Q: I`m performing telecommunications renovations work on one floor of a high-rise office building that does not have an existing telecommunications ground wire. Is it permissible to ground one end of the metallic sheath of a new riser cable to the electrical ground at the point of penetration and the other end to a power panel box (connected by a licensed electrician) where the riser terminates on the floor, rather than running an entirely new ground wire?
Carroll J. Pycha, rcdd
American Communications Co.
Chantilly, VA
A: This has been a practice of the operating companies for years. While tia/eia-607, commercial building grounding and bonding requirements for telecommunications, was intended to provide direction for the design of new commercial buildings, I encourage you to use it as a guide for the renovation or retrofit of existing buildings.
