Earth bonding onto brass fittings

[Vlad]

Hi

I have an earth bonding question I was hoping you could help me with.

My local water board has fitted a water meter in the cold supply into my house. I assume, because the meter is plastic, they have extended the bonding wire across the meter.

My consern is the manner in which it has been done. The bonding straps have been attached to the brass nuts on the compression fitting to the stop-cocks. I can see why this has been done, because the pipework has been painted. I had been taught the bonding straps had to be fitted to the copper pipework, and all paint had to be removed to ensure a good electrical contact. Also because the nut is hexagonal, the strap does not grip the nut very well and can be moved with a little force. To make matters worse the earth wire is loosely fitted to the strap and the warning label has not been fitted.

Am I right in thinking that this is dangerous and potentialy lethal.


Thanks

Vlad

 

[telectrix]

won't take you too long to put right.

 

[Vlad]

I agree, I could put it right quite quickly, but the water company has asked for feedback on the work carried out. Before I start making claims that the installation was dangerous I just wanted some other opinions.

Thanks

Vlad

 

[telectrix]

i wouldn't say it was necessarily dangerous, just sloppy workmanship. take a photo of it and ask them why they've not done it right.

 

[Vlad]

OK, thanks. I was going to send them a photo and complain anyway, but will refrain from calling it a dangerous installation.

Vlad

 

[Des 56]

If it is a water tradesman (plumber or heating engineer as they like to be known ) you are fortunate that they have done anything at all

The run of the mill plumber would reinstate a bonding clamp if he felt generous,the less than generous may not even give a clamp a second thought,a meter fitter may not even know what is a bonding clamp in the first instance

I Tested a whole estate of council bungalows, the clamps + their piece of pipe that they were clamped too, was neatly javeline thrown into the attic space