Ground Rules

The Integrated Systems Bonding Project

Glossary of Terms

[ Index ]

  1. Balance = a conversion from current flux to stability.   When currents arriving from different points meet, they are forced to balance out.   Balanced current will pool, or seek stability, at all points.  

  2. c0 = the speed of light and electromagnetic waves in free space (vacuum).   It is a constant valued at 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s or m*s-1).   c0 translates to 29.9792458 centimeters per nanosecond (cm/ns or cm*ns-1) and to 3.3356409519815204957557671447492 nanoseconds per meter (ns/m or ns*m-1).  

  3. CHOP = Centralized Hardware Outerlink Protocol.   CHOP is a method for creating and configuring an indoor ISBP proxy node specifically for peripherals, personal computers, and primary nodes.  

  4. Conic electrical grounding theory = Introduction to the grounding cone of protection (GCP), which has gaps at its base and along its exterior.   A GCP is inherently weak.   Conic electrical grounding theory states that systematic electrical bonding and grounding applied outward from a vertex sited at the earth ( or other conductive point ) will create a strong grounding cone of protection (GCP) that isolates and shields the space within its boundary from the flux of electrical and magnetic currents, affording protection from dangers and annoyances commonly manifested as electrical shock, fire, flashover, and interference.   All forms of ISBP (including proxy node), CHOP, meshed bonding, PEP, and shielding contribute toward a strong and robust GCP model at any facility.  

  5. Corrosion = The process of returning metals to their natural state, restated as the ores from which they were originally obtained.   Corrosion involves the oxidation of metal.   For example, copper forms an external layer of greenish copper sulfate or carbonate called patina.   Aluminum forms aluminum oxide, and gold shows no noticeable corrosion in air.  

  6. Electrolysis = A process where electrical energy is used to produce a chemical change.  

  7. Engineering Supervision and Control = A concept of deciding or learning about who is responsible for maintaining and upgrading electrical supply and grounding systems at a facility.   Laws may specify a minimum level of engineering supervision at businesses, commercial, medical, and other facilities as well as facilities with frequent public traffic.   Consumers who own private residential property may find themselves responsible for engineering supervision and may be free to do their own work or hire a competent individual to handle the assessment and maintenance of systems at the property.  It is also possible that a community or neighborhood standard may apply with regard to minimum levels of engineering supervision at some private properties that form part of a neighborhood association.   Engineering supervision and control is an important issue to discuss before consumers acquire and move in to new facilities or residences.   An electrical supply utility is generally responsible for electrical wiring that is on the supply ( upstream ) side of the ESE.   In addition to engineering supervision, there may exist legal restrictions or a permitting process for some types of work performed on the load ( downstream ) side of the ESE.  

  8. ESE = Electrical Power Service Entrance.  

  9. Exchange = a transfer of current flow back and forth between a facility and the Earth.   Safe current flow exchange is characterized by a sole path to ground from a facility ESE through an outdoor ISBP to a GES.  

  10. Facility = building or property receiving services.   It can be a home, store, or office building.   Multiple buildings should be planned for and treated as separate facilities.  

  11. Flashover = the event when electrical current jumps across two points having different voltages.  

  12. Floating = the electrical isolation of conductive bodies, e.g., conductors isolated from their enclosures, or an abnormally broken electrical connection such as missing ground.   Floating is routine for the isolated neutral and hot conductors within sub-panels.   For example, conductor bus bars can be installed in an enclosure, and "float" on nonconductive plastic feet.   A non-floating hot conductor will trip a circuit breaker upon shorting to ground, and a non-floating isolated neutral will no longer be isolated, creating subtle, but very dangerous hazards of electrical shock and flashover.  

  13. GCP =  Grounding Cone of Protection (view).   GCP funnels, or channels, a current flow exchange between the facility and the Earth.   All grounding cones of protection stack inside one another and strengthen the GCP model at a given facility.   Grounding cones of protection are designated as primary, secondary, and tertiary, based on the number of vertex points created away from the grounding electrode system (GES).   GCP is inherently weak due to gaps at its base and along its exterior that permit exposure to electrical hazards indoors.  

  14. GEC = Grounding Electrode Conductor.   This unbroken and unspliced conductor connects the electrical power service entrance (ESE) to each grounding electrode on the grounding electrode system (GES).   Grounding electrode conductors operate at speeds in the range of 0.6c0 to 1c0, or between 179,875,474.8 and 299,792,458 meters per second (m/s or m*s-1).   This translates to speeds between 17.98754748 and 29.9792458 centimeters per nanosecond (cm/ns or cm*ns-1), clocking between 5.55940158663586749293 and 3.3356409519815204957557671447492 nanoseconds per meter (ns/m or ns*m-1).   In this manner, GEC is critical to timely refreshing of electrical copies that preserves a safe environment for the occupants of a facility and for families at home.  

  15. GES = Grounding Electrode System.   GES is the entire scope of conductive surfaces, devices, and parts of the facility that are identified and deliberately used as grounding electrodes.   This includes made grounds (e.g., grounding rods, grounding rings buried in trenches), structural steel, and water mains.   As the electrical vertex point of a facility primary GCP, GES remains permanently integrated with the facility grounding system via an unbroken grounding electrode conductor (GEC).  

  16. Grounds = Bonding connections and direct connections that lead to earth ground.  Generally, facility grounding and bonding conductors trace back to the ESE before proceeding to earth ground.  

  17. IAEI = International Association of Electrical Inspectors.  

  18. IEC = International Electrotechnical Commission.  

  19. Indoor ISBP = multi-system bonding integrator installed on the load side of the ESE.   No direct earth connection is made except through the ESE.   Because all services brought in to a facility may not be sponsored at outdoor ISBPs, or an outdoor ISBP is not present at all, the indoor ISBP becomes a viable option for consumers to obtain complete coverage by integrating missing systems.  

  20. ISBP = Integrated Systems Bonding Point, also known as intersystem bonding point.  

    • A multi-system bonding integrator.  
    • The ISBP serves as an easy interface between the service provider and the electrician, electrical utility, and ESE.  
    • The ISBP acts in the absence of the electrician or electrical utility to provide a bonding and grounding means that will be used by future services consumed by the occupants at a facility.  
    • The ISBP balances all different potentials arriving at the grounding system from individual systems.  
    • Fire safety and electrical shock prevention are the driving motivations for constructing any ISBP.   Prevention of damage to equipment is a financial motivator worth noting, as well as the use of an ISBP to extend the life of equipment and electrical power service.  
    • The ISBP serves as the "last resort insurance" that the required connections are really being made between the ESE and the GES, including individual grounding electrodes.   This is why you may notice the appearance of duplication between the ISBP modules and the grounding electrodes residing at the GES.   In this role, the ISBP completes any unfinished work.   In the end, it provides a robust grounding system to serve the safety requirements of occupants.  

  21. ISBP Modules = individual, self-contained, conductive, marked enclosures.  

  22. ISBP Suite = the entire ISBP including all modules, whether sponsored or not.   Because all modules and sponsored services are affected, the ISBP suite is treated as one whole object in future planning and construction.  

  23. Isolated Ground = one, and only one, conductive pathway leading to true ground.   Neither connections to other devices nor alternate conductive paths to ground are permitted.   Wire conductors are isolated between the end points and a green colored insulation protects the conductor surface from making any other connections and paths.   Isolated ground can be implemented along the path from a downstream device to the ESE.   Isolation is enhanced, or made more effective, at the ESE when isolated grounding conductors are connected with the GEC and main bonding jumper electrically and physically apart (on opposite sides from) standard grounding conductors.   Isolated ground techniques are very useful for reducing interference between devices or among noisy conductors on a grounding system.   Isolated ground techniques are scalable and are implemented from the level of printed circuit board design all the way up to large facility structures.  

  24. Lambda ( λ ) =  a variable generally associated with wavelength.   Among other uses, lambda refers to distance traveled by an electromagnetic wave and to the length of a discrete wave.  

  25. Leakage current = All currents, including capacitively coupled currents, that may be conveyed between exposed surfaces of the equipment and ground or other exposed surfaces of the equipment.  

  26. LEO Says GER = loss of electrons results in oxidation, while the gain of electrons results in reduction.   This relates to corrosion, current flow, and effective ISBPs.  

  27. Meshed Bonding = Meshed Grounding = as many conductors and pathways possible are connected for grounding through the ESE or ISBP.   Bonding will trace back to real earth ground, and all grounding wires may parallel.   Connections may overlap or line up, or be a mixture of both.   Multiple bonding and grounding paths are encouraged, provided that the ESE or ISBP receives all the connections.   No direct connection or conductive pathway to true ground is permitted or implied by this technique except through the ESE or ISBP.   Meshed ground may be found where Proxy Earth Protocol (PEP) is implemented.   Meshed ground promotes lowering of resistance and increasing ampacity across the grounding system, and it retards breakdown or decomposition of the grounding system over time.   It also handles multiple currents and wavelengths more quickly as they are introduced onto the grounding system.  

  28. NEC = National Electric Code.  NFPA 70.  

  29. NFPA = The National Fire Protection Association.  

  30. NIST = The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an entity of the United States Department of Commerce.  

  31. Noisy = a manifestation and symptom of unbalanced voltage and current flow across parallel conductors.   It is termed "noisy" because the resulting electrical noise and stray electromagnetic fields create irritating opportunities for such hazards as electrical shock, fire, flashover, overheating, and undesired operation of equipment that includes static interference and other forms of noise.   This dangerous condition can harm people, damage or destroy equipment, and prematurely weaken the electrical system.  

  32. Outdoor ISBP = multi-system bonding integrator installed between the ESE and the GES.   Outdoor ISBPs keep current flow farther away from occupants of served facilities, enhancing safety indoors.   A direct earth connection is made across the GEC to the GES.   Outdoor ISBPs are vulnerable to activities, transient persons, and weather that may cause damage.  

  33. Outerlink = a connection point at the primary node that leads away from the node to another node or service, such as power or communications.   An example of an outerlink is an AC power supply cord to a computer or a port that connects a computer to a printer.  

  34. PEP = Proxy Earth Protocol.   Proxy Earth Protocol (PEP) is a scalable and agressive technique of ensuring that bonding and grounding connections are made, and that they result in a conductive and survivable pathway.   Its goal is to strengthen the grounding cone of protection from within.  

  35. Pi ( π ) =  an infinite constant value with the first 101 digits consisting of 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798.   It is used in computations for many disciplines including astronomy, electrical, engineering, mathematics, navigation, physics, and radio.  

  36. Potential differences = difference in voltage between any two points that results in an unbalanced state that is a precursor to current flow.  

  37. Primary GCP =  Primary Grounding Cone of Protection (view).   Customarily the outermost GCP at a facility, the primary GCP has the GES as its vertex, with the facility roof as its base.   An outdoor (exterior) integrated systems bonding point (ISBP) commonly rides the primary GCP between the ESE and GES.  

  38. Primary Node = any hardware attached to and communicating across any network that must operate without interruption or damage.   Examples of a primary node include computer, network printer, and router.  

  39. Proxy Node = a special ISBP built for computers, communications networks, and their peripherals.   It has a unique form factor, and is based on CHOP and PEP.   In keeping with NIST SP 960-6, the proxy node is a point-defense device dedicated to a primary node.   Like a bodyguard or double, the proxy node electrically "masquerades" as the primary node to draw any flashover, leaving the primary node protected.  

  40. Quiet = a symptom of safely balanced voltage and current flow across parallel conductors.   It is termed "quiet" because electrical noise and stray electromagnetic fields are balanced, cancelled out, or "nulled."   Isolated neutral conductors, a strong ISBP, and the use of shielding methods are examples of contributors to a quiet system.  

  41. Radio frequency.   Non ionizing radiation generated in the portion of the frequency spectrum for electromagnetic energy between audio and ultraviolet.  

  42. Secondary GCP =  Secondary Grounding Cone of Protection.   Commonly located indoors, secondary GCPs may begin at locations such as an electrical sub-panel downstream from the ESE and telecommunications closet.  

  43. Service = the provision of something to the facility from an entity away from the facility.   Some familiar and common services include electrical power, telephone, cable television, water, and natural gas.   All are provided to the facility within the framework of separate and conductive systems that invite hazards.  

  44. Sponsoring = Integrating a service system into the ISBP Suite by assigning it to a dedicated, exclusive module.   The module is then labeled for rapid location by the service's installer.  

  45. SP960-6 = NIST Special Publication 960-6, Surges Happen! How to Protect the Appliances in Your Home.   This recommended practice guide introduces the motivation and technical knowledge necessary for consumers to obtain and use forms of the indoor ISBP as well as the outdoor ISBP.  

  46. System = a conductive or wired presence at the facility.   System can be used synonymously with service.  

  47. Tertiary GCP =  Tertiary Grounding Cone of Protection.   Tertiary GCP is commonly found indoors.   An indoor ISBP, such as a proxy node, is a good example of a starting point for tertiary GCP vertices.   The vertex may also extend from multilink, grounded AC power outlet strips that support other systems such as cable, Internet, local area network, telephone, television, and wide area network.  

  48. Unsponsored Module = Delayed integration of service systems into the ISBP Suite.   Unsponsored modules are built in anticipation of future requirements at the ISBP.   They are marked as spares until the event when the consumer decides how to allocate them in the future.   Such undedicated, exclusive modules are built in small number along with, and at the same time as, sponsored modules to benefit from the same quality organized construction and integration into an ISBP suite.  

  49. Wavelength = Distance between repetitions of a recurring pattern in an electrical signal or in an electromagnetic field.  

[ Index ]

  

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