Server Rack Grounding

Bonding (or grounding) is a system of protective measures, which is implemented to prevent electric shocks when touching metal parts of energy-powered equipment. The whole structure consists of a metal circuit, a protect bus, and a ground wire. Network hardware is connected to PDUs and constantly powered to perform smoothly. Thus, network server rack requires obligatory bonding to protect the maintenance staff.

Data center equipment grounding is used worldwide, in all spheres, since it is the best way to secure humans’ lives from sudden death. Bonding is found not only in industrial facilities but also in domestic households. Washing machines, bath tubes, refrigerators are grounded in living apartments. This text will cover network rack grounding, the stages of bonding, and the main requirements for how to ground a network rack.

The Importance of Bonding Server Cabinets

Should you ground your server rack? Absolutely. The main purpose of grounding data racks is to secure people from the harmful influence of electric circuits and prevent health problems, death in the case of serious damage to telecommunication systems.

1. Protection from electrical surges and spikes. In industrial plants, a short circuit can result in voltage surges, which can provoke an insulation breakdown and, consequently, damage sensitive IT equipment.
2. Protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD). People tend to accumulate static potential. Contact with the server equipment may cause a discharge, which will affect the operation of the network system.
3. Reduces the risk of fire. The bonding system implies the installation of a differential machine and an RCD that controls the circuit consumption, in the event of power leakage, disconnects to the electrical circuit, preventing the possibility of a fire.
4. Ensures compliance with industry server rack grounding requirements and standards of a data center. All infrastructures are required to comply with certain requirements and rules for the mounting of electrical hardware in order to protect maintenance staff from electric shock.
5. Enhances system reliability. Proper data rack grounding improves the overall stability and performance of telecommunication systems, reducing downtime and ensuring continuous operation.

Bonding is a reliable way to guarantee the protection of employees when maintaining telecommunication systems, server rooms. It is essential to understand and implement proper server room bonding requirements to maintain safety and operational efficiency in any environment where electrical systems are used.

Data Cabinet Earthing Requirements

The TIA and ANSI, international institutions for standardization, certification, standardize the requirements for manufacturers to produce physical machines in accordance with the set rules. The ANSI/TIA-942 standard is aimed at regulating the maintenance of network systems and data centers.

How are large metal equipment racks grounded? In order to pass certification, a data center should comply with this standard. It provides certificates on 4 rating level. According to data rack grounding standards, Level 1 is characterized by minimal protection against emergencies and has basic bonding requirements. On the contrary, Level 4 sets the highest requirements since this standard is issued to healthcare institutions, financial organizations, and other major facilities. In this case, independent powering systems, distribution lines are built to guarantee a fault-tolerant infrastructure.

The four rated levels of ANSI/TIA-942 are as follows:

1. Rated-1: Basic Site Infrastructure

Basic site infrastructure with limited protection against physical events. Minimal requirements for network rack earthing, and does not necessitate bonding.

2. Rated-2: Redundant Site Infrastructure

Redundant site infrastructure capacity components, providing improved protection over Level 1. It includes basic equipment rack grounding to enhance safety and reliability.

3. Rated-3: Concurrently Maintainable Site Infrastructure

Concurrently maintainable site infrastructure, allowing maintenance on any of the capacity components without disrupting the critical load. 

4. Rated-4: Fault-Tolerant Site Infrastructure

Fault-tolerant site infrastructure, providing the highest level of protection. This level is often required for mission-critical environments like healthcare, financial institutions, with extensive earthing and independent power systems to prevent failures.

Setting data cabinet earthing requirements allows manufacturers to produce components that comply with international specifications and can be used worldwide. For manufacturers, it means a presence on the world market and the distribution of products in different markets. Compliance with these standards ensures that earthing data cabinets is performed correctly, providing safety and reliability for the end-users.

What is the Grounding Point on a Server Rack? 

To ground a server rack, identify the grounding point, which is typically a metal stud or terminal on the rack’s frame or chassis. This earthing point serves as a common reference for earthing various components within the rack, including servers, switches, power supplies, and other devices. By connecting these components to the grounding point, any excess electrical charge or potential difference is safely directed into the ground, minimizing the risk of electrical hazards.

Equipment rack grounding involves connecting the point to a system. This system provides a path of least resistance for electrical currents to dissipate safely into the ground. Proper grounding of the data rack is crucial to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment and to comply with electrical codes and regulations.

How to Ground a Server Rack – Stages

Data centers consume 30 times more power than any office. Thus, it is important to guarantee the highest level of safety conditions. So, the installation of a grounded rack will be a good solution in any case. 

Data center grounding stages include

1. Grounding Point Identification. The grounding point on a server rack is usually a metal stud or terminal located on the rack’s frame or chassis. It serves as the common reference point for earthing various components within the rack.
2. Connecting Components. Each component, such as servers, switches, and power supplies, is connected to the grounding point using straps or cables. These connections ensure that any excess electrical charge or potential difference is safely directed into the ground.
3. Protective Earth Connection. The signal bond root is commonly connected to the protective earth or the cabinet ground. This provides a direct path for electrical currents to safely dissipate into the earth, minimizing the risk of electrical hazards.
4. Network Bonding Design. It is crucial to design network bonding in a way that balances all electrical potentials for a low-resistance path to the earth. This helps in ensuring that the earthing system is effective, reliable.
5. Termination of Bonding Straps. Bonding straps should end with a closed-loop terminal or a listed ring at both ends. One end of the strap is attached to the door, and the other end is secured to the cabinet chassis, ensuring reliable contact with metal.
6. Bonding Panels. Grounding panels should have a termination for field wiring earth lug. This helps in creating a secure connection.
7. Listed-Bonding Lug. A listed-bonding lug is used to ground the body of the rack to the main earthing conductor. This ensures that all metal parts are properly grounded.
8. Regular Inspection. Regularly inspect the earthing system to ensure all connections are secure and free from corrosion or damage. This helps maintain the effectiveness of the grounding system over time.

The implementation of these tricks will help set up a reliable and 100% secure system that will protect workers and equipment, prolonging the lifetime of your network system and ensuring its smooth functioning.

Server racks and cabinets distributed by Sysrack come pre-grounded, simplifying the initial setup. However, ongoing maintenance and checks are necessary to ensure the bonding remains effective over time. Purchasing a pre-grounded data cabinet from Sysrack can provide a secure and reliable solution that requires less effort to set up. 

Regardless of what type of facility you have (be it an office, a commercial building, an industrial plant, or whatever), all components (both machinery and furniture) need protection. No one and nothing can guarantee 100% security without arranging a bonding system. Bonding is widely used in both domestic, industrial spheres. Yet, in system administration, it is highly required since IT equipment is vulnerable to changes, which can cause datum loss, provide a harmful effect not only on physical devices but also on human health and life.