FIPS PUB 195

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration

National Institute of Standards and Technology

REFERENCE

FIPS PUB 195

FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS PUBLICATION

(Former Draft Federal Standard 1093)

FEDERAL BUILDING GROUNDING AND BONDING

REQUIREMENTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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Category: Telecommunications Standard

^ Subcategory: Grounding and Bonding

1995 AUGUST 15
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FIPS PUB 195

FEDERAL INFORMATION PROCESSING STANDARDS PUBLICATION

(Former Draft Federal Standard 1093)

FEDERAL BUILDING GROUNDING AND BONDING

REQUIREMENTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Category: Telecommunications Standard

Subcategory: Grounding and Bonding

Computer Systems Laboratory Office of Technology and Standards

National Institute of Standards and Technology National Communications System

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001 701 South Court House Road

Arlington, VA 22204-2198

U.S. Department of Commerce

Ronald H. Brown, Secretary

Technology Administration

Mary L. Good, Under Secretary for Technology

National Institute of Standards

and Technology

Arati Prabhakar, Director

National Communications System

Hon. William J. Perry, Executive Agent

Albert J. Edmonds, Lieutenant General, USAF

Manager
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Foreword

The Federal Information Processing Standards Publication Series of the National

Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the official publication relating to

standards and guidelines adopted and promulgated under the provisions of Section

111 (d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 as amended by

the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235. These mandates have given the

Secretary of Commerce and NIST important responsibilities for improving the utilization

and management of computer and related telecommunications systems in the Federal

Government. The NIST, through its Computer Systems Laboratory, provides leadership,

technical guidance, and coordination of Government efforts in the development of stan¬

dards and guidelines in these areas.

Comments concerning Federal Information Processing Standards Publications are

welcomed and should be addressed to the Director, Computer Systems Laboratory,

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

Shukri A. Wakid, Acting Director

Computer Systems Laboratory

Abstract

This standard, by adoption of ANSI/TIA/EIA-607-1994, Commercial Building

Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications, specifies the require¬

ments for a uniform telecommunications grounding and bonding infrastructure for Federal

buildings where telecommunications equipment is installed. The standard provides the

requirements for a ground reference for telecommunications systems within the telecom¬

munications entrance facility, the telecommunications closet, and equipment room; it also

provides the requirements for bonding and connecting pathways, cable shields, conduc¬

tors, and hardware at telecommunications closets, equipment rooms, and entrance

facilities.

The grounding and bonding approach described in this standard is consistent with

the cabling topology specified in FIPS PUB 174, Federal Building Telecommunications

Wiring Standard (ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-1991), and installed in accordance with FIPS PUB

175, Federal Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces (ANSI/

EIA/TIA-569-1990).

Key words: bonding and connecting pathways; cable shields; conductors; communica¬

tions systems; Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS); grounding; telecommu¬

nications; telecommunications equipment.

and Technology

FIPS PUB 195

6 pages (Aug. 15, 1995)

CODEN: FIPPAT

National Institute of Standards U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington: 1995

For sale by the National

Technical Information

Service

U.S. Department of Commerce

Springfield, VA 22161

(703) 487-4650

FIPS PUB 195

Federal Information

Processing Standards Publication 195

1995 August 15

Announcing the Standard for

FEDERAL BUILDING GROUNDING AND BONDING REQUIREMENTS

FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBS) are issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) after approval by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to Section 111 (d) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services

Act of 1949 as amended by the Computer Security Act of 1987, Public Law 100-235.

1. Name of Standard. Federal Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications.

(Former Draft Federal Standard 1093).

2. Category of Standard. Telecommunications Standard; Grounding and Bonding.

3. Explanation. This standard, by adoption of ANSI/TIA/EIA-607-1994, Commercial Building Grounding

and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications, specifies the requirements for a uniform telecommuni¬

cations grounding and bonding infrastructure for Federal buildings where telecommunications equipment is

installed. The standard provides the requirements for a ground reference for telecommunications systems

within the telecommunications entrance facility, the telecommunications closet, and equipment room; it also

provides the requirements for bonding and connecting pathways, cable shields, conductors, and hardware

at telecommunications closets, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities.

This standard supports the telecommunications infrastructure which encompasses telecommunications

equipment spaces, cable pathways, grounding, wiring, termination hardware, and other devices, and which

provides the basic support for the distribution of all forms of information within a building or campus.

The grounding and bonding approach described in this standard is consistent with the cabling topology

specified in Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 174, Federal Building

Telecommunications Wiring Standard (ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-1991) and installed in accordance with Federal

Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 175, Federal Building Standard for Telecommuni¬

cations Pathways and Spaces (ANSI/EIA/TIA-569-1990).

4. Approving Authority. Secretary of Commerce.

5. Maintenance Agency. National Communications System, Office of Technology and Standards.

6. Related Documents.

a. Federal Information Resources Management Regulations subpart 201-20.303, Standards, and

subpart 201-39.1002, Federal Standards.

b. Federal Standard 1037B, Glossary of Telecommunications Terms.

c. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 174, Federal Building Telecom¬

munications Wiring Standard.

d. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 175, Federal Building Standard

for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces.

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FIPS PUB 195

e. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 176, Residential and Light

Commercial Telecommunications Wiring Standard.

f. Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) 187, Administration Standard for

the Telecommunications Infrastructure of Federal Buildings.

At the time of publication of this standard, the editions indicated above were valid. All publications are

subject to revision, and parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the

possibility of applying the most recent editions of these publications.

7. Objectives. The purpose of this standard is to facilitate the planning, design, and installation of

telecommunications grounding systems within a Federal government building with or without prior knowledge

of the telecommunications systems that will subsequently be installed. This telecommunications grounding

and bonding infrastructure supports a multivendor, multiproduct environment as well as the grounding

practices for various systems that may be installed on customer premises.

This standard should be useful to anyone engaged in the design, maintenance, renovation, or retrofit of

new or existing buildings. This standard will also be useful to manufacturers of telecommunications equip¬

ment and to those responsible for purchasing, installing, or operating such equipment and devices.

8. Applicability. This standard shall be used by all departments and agencies of the Federal Government

in the planning, design, and installation of telecommunications grounding systems in new Federal buildings.

Use of this standard is recommended in the maintenance, renovation, or retrofit of telecommunications

grounding systems in existing Federal buildings. Existing building wiring systems, especially those installed

prior to the emergence of digital communications and voice/data integration, may not readily accept applica¬

tion of this standard. Modernization of the existing pathway, space, and wiring systems to meet the FIPS 174,

FIPS 175, FIPS 176, and FIPS 187 infrastructure standards may require a significant monetary expenditure.

Agencies should conduct a thorough facility analysis of existing and renovated buildings to determine the cost

of applying the standards, and develop a migration plan where cost savings can be achieved. This plan will

help to ensure timely and efficient completion of the conversion process. The result of following this standard

will be a telecommunications infrastructure that supports advanced technology and is compatible with

modern telecommunications equipment. This standard is not intended to hasten the obsolescence of

telecommunications grounding systems currently in use in Federal facilities; nor is it intended to provide

systems engineering or applications guidelines.

9. Specifications. This FIPS adopts ANSI/TIA/EIA-607-1994, Commercial Building Grounding and

Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications, The American National Standard specifies the requirements

for a uniform telecommunications grounding and bonding infrastructure for a building where telecommunica¬

tions equipment is to be installed. Areas of the infrastructure include:

(a) a ground reference for telecommunications systems within the telecommunications entrance facility,

the telecommunications closet, and equipment room.

(b) bonding and connecting pathways, cable shields, conductors and hardware at telecommunications

closets, equipment rooms, and entrance facilities.

(c) interconnectivity to other building grounding systems.

10. Implementation. The use of this standard by Federal departments and agencies is compulsory and

binding for the planning, design, and installation of telecommunications grounding systems within new

Federal buildings, effective February 12, 1996.

Use of the standard is recommended in the maintenance, renovation, or retrofit of the telecommunica¬

tions grounding systems within existing buildings.

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FIPS PUB 195

11. Waivers. Under certain exceptional circumstances, the heads of Federal departments and agencies

may approve waivers to Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). The head of such agency may

redelegate such authority only to a senior official designated pursuant to Section 3506(b) of Title 44, U.S.

Code. Waivers shall be granted only when:

a. Compliance with a standard would adversely affect the accomplishment of the mission of an

operator of a Federal computer system or related telecommunications system, or

b. Cause a major adverse financial impact on the operator which is not offset by Governmentwide

savings.

Agency heads may act upon a written waiver request containing the information detailed above. Agency

heads may also act without a written waiver request when they determine that conditions for meeting the

standard cannot be met. Agency heads may approve waivers only by a written decision which explains the

basis on which the agency head made the required finding(s). A copy of each such decision, with procure¬

ment sensitive or classified portions clearly identified, shall be sent to: National Institute of Standards and

Technology; Attn: FIPS Waiver Decisions, Technology Building, Room B-154; Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

In addition, notice of each waiver granted and each delegation of authority to approve waivers shall be

sent promptly to the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and shall be published promptly in the Federal Register.

When the determination on a waiver applies to the procurement of equipment and/or services, a notice

of the waiver determination must be published in the Commerce Business Daily as a part of the notice of

solicitation for offers of an acquisition or, if the waiver determination is made after the notice is published, by

amendment to such notice.

A copy of the waiver, any supporting documents, the document approving the waiver and any supporting

and accompanying documents, with such deletions as the agency is authorized and decides to make under

5 U.S.C. Sec. 552(b), shall be part of the procurement documentation and retained by the agency.

12. Where to Obtain Copies. Copies of this publication are for sale by the National Technical Information

Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161. (Sale of the included specifications docu¬

ment is by arrangement with the Electronic Industries Association.) When ordering, refer to Federal Informa¬

tion Processing Standards Publication 195 (FIPSPUB195), and the title. Payment may be made by check,

money order, purchase order, credit card, or deposit account.

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U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300