Grounding for New and Existing Telecommunications

[slushin]

I recently installed a new telecommunications system in an existing building. The new system is installed per ANSI/TIA/EIA J-STD-607-A, meaning that there is a Telecommunications Main Ground Bus (TGB) at the service and in each equipment room , aTelecommunications Backbone (TBB) which branches off to each TGB, and bonding between the TGB’s and the telecommunications equipment/panelboards. However, the existing equipment in the building in not grounded per this standard, rather the equipment is only grounded back to the service. My contractor is suggesting that we upgrade the existing equipment to match the new, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the added cost. Neither ANSI/TIA/EIA J-STD-607-A nor IEEE 1100 address the interface of existing and new systems … they just recommend installing new systems per ANSI/TIA/EIA J-STD-607-A. Could anyone offer some guidance?
Also, is there any testing that can be performed to determine if the additional grounding is needed? Resistance or voltage tests?

 

[alehman]

If there is any interface between existing and new telecom systems, it would probably be best if they are connected to the same grounding system.

Alan
“The engineer's first problem in any design situation is to discover what the problem really is.” Unk.