Bonding to Water - lead pipe ... tut tut

[MarkieSparkie]

No you cannot bond to lead pipes. Bond to the first piece of copper pipe even if it's more than 600mm from the stop cock. The reason for this is the clamp will work loose and damage the pipe. Then you have a bad connection; and no bond is a serious matter. Then check with a low ohm meter to check continuity of bond. If below 0.5 Ohms there is no need to bond other pipe work. Remember to check continuity and you will be fine. Regards gdr7671 MITE

gdr7671 typo, should have said " If below 0.05 ohms..."

 

[gdr7671]

Thanks, you are correct. The last meeting i attended on earthing and bonding emphasized that bs951 earth clamps are unsuitable for connection to lead pipes due to there ability to loosening due to the softness of lead. They suggested flexible earth braiding tape as dno's do when earthing lead sheathed cables. Have you ever seen a cable jointer use a bs951 clamp around a lead tapped cable? Many thanks for pointing out my typo error.

 

[gdr7671]

Reg number?

Reg 544.1.2, BS 7430, Electrical Design-a good practice guide The Copper Development Association

 

[malcolmsanford]

Reg 544.1.2, BS 7430, Electrical Design-a good practice guide The Copper Development Association

544.1.2 does not mention lead pipe in anyway, are you getting mixed up with the words soft and solid

I don't have a copy of the BS 7430 with me, but as far as I can remember it also dosen't mention about bonding to lead pipes, but I may be wrong there and so can't say either way

Could you provide a link to this Copper development association and there take on the situation.

 

[gdr7671]

544.1.2 does not mention lead pipe in anyway, are you getting mixed up with the words soft and solid

I don't have a copy of the BS 7430 with me, but as far as I can remember it also dosen't mention about bonding to lead pipes, but I may be wrong there and so can't say either way

Could you provide a link to this Copper development association and there take on the situation.

The Copper development association do an excellent book called electrical design. They are based in St. Albans and can be reached on 01727 731200 Verulam Industrial Estate, 224 London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1AQ. Thanks GDR

 

[KEVINDOE]

This may be of interest,
I was looking at a job last week , while checking for main bonding i noticed that the gas pipe on the consumers side was lead, and went from the meter under concrete floor and the fed cooker / boiler/ ect.
Main bonding was present on the pipe next to meter on consumers side, there had been a c.u. change three years ago and the main bonding had been installed at that time.
Now heres the thing...the installer had split open a 28mm copper pipe and used it as a " jacket " around the lead pipe, then fixed the clamp to that.
What do you think ?
Jem

 

[Des 56]

It would possibly distribute the crushing effect around the whole of the pipe rather than a squashing effect on 2 sides
Either way the lead pipe still needs pressure on it for an adequate connection
I dont thonk its the problem solver that it first may appear to be

 

[malcolmsanford]

Not sure if you can get hold of the old Hepworth spring clamps but for lead gas pipes they would be my weapon of choice.

As Des says it will distribute the pressure along that pipe, as gas pipe is a lot thinner than mains water lead pipe, but it is still very much a hit and hope scenario regarding crushing it.

Still to be fair the sparks did have a good attempt at it, and doing this is better than just walking away and not do anything, but he was a brave lad/lass

 

[KEVINDOE]

Yes , Thats was my first thought, must admit, it was tight, i couldnt shift it with my hand

 

[Des 56]

Just treid looking up some info and it seems there is little need for there to be lead water pipes in use, seems assistance is there for them to be changed
The Assistance for Minor Works to Dwellings (Lead Pipes) Order 1992 allows local authoritiesthe power to assist

 

[Des 56]

Having read through this thread,It seems the best advise that I can agree with is a mixture of 2 opinions

Where the pipe is water theres little problem with a little care needed
Where lead is involved,if you cant even get the clamp on the brass coupler at the meter(which is usually do able )then get a plumber to solder an eye on the pipe for a lug to use ( not what I would do,but its a solution)

I have never had issue with clamping a lead water or gas pipe,(but thats keeping in mind the slackening property mentioned),so obviously where practical it goes on the copper section

 

[KEVINDOE]

This is the first time ive seen a lead gas pipe in service that i can remeber, however , in my area there are still many propertys with lead water pipes.

 

[telectrix]

just read that. appears it applies to council houses, as it refers to local housing authotiry.

 

[Des 56]

This is the first time ive seen a lead gas pipe in service that i can remeber, however , in my area there are still many propertys with lead water pipes.

One bit of advise if you do find lead gas pipe systems in an house
Dont for one moment think that old outlets in walls are redundant,many will still be live and the nastiest thing is they tended to shove any pipe slack willy nilly around a wall,so its difficult to be sure where the pipe is located even when ends are exposed above ceilings and on the wall

 

[KEVINDOE]

In my area , they will change the water pipe, but the home owner has to pay the bill as there is no evidence that drinking through a lead pipe is harmfull ( water boards words , not mine )