunications infrastructure can provide guidance on this issue.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Specialist
A specialist certified in telecom infrastructure design and installation can offer insight and recommendations.*
Local Building Inspector: The local building inspector may have jurisdiction over this matter and can enforce code requirements. Flag for review