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The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg
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Grounding, Bonding, Earthing and all that
National Electrical Code (NFPA 70): Article 250 Grounding & Bonding
2026 Code Panel 5: Transcript of Proposed Changes
Electrical grounding is vital for safety and system protection. It provides a path for excess electrical current to safely dissipate into the earth, reducing the risk of electric shock, fire, and equipment damage. Grounding stabilizes voltage levels, ensuring the proper operation of electrical systems and devices. It also protects against electrical surges and lightning strikes by diverting harmful currents away from sensitive components. Overall, grounding enhances the safety, reliability, and performance of electrical installations, making it a fundamental practice in electrical engineering and construction.
In other words, without grounding, electric energy does no useful work. Today we review the grounding principles for exterior lightning protection and building interior telecommunication and audio-visual systems. Use the login credentials at the upper right our home page.
“Railroad Sunset” | Edward Hopper
Grounding protects buildings from lightning by providing a safe path for the immense electrical energy of a lightning strike to travel into the earth, thereby minimizing damage. Here’s how it works:
- Lightning Rods: Metal rods placed on top of buildings intercept lightning strikes. These rods are connected to a network of conductors.
- Conductors: These metal cables or strips carry the electrical charge from the lightning rod to the ground.
- Grounding System: The conductors are connected to grounding rods buried deep in the earth, dispersing the electrical charge safely into the ground.
This system prevents lightning from passing through the building’s structure, reducing the risk of fire, structural damage, and electrical hazards.
“Rain in Charleston” 1951 Thomas Fransioli
Grounding in telecommunication systems is crucial for ensuring safety and operational reliability. Here’s how it works:
- Surge Protection: Grounding helps protect telecommunication equipment from voltage surges caused by lightning strikes, power line faults, or switching operations. By providing a direct path to the earth, grounding allows excess electrical energy to be safely dissipated, preventing damage to sensitive equipment.
- Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Reduction: Proper grounding minimizes EMI, which can disrupt communication signals. By creating a common reference point for electrical potentials, grounding reduces noise and interference, ensuring clearer and more reliable signal transmission.
- Safety: Grounding protects personnel from electrical shocks by ensuring that any fault currents are directed away from equipment and safely into the ground. This is particularly important in environments with high-power transmission equipment.
- System Stability: Grounding stabilizes voltage levels within the system, preventing fluctuations that could cause equipment malfunctions or failures. This stability is crucial for maintaining consistent and reliable telecommunications services.
Overall, grounding enhances the safety, performance, and reliability of telecommunication systems by managing electrical faults, reducing interference, and protecting both equipment and personnel.
“Telegraph Poles with Buildings” | Joseph Stella (1917)
Grounding in audio systems is essential for ensuring high-quality sound output and preventing various types of electrical noise and interference. Here’s how it works:
- Noise Reduction: Proper grounding minimizes hums and buzzes often caused by ground loops, which occur when different pieces of equipment are grounded at different points. By ensuring a common ground point, the potential differences that cause these loops are eliminated, leading to cleaner audio signals.
- Shielding: Grounding provides a reference point for the shielding in audio cables, which helps to block external electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). This shielding prevents unwanted noise from being introduced into the audio signal.
- Safety: Grounding protects both the equipment and users from electrical shocks. In the event of a fault, the grounding system directs the fault current safely to the earth, reducing the risk of electric shock and equipment damage.
- Signal Integrity: By maintaining a consistent ground potential, grounding helps preserve the integrity of audio signals. This ensures that the signals are transmitted and received accurately without degradation, resulting in better sound quality.
- Equipment Protection: Proper grounding can protect sensitive audio equipment from power surges and static discharge, extending the lifespan and reliability of the components.
Overall, grounding is a fundamental practice in audio systems to ensure high-quality sound, protect equipment, and maintain safety for users.
Related:
History of grounding/earthing practices in the united states
The $7 Billion Stargate “Barn”
Saline Area Historical Society
- Governor Whitmer Submits Public Comment in Support of Stargate Project
- More than one gigawatt campus to help build America’s AI infrastructure and support economic growth in the Midwest
- OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital announce Stargate data center site in Michigan
- What the Michigan Stargate site says about today’s AI market
- See aerial footage of massive data center under construction near Saline
America demands art deco data centers https://t.co/4POJMy6Lui pic.twitter.com/uoxMuN1rnD
— Nick Krosse (@nkrosse) April 30, 2026
“Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”
How Stupid Would It Be to Put Data Centers in Space?
Riding the orbital data center wave
SpaceX and Google Are in Talks to Launch Data Centers in Orbit
Electricity
Natural Gas
Traffic
Water
Noise
Taxation
Security
Relata:
Dr. Gad Saad Named Global Ambassador for The Northwood Idea and Visiting Professor
Gad Saad (Northwood University Michigan) & Jordan Peterson (University of Toronto) discuss the intellectual intransigence in education settlements
International Zoning Code
2025 Group B Proposed Changes to IZC | Complete Monograph for Changes to I-Codes (2630 pages)
National Association of County Engineers
The purpose of the code is to establish minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of health, safety, property protection and welfare by controlling the design, location, use or occupancy of all buildings and structures through the regulated and orderly development of land and land uses within this jurisdiction.
CLICK IMAGE
Municipalities usually have specific land use or zoning considerations to accommodate the unique needs and characteristics of college towns:
- Mixed-Use Zoning: Cities with colleges and universities often employ mixed-use zoning strategies to encourage a vibrant and diverse urban environment. This zoning approach allows for a combination of residential, commercial, and institutional uses within the same area, fostering a sense of community and facilitating interactions between students, faculty, and residents.
- Height and Density Restrictions: Due to the presence of educational institutions, cities may have specific regulations on building height and density to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods and maintain the character of the area. These restrictions help balance the need for development with the preservation of the existing urban fabric.
- Student Housing: Cities with colleges and universities may have regulations or guidelines for student housing to ensure an adequate supply of affordable and safe accommodations for students. This can
include requirements for minimum bedroom sizes, occupancy limits, and proximity to campus. - Parking and Transportation: Given the concentration of students, faculty, and staff, parking and transportation considerations are crucial. Cities may require educational institutions to provide parking facilities or implement transportation demand management strategies, such as promoting public transit use, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly designs.
- Community Engagement: Some cities encourage colleges and universities to engage with the local community through formalized agreements or community benefit plans. These may include commitments to support local businesses, contribute to neighborhood improvement projects, or provide educational and cultural resources to residents.
This is a relatively new title in the International Code Council catalog; revised every three years in the Group B tranche of titles. Search on character strings such as “zoning” in the link below reveals the ideas that ran through the current revision:
Complete Monograph: 2022 Proposed Changes to Group B I-Codes (1971 pages)
We maintain it on our periodic I-Codes colloquia, open to everyone. Proposals for the 2026 revision will be received until January 10, 2025.
2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE
We maintain it on our periodic I-Codes colloquia, open to everyone with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
The City Rises (La città che sale) | 1910 Umberto Boccioni
Related:
- Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to the town of Gilbert, Arizona’s sign code, which regulated the size, location, and duration of signs based on their content. The court held that the sign code was a content-based restriction on speech and therefore subject to strict scrutiny.
- City of Ladue v. Gilleo (1994): In this Supreme Court case, the court struck down a municipal ordinance that banned the display of signs on residential property, except for signs that fell within specific exemptions. The court held that the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.
- Metromedia, Inc. v. San Diego (1981): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to a San Diego ordinance that banned off-premises advertising signs while allowing on-premises signs. The court held that the ordinance was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, as it discriminated against certain types of speech.
- City of Ladue v. Center for the Study of Responsive Law, Inc. (1980): In this Supreme Court case, the court upheld a municipal ordinance that prohibited the display of signs on public property, but only if the signs were posted for longer than 10 days. The court held that the ordinance was a valid time, place, and manner restriction on speech.
- City of Boerne v. Flores (1997): This Supreme Court case involved a challenge to a municipal sign code that regulated the size, location, and content of signs in the city. The court held that the sign code violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, as it burdened the exercise of religion without a compelling government interest.
2029 National Electrical Code Panel 3
Articles covered by CMP-3:
Article 206
Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 300
General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials | Article 335
Instrumentation Tray Cable — formerly Article 727 | Article 720
Limited-Energy System Installations | Article 721
Limited-Energy Power Sources | Article 722
Limited-Energy Cables | Article 723
Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems | Article 724
Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 725
Class 2 and Class 3 Power-Limited Circuits | Article 726
Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Systems | Article 728
Fire-Resistive Cable Systems | Article 760
Fire Alarm Systems | Article 772
Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 300
General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials | Article 335
Instrumentation Tray Cable — formerly Article 727 | Article 720
Limited-Energy System Installations | Article 721
Limited-Energy Power Sources | Article 722
Limited-Energy Cables | Article 723
Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems | Article 724
Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 725
Class 2 and Class 3 Power-Limited Circuits | Article 726
Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Systems | Article 728
Fire-Resistive Cable Systems | Article 760
Fire Alarm Systems | Article 772
Chapter 9 Tables
Top 10 Issues
| Issue | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1. Consistency of Code Language | Standardize terminology throughout the NEC by eliminating inconsistent wording, duplicate phrases, and varying expressions that describe the same technical concepts. |
| 2. Compliance with the NEC Style Manual | Many proposals seek removal of redundant requirements already addressed elsewhere in the Code, resulting in a cleaner, more concise document. |
| 3. Restoring Lost Requirements | Numerous submitters argue that important technical provisions disappeared during recent article reorganizations and should be restored. |
| 4. Article Organization | Improve article formatting, numbering, and overall structure to make the NEC easier to navigate and maintain. |
| 5. Emerging Technologies | Expand the Code to better accommodate fault-managed power, battery energy storage, portable power systems, EV-based power sources, hydrogen technologies, and new circuit classifications. |
| 6. Installation Clarification | Clarify requirements for raceways, wet locations, roof decks, cable trays, conductor spacing, barriers, and other installation practices. |
| 7. Installer Safety & Reliability | Enhance electrical safety through improved wiring practices, better physical protection, stronger cable support requirements, and fewer failure points. |
| 8. Definition Ownership | Assign definitions to the Code-Making Panels having primary technical expertise to improve long-term consistency and maintenance. |
| 9. Coordination with Other Standards | Improve harmonization between the NEC and companion standards such as UL, ANSI, NFPA 79, and hazardous-location requirements. |
| 10. Reducing Complexity | A recurring objective is to simplify the NEC by reducing duplication, improving readability, and making the Code easier for installers, inspectors, designers, trainers, and licensing authorities to use. |
The Public Inputs demonstrate a broad desire to make the National Electrical Code more consistent, technically complete, better coordinated with related standards, and easier to understand without compromising electrical safety. Many proposals emphasize restoring requirements inadvertently lost during recent reorganizations while preparing the Code to accommodate rapidly emerging electrical technologies.
Mike recommends these issues as priority for the Joint IEEE IAS/PES committee
Atul Arunkumar Shenoy, P.E., SMIEEE is Mike Anthony’s Alternate on CMP-3
Susan Newman Scearce is the Chairperson for CMP-3
Ω
2029 Public Input Submittals CMP-3
N.B. Public Input No. 2633-NFPA 70-2026 [ Global Input ] PDF Page 6, regarding re-organization of the NEC into below 1000 V and above 1000 V.
Noteworthy proposal concepts:
- Cable trays interfering with HVAC ductwork and fire sprinkler lines. Parallel cable tray feasibility
- Difficulty accessing lighting fixtures and fire alarm components for maintenance.
- Potential violation of plenum clearance and airflow requirements. Some cable trays in plenums reportedly contain non-plenum-rated cables, which is a fire code violation.
- Document flags this as a high-priority remediation item before any LED lighting retrofit proceeds.
- Existing security wiring (CCTV, access control, intrusion detection) is a mix of old analog coax and early Cat 5 cables.
- Many runs exceed recommended length for reliable video transmission. Frequent signal degradation and reliability complaints.
- Security cables are sharing overcrowded cable trays with power-limited lighting control wires and fire alarm cabling.
- Risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) noted due to proximity to higher-voltage lines.
- Plenum space constraints make it difficult to add new IP-based security cameras without major reorganization.
- Current security wiring cannot support newer high-resolution IP cameras or PoE+ powered devices.
- Several editorial proposals by Mike Holt. (He’s generally correct on clarity improvements that he needs for educational purposes)
Ω
For discussion next meeting, when we march through all proposals of interest to IEEE:
- When electricians work in ceiling plenums above hallways while students pass below, several serious hazards emerge. Tools, screws, cable scraps, or ceiling tiles can fall, causing head injuries or slips. Disturbed dust, fiberglass, or potential asbestos particles may rain down, creating respiratory risks.
- Live electrical work on lighting or cable trays raises shock/fire dangers if a fault occurs or debris shorts circuits. Open plenums can compromise fire-rated barriers, allowing smoke or flames to spread rapidly in an emergency.
- Noise and visual distractions increase trip hazards for students. Without full barricades, lockout/tagout, and proper fall protection, these overhead activities expose young people to preventable injury. Scheduling work after hours or using full corridor closures is essential.
- Power-limited (Class 2) cabling operates at low voltage (<60V DC) with current/power caps (~100VA), dramatically reducing shock and fire risks. Installation is simpler and cheaper—no conduit or heavy mechanical protection needed in many cases, allowing flexible routing. LEDs run cooler and more efficiently with remote drivers, improving lifespan and energy savings. Easier maintenance and safer for retrofits.
- Severe distance and power limits due to voltage drop and 100W/5A caps require multiple drivers or shorter runs. Higher upfront costs for specialized power supplies. Potential reliability issues from more connection points. Less suitable for high-power or long-distance applications compared to line-voltage wiring.
Public Inputs Relevant to School and College Facilities
| Campus Facility | Relevant Issue | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Student Health Centers, Medical Schools & Campus Hospitals | Improved protection of underground feeders, raceways, and wiring methods, together with replacement of conductors damaged by water, fire, corrosion, or severe physical impact. | Enhances electrical reliability for healthcare occupancies where continuous operation is essential. |
| Athletic Stadiums & Arenas | Improved protection of underground services, direct-buried conductors, warning ribbons, and raceways. | Supports reliable electrical service for stadium lighting, scoreboards, concessions, and outdoor utility infrastructure. |
| Temporary Athletic & Campus Events | Recognition of modern portable power sources, including battery energy storage systems and portable fuel cells, in addition to traditional generators. | Useful for commencement ceremonies, concerts, athletic tournaments, festivals, and temporary event power. |
| Research Laboratories | Expanded wiring methods for hazardous (classified) locations, including ITC-HL cable installations. | May affect university research laboratories, pilot plants, engineering facilities, and chemical research buildings. |
| Residence Halls & Classroom Buildings | Improved protection against concealed wiring damage caused by nails, screws, and furring strips during construction and renovation. | Helps reduce wiring damage during frequent campus remodeling and maintenance projects. |
| Campus Utility Infrastructure | Clarifications involving direct boring, underground raceways, service feeders, and warning ribbon installation. | Relevant to the large underground electrical distribution systems commonly found on university campuses. |
Although these proposals would benefit campus infrastructure, the CMP-3 transcript contains very little discussion directed specifically at educational occupancies. Topics such as healthcare facilities (Article 517), stadium emergency systems, data centers, laboratories as occupancies, residence halls, libraries, and central utility plants largely fall within the jurisdiction of other NEC Code-Making Panels such as CMP-1 and CMP-15 where Mike has been a Principal or Alternate for IEEE.
April 29, 2026
At the request of IEEE Joint IAS/PES Standards Michigan, Mike Anthony moved to CMP-3 from CMP-15.
Articles Under CMP 3
- Article 300 — General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
- Article 335 — Instrumentation Tray Cable (in some references for the 2029 cycle)
- Article 590 — Temporary Installations (being relocated/renumbered in the 2026 cycle, e.g., potentially to Article 140 in Chapter 1, as temporary wiring is not treated as a special occupancy)
- Article 720 — Limited-Energy System Installations (new/general article covering wiring methods for limited-energy systems)
- Article 721 — Limited-Energy Power Sources
- Article 722 — Limited-Energy Cable (covers cables for power-limited, fault-managed, etc.)
- Article 723 — Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems (newly created in the 2026 cycle)
- Article 725 — Class 2 and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits
- Article 726 — Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Circuits and Equipment
- Article 727 — Instrumentation Tray Cable
- Article 728 — Fire-Resistive Cable Systems
- Article 760 — Fire Alarm Systems (power-limited and non-power-limited portions)
CMP 3 also handles associated content in: Chapter 9 — Tables, including Tables 11(A) & (B) and Tables 12(A) & (B) (related to conductor properties and other supporting tables for the above topics).
- Notes on Changes and Scope
CMP 3 focuses on general wiring rules, cable types, raceways/trays for low-energy applications, and signaling/communications-related wiring (distinct from higher-power utilization equipment or special occupancies handled by other panels). - In the 2026 NEC cycle, there has been significant reorganization of Chapter 7 to consolidate limited-energy systems under articles like 720–726 (and related ones), moving away from older structures. This includes new articles for raceways/cable trays specific to limited-energy systems and adjustments to scopes for clarity.
- Article 206 (Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits) appears in some 2026-related references as newly designated or relocated material handled in this area.
Temporary installations (Article 590) are transitioning out of “special” categories in restructuring efforts.
During today’s sessions of the IEEE E&H Committee and our own we will prepare draft proposals relevant to the safety and sustainability agenda of the USA education facility industry. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Brown University Electrical Design Criteria | Information Technology Resources Policy
Posted December 20, 2025
The University of Michigan has supported the voice of the United States education facility industry since 1993 — the second longest tenure of any voice in the United States. That voice has survived several organizational changes but remains intact and will continue its Safer-Simpler-Lower Cost-Longer Lasting priorities on Code Panel 3 in the 2029 Edition.
Today, during our customary “Open Door” teleconference we will examine the technical concepts under the purview of Code Panel 3; among them:
Article 206 Signaling Circuits
Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
Article 335 Instrumentation Tray Cable
Article 590 Temporary Installations
Chapter 7 Large sections of limited energy cabling for signaling and information technology
Chapter 9 Conductor Properties Tables 11A & B, Tables 12A&B
Public Input on the 2029 Edition will be received until April 9, 2026.
Related:
- Since the lifespan of educational buildings make the building core and shell susceptible to multiple changes not typically associated with commercial buildings, additional pathways should be placed in areas where the core and shell components of the facility are likely to re-main for extended periods of time
- It is recommended that all areas of an educational building have wireless coverage unless prohibited
Landscape & Horticulture Services
Keiser University College of Golf & Sport Management
Federal regulations that apply to the landscaping of education communities are fairly stable; though land use issues tend to be capricious. Some federal regulations deal with fair trade in the purchase of landscaping materials; others deal with chemical safety; still others deal with personal protective equipment for works.
The federal government recognizes three major segments of this industry:
Landscape Design and Consultation
Landscape Installation and Maintenance
Tree Pruning and Arboriculture
For worker safety we consult the Occupational Safety and Health Administration home page:
Landscaping and Horticultural Services
From time to time we find Notices and Proposed Regulations — or notices of state-level adaptations of federal regulations — whistling across our radar. When they are meaningful and contribute to lower cost we will post the commenting opportunity.
The following voluntary American National Standards Institute (ANSI) titles may be applicable to the landscaping and horticultural units in education communities. Compliance with ANSI standards does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy, although the requirements of some ANSI standards have been adopted within OSHA standards. This list is provided for reference use only.
- A10.14, Requirements for Safety belts, Harnesses, Lanyards, Lifelines, and Drop Lines for Constructional and Industrial Use
- A14.1, Ladders – Portable Wood – Safety Requirements
- A14.2, Ladders – Portable Metal – Safety Requirements
- A14.5, Stepladders and Platform Ladders, Aluminum Magnesium, Fiberglass Ladders
- A92.2, Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
- A300, Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices
- B30.5, Mobile and Locomotive Truck Cranes
- B71.1, Powered Lawn Mowers and Garden Tractors
- B71.3, Snow Throwers
- B71.4, Commercial Turf Type Equipment
- B71.6, Shredders and Grinders
- B71.8, Tillers
- B175.1, Gasoline Powered Chain Saws, Safety Requirements
- B175.2, Blowers
- B175.3, Trimmers and Brushcutters
- Z41, Protective Footgear Requirements
- Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices
- Z89.1, Personnel Protection – Protective Headgear for Industrial Workers – Requirements
- Z133.1, Arboricultural Operations Safety
- Z308.1, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits
- Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components
We maintain all related best practice literature on the standing agenda of our periodic Bucolia teleconferences during which time we sort through proposed regulations, organize a response to them. War stories always welcomed. Stories about successes even more welcomed. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
Fontaines
Water fountains enhance campus outdoor settings by creating serene, inviting spaces that promote relaxation and social interaction. Their gentle sounds of flowing water reduce stress, mask noise, and foster a calming atmosphere conducive to study or reflection.
Aesthetically, fountains serve as focal points, adding elegance and visual appeal to courtyards or green spaces. They attract students, faculty, and visitors, encouraging gatherings and community engagement. Environmentally, fountains can support local ecosystems by providing water for birds or plants.
Well-maintained, they symbolize a campus’s commitment to beauty and sustainability, enriching the outdoor experience and enhancing the overall campus ambiance.
“At the Water Trough” 1876 J. Alden Weir
Indiana State University
Ithaca College
Harvard University
Lunds Universitet
University of Louisville Kentucky
Florida Southern College
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Michigan State University
University of Albany
Florida State University
Eastern Kentucky University
University of Texas Austin
Mineral Area College Missouri
Henry Ford College
California Institute of Technology
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
University of New Mexico
Regent University
Iowa State University
Berry College
Indiana University
University of Southern California
Furman University
University of Washington
Western Michigan University
Missouri State University
University of Michigan
Back-to-School
Detail of the fresco of the school of Aristotle by Gustav Adolph Spangenberg.
The first day of school is not fixed by any national standard. It is the product of law, custom, climate, and local choice. Before classes begin, both K–12 schools and colleges pass through a season of preparation. Grounds are tended, classrooms cleaned, technology tested, books delivered and schedules finalized. Teachers and professors return before students, using the remaining quiet days to organize lessons, review policies and prepare for another academic year. In both settings, “Back to School” is as much about the institution preparing itself as it is about students arriving.
The differences lie chiefly in scale and rhythm. K–12 schools usually reopen according to district calendars shaped by state law, transportation, meal service and family schedules. The first day is often a community event, with buses returning, parents taking photographs and routines resuming all at once. Colleges and universities, by contrast, stagger the process. Residence halls open over several days, orientation programs precede instruction and research, healthcare and utility operations continue throughout the summer. New students arrive first, followed by returning students, graduate assistants and faculty.
The educational mission also differs. Elementary and secondary schools emphasize continuity, supervision and age-based progression. Colleges balance teaching with research, healthcare, athletics and residential life, making the beginning of the academic year resemble the gradual awakening of a small city. In every case, however, the new school year marks a renewed investment in learning, community and the institutions that sustain both.
Students with last names K-Z begin school tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you!#wearemaryville pic.twitter.com/MrS9wCk4Xu
— Maryville Schools TN (@MC_Schools) August 3, 2026
Energy Standard for Data Centers
August 3, 2026 Update
Library of Alexandria
(No redlines open for consultation today)
E = U + KE + PE
The fourth edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.4 was published in late 2025 (superseding the 2022 edition) and it provides leading practice for smaller enterprise level data centers as well as hyperscale campuses.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Edition
- Establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of data centers.
- Expanded sustainability scope: Goes beyond pure energy efficiency to explicitly include greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and broader resource impacts.
- Maintains the performance-based approach using metrics like the Mechanical Load Component (MLC) and Electrical Loss Component (ELC), with refinements to make requirements more stringent.
- Applies primarily to data centers with power density >20 W/ft² and IT loads >10 kW. It references ASHRAE 90.1 for non-data-center elements (envelope, lighting, etc.).
This marks a clear evolution toward decarbonization and resource efficiency, especially important for AI-driven hyperscale data centers.
Recent Developments (2025–2026)
- Addendum b to the 2022 edition was approved in September 2025, providing clarifications for phased or modular data center designs.
- The 2024 IECC now references ASHRAE 90.4-2022 (Sections 6 and 8) as a compliance path for data centers.
- ASHRAE continues to advocate for wider adoption of 90.4 in state and local energy codes.
- The Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC 90.4) remains active with working groups on mechanical, electrical, ESG, and marketing aspects.
Data centers are among the fastest-growing energy consumers globally due to AI, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. ASHRAE 90.4 was created because traditional building codes do not adequately address their unique high-density, mission-critical nature.
The 2025 edition’s inclusion of emissions and water use reflects increasing industry and regulatory pressure on data center environmental footprints.
This title establishes minimum energy efficiency requirements for data centers; a permanent fixture in all education communities now undergoing a virtual +∞ asymptotic spike in generative intelligence transformation in ℝ³. At the moment this title is stable but can be revised in 30-90 day consultation cycles which will make it the dominant standard compared with IEEE and NFPA titles which move on a 3 to 5 year revision cadence.
2024 Update to ASHRAE Position Statements
List of Titles, Scopes and Purposes of the ASHRAE Catalog
The parent title of this standard is ASHRAE Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings and is continually under revision; frequently appearing in electrical engineering design guidelines, construction specifications, commissioning and O&M titles in our industry and others.
ASHRAE 90.4 defines an alternate compliance path, specific to data centers, while the compliance requirements for “non-data center” components are contained in ASHRAE 90.1 . The 90.4 structure also streamlines the ongoing maintenance process as well ensures that Standards 90.1 and 90.4 stay in their respective lanes to avoid any overlap and redundancies relating to the technical and administrative boundaries. Updates to ASHRAE 90.1 will still include the alternate compliance path defined in ASHRAE 90.4. Conversely the 2022 Edition of 90.4-2022 refers to ASHRAE 90.1-2022; cross-referencing one another synchronously
Links to noteworthy coverage from expert agencies on the 2022 revisions:
HPC Data Center Cooling Design Considerations
ASHRAE standard 90.4 updates emphasize green energy
ASHRAE updated its standard for data centers
How to Design a Data Center Cooling System for ASHRAE 90.4
Designing a Data Center with Computer Software Modeling
This title resides on the standing agenda of our Infotech 400 colloquium; hosted several times per year and as close coupled with the annual meetings of ASHRAE International as possible. Technical committees generally meet during these meetings make decisions about the ASHRAE catalog. The next all committee conference will be hosted January 20-24, 2024 in Chicago. As always we encourage education industry facility managers, energy conservation workgroups and sustainability professionals to participate directly in the ASHRAE consensus standard development process. It is one of the better facilities out there.
Start at ASHRAE’s public commenting facility:
Online Standards Actions & Public Review Drafts
Update: May 30, 2023
Proposed Addendum g makes changes to definitions were modified in section 3 and mandatory language in Section 6 to support the regulation of process heat and process ventilation was moved in the section for clarity. Other changes are added based on comments from the first public review including changes to informative notes.
Consultation closes June 4th
Update: February 10, 2023
The most actively managed consensus standard for data center energy supply operating in education communities (and most others) is not published by the IEEE but rather by ASHRAE International — ASHRAE 90.4 Energy Standard for Data Centers (2019). It is not required to be a free access title although anyone may participate in its development. It is copyrighted and ready for purchase but, for our purpose here, we need only examine its scope and purpose. A superceded version of 90.4 is available in the link below:
Third ISC Public Review Draft (January 2016)
Noteworthy: The heavy dependence on IEEE power chain standards as seen in the Appendix and Chapter 8. Recent errata are linked below:
We provide the foregoing links for a deeper dive “into the weeds”. Another addendum has been released for consultation; largely administrative:
ASHRAE 90.4 | Pages 60-61 | Consultation closes January 15, 2023.
It is likely that the technical committee charged with updating this standard are already at work preparing an updated version that will supercede the 2019 Edition. CLICK HERE for a listing of Project Committee Interim Meetings.
We maintain many titles from the ASHRAE catalog on the standing agenda of our Mechanical, Energy 200/400, Data and Cloud teleconferences. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Originally posted Summer 2020.
ASHRAE International has released four new addenda to its energy conservation consensus document ASHRAE 90.4-2016 Energy Standard for Data Centers. This document establishes the minimum energy efficiency requirements of data centers for design and construction, for the creation of a plan for operation and maintenance and for utilization of on-site or off-site renewable energy resources.
It is a relatively new document more fully explained in an article published by ASHRAE in 2016 (Click here). The addenda described briefly:
Addendum a – clarifies existing requirements in Section 6.5 as well as introduce new provisions to encourage heat recovery within data centers.
Addendum b – clarifies existing requirements in Sections 6 and 11 and to provide guidance for taking credit for renewable energy systems.
Addendum d – a response to a Request for Interpretation on the 90.4 consideration of DieselRotary UPS Systems (DRUPS) and the corresponding accounting of these systems in the Electrical Loss Component (ELC). In crafting the IC, the committee also identified several marginal changes to 90.4 definitions and passages in Section 8 that would add further clarity to the issue. This addendum contains the proposed changes for that aim as well as other minor changes to correct spelling or text errors, incorporate the latest ELC values into Section 11, and to refresh information in the Normative Reference.
Addendum e adds language to Section 11 intended to clarify how compliance with Standard 90.4 can be achieved through the use of shared systems.
Comments are due September 6th. Until this deadline you may review the changes and comment upon them by by CLICKING HERE
Universitat de Barcelona
Education facility managers, energy conservation workgroups and sustainability professionals are encouraged to participate directly in the ASHRAE standard development process. Start at ASHRAE’s public commenting facility:
Online Standards Actions & Public Review Drafts
The ASHRAE catalog is a priority title in our practice. This title appears on the standing agenda of our Infotech sessions. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [12-54]
Category: Telecommunications, Infotech, Energy
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Robert G. Arno, Neal Dowling, Jim Harvey, Mike Hiler, Robert Schuerger, Larry Spielvogel
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— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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