going nuts here

[nuttypiglet]

Hi, I'm hoping someone will be able to help.
I live in a council house which has had the kitchen/bathroom completely overhauled as an investment scheme. They supposedly completed the work a few weeks ago and I recently noticed that the earth bonding wires under the kitchen sink are not connected. I have a bad heart and feel nervous everytime I go near the sink now. There doesn't appear to be any plastic pipes on the hot/cold feeds, and the boiler is earth bonded so I assume this will be safe?
I am also confused as to the regulations of wall sockets in a kitchen. I read on one web site that when standing at the sink I shouldn't be able to reach any outlets? while another site quotes 300mm distance minimum. I can see it would be dangerous to be able to touch an outlet with wet hands, my grandchildren are often visiting. Are there any regulations on this issue?

Many many thanks in advance

Ed

 

[acat]

300mm is the minimum distance and is part of the building regulations. What concerns me is the bonding/earthing issue. Where do you live as I do feel that for your safety that should be checked out.


Chris

 

[bugsy]

vOICE YOUR CONCERNS TO THE COUNCIL MENTIONING THAT IF THEY CAN'T SORT IT YOU WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL BUILDING CONTROL

 

[nuttypiglet]

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate it. I live in Watford Hertfordshire. The council is Thrive homes and they contracted in United House to do the work. We had plumbers, plasterers, decorators, electricians, kitchen fitters, chippies etc. Not one of them spoke a word of english, well apart from one word, which was Coffee. I have nothing against free trade but when you have no way of communicating it does get very frustrating. When the electricians finished wiring the new outlets for the combi boiler, the wall thermostat stopped working. A translator was eventually sent out who established "it sometimes happens that a thermostat sticks on or off when the consumer unit is turned off then back on again, I need to contact the council to get it repaired". It didn't cost me anything thankfully, but when the real electrician arrived he discovered they had wired it up wrong. I will call the council on monday morning regarding the earth bonding issue and get them to sort it out.
Thank you again.

 

[bugsy]

Gobsmacked!

 

[acat]

Ditto perhaps a letter to your local newspaper is in order pointing out the very high standard of work, as to which standard Im not really sure.

Chris

 

[Jason Smith]

Hi, I'm hoping someone will be able to help.
I live in a council house which has had the kitchen/bathroom completely overhauled as an investment scheme. They supposedly completed the work a few weeks ago and I recently noticed that the earth bonding wires under the kitchen sink are not connected. I have a bad heart and feel nervous everytime I go near the sink now. There doesn't appear to be any plastic pipes on the hot/cold feeds, and the boiler is earth bonded so I assume this will be safe?
I am also confused as to the regulations of wall sockets in a kitchen. I read on one web site that when standing at the sink I shouldn't be able to reach any outlets? while another site quotes 300mm distance minimum. I can see it would be dangerous to be able to touch an outlet with wet hands, my grandchildren are often visiting. Are there any regulations on this issue?

Many many thanks in advance

Ed

Just perhaps to set your mind at ease, you could be meaning a couple of things here, that the bonding are not connected to the sink, or the main bonding to the water pipe in is not connected. My advice to you is to call in your local inspector, who will set your mind at ease or deal with any issues. I am also dumbstruck.
Just as a side issue, When my father was terminally ill in hospital we asked to see the doctor for an update. The doctor, though obviously a skilled and intelligent man, could not speak English. I was very very cross and recieved a full apology from the hospital.
The works you describe would attract an installation certificate, this may be held by the councill as they are the owners of the property and probably ordered the work. Make a complaint and get them back to check it out- you need to throw at them "equipotential bonding not connected "- they should come running.

 

[mogga]

dont NICEIC have a complaints side Im assuming as its a L.A. house that there was a rolling programme and it may be more than one house done wrongly

 

[Jason Smith]

dont NICEIC have a complaints side Im assuming as its a L.A. house that there was a rolling programme and it may be more than one house done wrongly

There is no requirement to bond a kitchen sink nowadys to the equipotential, however we do not Beyond all doubt, know what nutty piglet means, so as long as he gets someone round there then we know he will be safe.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Gobsmacked!

I'm not............this is the state of the nation now

 

[Deleted member 9648]

You can check yourself up to a point to set your mind at rest.
There should be a green/yellow wire slightly less than the thickness of an ordinary pencil connected to the water main.It should be connected immediately adjacent to the main stopcoc with a metal clamp.On the clamp will be a notice saying 'SAFETY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DO NOT REMOVE'.
Nothing else is required,no connections to the sink or other pipework in the kitchen.
If you have gas there should also be a similar connection at the gas meter.

 

[Des 56]

You say you have a bad heart,so if it involves a pacemaker,care should be taken that you are not subjected to static shocks which could upset the pacemaker

What you are describing regarding the kitchen sink may be taken 2 ways

1 .that the main bonding,situated under or near the sink ,is not connected,in which case action should be taken urgently

2 ,that supplementary bonding cables have not been connected,these would be more than likely installed at a time when electricans folklore thought it was worthwhile,it is not normally required,but in your case continuity between the sink and metal pipes could be checked to aleviate any concerns with regard static

Either way,someone should check the installation and verify that it is safe for use
Blow your trumpet in a councillors ears if no one listens to your concerns

 

[Graeme Harrold]

No mention of RCD's...............

 

[Jonesy83]

part p at its best

 

[Phil]

I will call the council on monday morning regarding the earth bonding issue and get them to sort it out.
Thank you again.

Any joy ?