Inaccessible clamp on main bonding. Compliant?

[DNS1]

I'm upgrading some main bonding prior to a board change, but got a quick question.

The incoming water supply is a metal pipe below the wooden floor in the living room, but the stop cock is in an inspection pit outside.

As I understand, the bonding has to be connected as soon as possible inside the property, but that means the bonding would be run to a clamp which would not be accessible without lifting the floor.

Current bonding is to a previous edition (15th I think) and is just connected to a random internal water pipe which is quite a way down the system.

What's the best way to proceed with this one?

 

[Octopus]

I wouldn't fit a clamp under the floor.

Sometimes its best to use your loaf and in this case i would put the clamp in the inspection pit.

 

[DNS1]

I wouldn't fit a clamp under the floor.

Sometimes its best to use your loaf and in this case i would put the clamp in the inspection pit.

Was wondering about that, but there's no space. Besides, it would mean channelling out a load of concrete!

 

[SYKRAPS]

The inspection pit I suspect is the water boards isolation tap away from the house

 

[Octopus]

Was wondering about that, but there's no space. Besides, it would mean channelling out a load of concrete!

In which case I would fit it as soon as it comes out of the floor.

 

[SYKRAPS]

I would make the connection at the first accessible point on the system and note it on the cert

 

[Octopus]

^^^^^ as the man says. Better this way than sealed under the floor.

 

[DNS1]

Cheers chaps, was thinking that myself.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The Regulations require extraneous-conductive-parts to be bonded.
It doesn't really matter where the connection is made, just as long as it's made.
With services, the requirement is to make the connection as close as reasonably practicable to where the service enters the premises.
This is a precaution against the connection being removed at some time in the future.
How likely is it that at some time in the future, the pipework with the bonding connection will be detached from the rest of the plumbing system?

 

[Knobhead]

I’m with you spin.
If you recall I did the calculations for the resistance of copper pipe relative to a CPC. A 22mm copper pipe has a resistanc 3X lower than 16mm cable.

 

[bryanh]

In older houses in my area of the UK the water always comes into the house just as you come into the front door and that is where the stop tap is located, so there is always a hatch to allow you to get to the stop tap, thats where the bond should take place.
Now if its not accessable then as the other's have said fit it where it first comes out of the floor.

 

[diditrain]

You can`t have worked in many older houses then. bryanh

 

[Deleted member 9648]

The Regulations require extraneous-conductive-parts to be bonded.
It doesn't really matter where the connection is made, just as long as it's made.
With services, the requirement is to make the connection as close as reasonably practicable to where the service enters the premises.
This is a precaution against the connection being removed at some time in the future.
How likely is it that at some time in the future, the pipework with the bonding connection will be detached from the rest of the plumbing system?

This is not correct......The reason the connection is required to be made at the point of entry,or first accessible position, is because the hazard the bonding is dealing with comes from outside the property,as long as the bond is made at the point of entry the hazard is dealt with and it does not matter what happens to the pipework beyond that point..But
if the connection is made further up the system there is a pssibility of an unbonded ECP between the bond and point of entry if an insulating insert or a poor continuity joint is installed.
If the service is bonded at the point of entry there is no possibility of the service being unbonded regardless of insulating joints/poor continuity joints unless the connection is physically removed.

 

[bryanh]

You can`t have worked in many older houses then. bryanh

why do you say that ? and yes I have worked in a lot of old houses over the 45 years I have worked in the trade and in my area just about all the old houses have the water come in the front door if they have floor boards on the ground floor that is and pre plastic pipe

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If that's the case wirepuller, then why the requirement for the connection to be made after the meter?