Commercial kitchen tables

[andyhalf]

we have a site where in a school kitchen there is a stainless table with just a sandwich maker on it, we are being told enviro health officer said it wants bonding is this correct? the socket is rcd protected.

 

[Spudnik]

He is 100% correct im afraid.

And to any other metal tables that are in there.

 

[andyhalf]

why? and bonding to what? please

 

[Spudnik]

If there are appliances located or used on these takes then there is a shock risk, through damaged appliance cables etc. Therefore could be bonded either to the db if its close enough or a nearby socket.

Sockets should also be 30ma rcd protected.

 

[Guest123]

Hey all.

There is no specific regulation in ol' red that says metallic furniture in commercial or domestic kitchens needs to be bonded.

Thats not to say you shouldn't do it though, problem is where do you stop? if you bond one, then all within touching distance should be bonded otherwise you may inadvertantly create an area of high shock risk.

As J said though all socket outlets should be 30mA protected, the reg says something like, incase of damage to flexible cords.

Cheers.

 

[Spudnik]

Hey all.

There is no specific regulation in ol' red that says metallic furniture in commercial or domestic kitchens needs to be bonded.

Cheers.

No there isnt, but it is extraneuos so should be surely?

 

[Guest123]

Only the table it's sitting on, so yes bond this but then you would need also to bond any other tables within reach to continue the equipotential zone.
Nearly all local authorities ask for this to be done including mine.

A problem we've got at the moment in a new school we're doing is that all the windows in the kitchen are aluminium and B.C want these bonded too, I can see his point as you need to reach over the metal tables to open them but I think it's getting out of hand. We'll be earthig the cutlery next!!!!

 

[jeremy]

My local pubs cutlery looks like it's got earth on it already.

 

[Spudnik]

my local pubs cutlery looks like it's got earth on it already.

About the same as mine then.

 

[wattsup]

If the kitchen appliences are rcd protected sue him for wrongful info. If the inspector works for your local council, also beat the **** out of him, a left in the ****** followed by a right in the nose.
Tell him (while he is bleeding on the floor) you cost me me money pal.

I don't luv you anymore -

 

[Strickers]

Just done large school kitchen myself and the place was covering in bonding, we just used 4mm pigtailed between the table's and bonded using bonding clamps them back to consumer unit. Waste of time probably because everything in the kitchen was protected by 30ma rcbo's.It was in the coucils spec so what can you do??

 

[Bernieg]

Can I bring the 'Electricity at Work Regulations 1989' to your attention. As you are aware these regulations are statutory and it is a criminal offence if you have not taken reasonalbe steps to comply.

Regulation 8 states as follows; "Precautions shall be taken, either by earthing or by other suitable means, to prevent danger arising when any conductor (other than a circuit conductor) which may reasonably foreseeably become charged as a result of either the use of a system, or a fault in a system, becomes so charged; and, for the purposes of ensuring compliance with this regulation, a conductor shall be regarded as earthed when it is connected to the general mass of earth by conductors of sufficient strength and current-carrying capability to discharge electrical energy to earth."

So the metal table which is a conductor must be earthed if a piece of electrical equipment is intended to 'sit' on the table.

Sorry this reply is drawn out but it is important that these regulations are followed in addition to the IEE Regs.

 

[old dog]

take alook at 415.2 also definitions
extraneous-conductive-part
a conductive part liable to introduce a potential ,generally earth potential and not forming part of an electrical installation

 

[Guest123]

Hey.

I think we all agree thay if a metal table had electrical equipment sitting on it then it could be classed as an extraneous conductive part, so this would need bonding.

Then the situation arises of all the metal tables in the vacinity i.e touching distance, these then would also need bonding as failiure to do so may increase the shock risk as opposed to decreasing by not continuing the equipotential zone.

My question is where do you stop?? My opinion is that if you bond 1 table then you need to bond all of them.

Cheers.

 

[flip73]

the answers in the on site guide page 31 4.6 , according to this theres no need to bond, but often the clerk or council will make it their own specification.