Advice on data line surge protection

[DanielUK]

Hello.

We are about to move into a new office building/warehouse. Bearing in mind that we've suffered loss of hardware due to lightning before, we're keen to protect the equipment as much as possible.

I am looking at what is involved in protecting the network and telcomms data cables. Having read through various related posts on this forum we've come up with this plan:

1. Our rack chassis will contain the switch, patch panel, telecomms cabling and also rack mounted surgeprotection for the data cabling e.g. APC ProtectNet:

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=19

2. We would bond the rack chassis to a convenient earth bonding point e.g. where the power comes into the building.

One thing I am not sure of is do we need any other data line protection at the other (pc/telephone) end such as the APC standalone suppressors e.g. these from APC

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=145

?

Thanks

Dan

 

[skip555]

I use these

http://www.itwlinx.com/home/default.asp

 

[dearingkr]

If you're in a area of alot of lightning, you'll need to protect all your copper lines coming into the building.

Whoever installed your phone system should have installed surge protection on the phone lines.
Don't forget your data circuits. APC has P-Nets for T-1 lines, etc. Don't skimp on this.

I've seen smoke coming out of a router. But then again, I am in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, infamous for being the lightning capital of the country.

MCSE CCNA CCDA

 

[SYQUEST]

You can also get a copy of the NEC, and read article 800 amoung other related articles and that should give you some ideas about DOs and DON'Ts.

You can check with the Authority Having Jurisdiction about any specifics for your area or region pertaining to lightning protection, grounding and bonding.

Hope this helps!

....JIM....

 

[Dexman]

If I am interpreting Daniel's screen name correctly, I don't think the NEC would apply to him.

If so, he would have to obtain a copy of the standards that apply to the UK.

 

[AndyD5]

Safety is number one"

Everything grounded isn't a bad thing in any country. Somethings don't and most things do need grounding the
D-marc should be grounded outside via co-bonding so that if the power supply or the phone etc are hit they are both protected since in the instance of a plugged in device they are connected. I've heard of people being burned talking on the residential phone in a lightning storm when the wires get struck. they also say you shouldn't use a home computer in a storm.

I don't know what they are called but there is a lightning protection that is applied to each tele line next to the PBX. I really wish we had a way to share pictures I'd like to have some visuals and I've got tons of pictures and that would explain things so much more clearly than my rambled mixmatch of picked up information of the past decade.

Andy the Cable Guy Chandler, AZ