Bonding gas/water yellow and blue

[Houndogg10]

Hi I am recently qualified and still have a lot of learning/reading to do but Blue plastic waterpipe incoming, seems to always be a grey area with electricians I work with, me personally wouldn’t bond it..... Although we have to prove that in the plumbers install their is no copper going to earth?? Can someone enlighten me on this please

Many thanks..... and go easy on me lol

 

[Midwest]

The point that is often missed in this kind of discussion is that the regulations apply to far more installations than domestic, and there are more things than just gas and water pipes which can need bonding.

It does keep things simple, in this case for the discussion.

 

[LeeH]

In respect to your classic plastic incomer, sometimes it’s easier to bond it (the copper pipe work) than it is to prove it isn’t extraneous.

 

[DPG]

In respect to your classic plastic incomer, sometimes it’s easier to bond it (the copper pipe work) than it is to prove it isn’t extraneous.

Easier yes, quicker - maybe, but correct??

 

[LeeH]

If you cannot prove it isn’t then yes.

Turn it on it’s head, would it be correct not to?

 

[Pete999]

I think you will find that it says "if the water / gas pipe enters the house is of plastic construction, and the rest of the pipework is copper, then this copper must be bonded, are we not getting our wires crossed with the > than 22Kohms refers to supplementary bonding, not main bonding, open for discussion?

 

[DPG]

If you cannot prove it isn’t then yes.

Turn it on it’s head, would it be correct not to?

Ah but you originally (#17) said it's sometimes easier to bond it than to prove it, implying that you wouldn't bother testing.

 

[LeeH]

No, I was trying to imply that you can spend an age trying to prove isn’t and it can be quicker just to do it.

 

[telectrix]

I think you will find that it says "if the water / gas pipe enters the house is of plastic construction, and the rest of the pipework is copper, then this copper must be bonded, are we not getting our wires crossed with the > than 22Kohms refers to supplementary bonding, not main bonding, open for discussion?

no.the 22k ohms is to prove whether or not a piece of copper /metal pipe is extraneous or not.

 

[LeeH]

Or any other services, steel structure etc.

 

[Pete999]

no.the 22k ohms is to prove whether or not a piece of copper /metal pipe is extraneous or not.

Agree but is also used to prove that something is "extraneous" the pipework should be main bonded, but not bonded because it may be or maybe not classed as extraneous.

 

[Midwest]

In respect to your classic plastic incomer, sometimes it’s easier to bond it (the copper pipe work) than it is to prove it isn’t extraneous.

But then the situation could arise, as spinlondon stated in #9.

 

[Midwest]

I do find reg. 544.1.2 a bit confusing therefore, i.e. if the service is plastic the continuing internal metal does not need bonding argument? Or is the reg poorly worded and not drawing reference to extraneous or not.

 

[LeeH]

But then the situation could arise, as spinlondon stated in #9.

Yep that is a good point.

 

[Midwest]

On the other thread
Equipotential Bonding Explanation - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/equipotential-bonding-explanation.136192/
if the metal pipework is not bonded, because the incoming service is plastic, when the kettle casing becomes live, the pipework may be not at the same PD, but could be earthed via parallel paths, so at the moment of the fault 'the touch voltage that may be experienced during a fault, i.e. for the 0.4s before the automatic disconnection occurs' (mentioned by RB) may be increased?

 

[Midwest]

And in this situation, if the service was plastic?
Equipotential Bonding - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/equipotential-bonding.136204/#post-1355901