The answer
The best time to examine an existing grounding system (or install a new one) is before disaster strikes. If there are any doubts about the wiring in a specific facility, it is critical to call a competent licensed electrician or a power quality professional for assistance.
With proper bonding and grounding systems in place, it is unlikely a data center will experience any residual storm effects. The best way to safeguard against electrical hazards is to have a licensed professional electrician install, inspect, and—if necessary—upgrade the wiring. The average additional cost to install an enhanced electrical distribution system—designed to the currently recommended practice versus a ‘standard’ one—has been estimated at one to two percent of the cost of construction. Due to the precautionary systems put in place, data centers should be able to ensure uninterrupted uptime to their customers. (To learn more about proper grounding or lightning protection systems for data centers, visit copper.org. CDA also offers seminars on this and other subjects to contractors, inspectors, engineers, and other groups. For more information, visit www.copper.org/electricalseminars.)
David Brender, PE, is the national program manager for the Copper Development Association (CDA) in New York City. His duties involve directing and managing CDA’s Building Wire and Power Quality initiatives, research activities, and work related to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and (IEEE) activities. Brender has authored numerous magazine articles and white papers on grounding and other power quality subjects, and is a member of Panel 5 of the National Electrical Code. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is a Certified Power Quality Professional from the Association of Energy Engineers. Brender can be reached at david.brender@copperalliance.us.
