August 2000
Introduction
This draft standard addresses earthing and bonding of information technology equipment in buildings in relation to safety, functional and electromagnetic performance, taking into account that the draft does not specify another earthing and bonding system but selects out of the existing ones (specified in HD 384 series together with IEC 60364-5-548) the best suiteable system to information technology needs (CBN, MESH-BN, TN-S system).
Information regarding the general principles on earthing for (small) telecommunication installations in buildings has been published in Recommendation ITU-T K.31.
Depending on the degree of complexity and the size of the information technology installation, different levels of earthing and bonding are required. Starting from basic requirements on earthing and bonding this standard defines the refinements necessary to operate information technology equipment. The underlined concepts of this standard are in harmony with ETS 300 253. Therefore large information technology installations in buildings, which may require special care to avoid damage or upset from electromagnetic sources can make use of the bonding configurations and earthing techniques of ETS 300 253.
The specifications of EN 50310 are intended to provide optimum earthing and bonding conditions for buildings, where information technology installations are to be operated. EN 50310 should be applied at least in the case of newly constructed buildings and whenever possible in existing buildings (e.g. on the occasion of refurbishment). EN 50174-2 details the considerations for satisfactory installation and operation of information technology cabling within the environment of a building operating a low-voltage electricity distribution system (up to AC 1 000 V rms). For the relationship of EN 50310 and European standards on information technology cabling and their usage see Table 1.
Table 1: Relationship between EN 50310 and European Standards dealing with information technology cabling.
