Yo forumites, Bonding is not easy too define in an exact way as totally different from grounding. The difference is in the purpose. -Don't ground something to the sprinkler system that may make the sprinkler system become charged. -Do bond the system to the building and the lightning protection system where required. Bonding means that if a small electrcal currents build up within or hit the building (or the sprinkler system), that the current would made less dangerous by "sharing" it with the rest of the building and it's systems. Now this is a very simplistic explanation and not worthy of sharing with your electrician friends. Full bonding of the sprinkler system is nearly impossible and often misunderstood and misapplied. Just ensure with the electrician that they have not "grounded" a system to the sprinkler piping. Good clue for the real world: If there is a single small wire going from a panel cover or a JB (junction box) to the sprinkler system (or even a series of small wires), that is likely an effort at bonding. If there is a major wire going from inside a panel or from a large rod to the sprinkler system, someone has lkely misunderstood the whole grounding/bonding issue.
And don't try to get involved with the bonding stuff. EXCLUDE IT FROM ALL OF YOUR WORK!! Cause, as I said, it is nearly impossible to fully bond the sprinkler system as a single unit to the building. It should be recognized that the above is my opinion as a member of the NFPA 13 Committee on Installation Criteria, and has not been processed as a formal interpretation in accordance with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects and should therefore not be considered, nor relied upon, as the official position of the the NFPA, nor any of their technical committees. Sincerely, Cecil Bilbo Academy of Fire Sprinkler Technology Champaign, IL 217-363-2460 www.sprinkleracademy.com ---------------------------------------- > Subject: Bonding of sprinkler systems > Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:40:20 -0800 > From: st...@protectiondesign.com > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > > All: > > There is a current thread on another list that we subscribe to regarding > electrical bonding of sprinkler systems. The cited reference is NEC > 250.104 Bonding of Piping Systems and Exposed Structural Steel; since I > have always subscribed to the "Let Sparky do the wiring" school of > electrical design and coordination, I really don't know what the hell > that means or how it's intended to be carried out. Can anyone shed > light on what "bonding" is - as opposed to grounding - and what the > accepted practice(s) is(are) WRT to getting it done? Have never > undertaken that, like, never ever and the electrical code simply says > "piping systems", not sprinklers specifically ... > > Steve Leyton > > PROTECTION DESIGN & CONSULTING > > ***** Please Note Our New Address ***** > > 2851 Camino del Rio South, Suite 400 > > San Diego, CA 92108 > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > > Ph: 858.751.2930 - ext. 102 > > Fax: 858.751.2933 > > Cell: 619.972.5696 > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: supp...@firesprinkler.org > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:sprinklerforum-requ...@firesprinkler.org > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: supp...@firesprinkler.org To Unsubscribe, send an email to:sprinklerforum-requ...@firesprinkler.org (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
