Ground Wire on Secure or Unsecure Side of SCIF?

9/2/2026

For a SCIF, where should the ground wire be bonded?

We have a project where #4 AWG ground wire is to be bonded to sprinkler (water) piping of the penetration, but does that need to occur on the secure side or the unsecured side of a SCIF?

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11 Comments

Glenn Berger

9/2/2026 08:09:01 am

Provide ground wire as required by the CTTA. In my experience, I have seen no consistency.

Robb Karlin

9/2/2026 08:18:55 am

IN SCIFS that require tempest security - you should have a red power panel designated - that power is filtered by a spec filter and that company will give you details on its install.... by law and per NFPA 70 no isolated grounds are allowed and this has always been recognized even way back to the milspec guides...so I would ground every thing including the TBC/EBC to the main ground in that power panel which is required to be in the SCIF - there is so much missing info here ... just know that separate grounds are a no no per NFPA 70 NEC art 250. send me a link or PM if you need to discuss other pitfalls - especially the fire alarm SLC/NAC/BTX cross connections/ premisis alarm connection and sprinkler cross connection at the SCIF barrier.

robb karlin

9/2/2026 08:36:47 am

further comment - the point is to shield, ground, physically isolate any potential leak point for electronic data or emf/rf signal before they leave the SCIF - so the simple answer to the question. is the quickest path to ground on SCIF side - as well, its physically can not be removed unless your in the secure area - For example - the easiest means to eavesdrop on a SCIF is to tap into an improperly installed FA/MNS speaker circuit.

robbk

9/2/2026 09:04:55 am

BTW Someone needs to orchestrate the grounding bonding plan... typically metallic pipes penetrations such as cross mains are incorporated with the shielding, raised floor, equipment racks, and signal reference grid bonding connections... the bond wire would be attached to the nearest SBB (TGB)

Jon N

9/2/2026 10:52:29 am

How about giving explanations for all of the acronyms? 30+ years reviewing fire sprinkler and alarm systems and I have no idea what the following mean: (SCIF, SBB, TGB, CTTA, BTX, MNS). Please, let's talk in English so everyone benefits from the information.

Dave

9/2/2026 12:31:37 pm

Along those lines (but perhaps another topic), us sprinkler guys should understand the difference between bonding and grounding, for when we see it on site.

Brett

9/2/2026 01:47:43 pm

I'll fill in the gaps on the two that I know, but I agree it would be great for an expert to define these acronyms.

SCIF = Secure Compartmented Information Facility. Basically a room with very sensitive information that needs to prevent people from eavesdropping. I've run into these with Department of Defense projects and they never actually tell you what they do in the SCIFs in my experience. Some smarter people than me can tell you how the eavesdropping is prevented. In my experience it's been metal shielding but there are a lot of electrical engineering requirements that go into it.

MNS = Mass Notification System which is defined in NFPA 72.

9/2/2026 12:58:11 pm

2022, 13:16.16 does touch on Bonding and Grounding to sprinkler pipe. I will leave this here if helpful. As with Jon, I am not versed with (SCIF, SBB, TGB, CTTA, BTX, MNS) so maybe it does not apply. However, based on 16.16, I would have to say don't use sprinkler pipe unless per 16.16.2.

Glenn Berger

9/2/2026 03:45:40 pm

CTTA - Certified TEMPEST Technical Authority - This person is the AHJ for these rooms.

Jack G

9/2/2026 05:53:46 pm

You must consult CTTA ( certified tempest technical authority ) for grounding a SCIF( Sensitive compartment information facility) the main safety and shielding wires must be bonded on an Internal Isolation Ground Bus Bar( IGBB) located inside the SCIF, which is then tied directly to the facilities main external building ground.
Inside the SCIF: Install a dedicated IGBB inside the secure room perimeter. All RF ( Radio frequency) shielding materials metal conduits filters and equipment grounds inside the SCIF must be tied to this single internal point to prevent electromagnetic interference and signal leakage ( TEMPEST).
WHILE internal elements terminate inside, the primary ground must penetrative the exterior, and bond securely to the facilities overall grounding electrode on the outside.
So both inside and outside.
Exact details / specifications should be in the facilities CSP* Construction Security Plan)

Jack G

9/2/2026 06:40:03 pm

Yes—— the size of the external ground wire must be
#4AWG. Sorry I didn’t include that above but that information was correct.

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Ground Wire on Secure or Unsecure Side of SCIF?

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