N
nuelec
To all you experienced fault finding electricians out there, any help appreciated on the below problem
A busy kitchen in a busy restaurant which is almost open 24/7 has a metal worktop. Kitchen staff occaisonally get minor shocks from worktop. Sockets in the vicinity are from 2 circuits. Both have been tested 1 is almost perfect. IR readings above 100 M.ohms
the other is a bit iffy (about 3.5 M.ohms from L/N to Earth.
Although low i dont deem this enough to present an immediate danger.
The shocks tend to happen whilst using portable kitchen appliances on the metal worktop. They have been tested all ok. I am guessing there is plenty of water splashing around but the staff are a bit low on detail which only adds to the problem
The worktop is not bonded but is earthed through other equipment as it is bolted to a series of other worktops & eventually to a splashback which has metal clad isolators & sockets fixed directly on it so i can only assume it is earthed through these. Hence i have 240v across worktop & live conductors of nearbye sockets.
Do I
A. remove all parrallel earth connections from the worktop. It is not an extraneaus item so is not required to be bonded
B. get to the bottom of the Low IR readings on the iffy circuit
C. Both
D. anything else?
I have been called to investigate this issue several times but never really get any headway as the kitchen is always so busy. I proposed spending a night in the restaurant without any kitchen staff in the way. But With Sunday night from midnight the only possibility for this restaurant the labour costs were too excessive for them. However very recently one member of staff recieved a serious shock which has prompted the restaurant management into action. So now i am under pressure to resolve it but it is difficult one & whatever option i choose its going to be expensive for them (Sunday night x 2 electricians) so i want to get it right
Thanks in advance for any idea's
A busy kitchen in a busy restaurant which is almost open 24/7 has a metal worktop. Kitchen staff occaisonally get minor shocks from worktop. Sockets in the vicinity are from 2 circuits. Both have been tested 1 is almost perfect. IR readings above 100 M.ohms
the other is a bit iffy (about 3.5 M.ohms from L/N to Earth.
Although low i dont deem this enough to present an immediate danger.
The shocks tend to happen whilst using portable kitchen appliances on the metal worktop. They have been tested all ok. I am guessing there is plenty of water splashing around but the staff are a bit low on detail which only adds to the problem
The worktop is not bonded but is earthed through other equipment as it is bolted to a series of other worktops & eventually to a splashback which has metal clad isolators & sockets fixed directly on it so i can only assume it is earthed through these. Hence i have 240v across worktop & live conductors of nearbye sockets.
Do I
A. remove all parrallel earth connections from the worktop. It is not an extraneaus item so is not required to be bonded
B. get to the bottom of the Low IR readings on the iffy circuit
C. Both
D. anything else?
I have been called to investigate this issue several times but never really get any headway as the kitchen is always so busy. I proposed spending a night in the restaurant without any kitchen staff in the way. But With Sunday night from midnight the only possibility for this restaurant the labour costs were too excessive for them. However very recently one member of staff recieved a serious shock which has prompted the restaurant management into action. So now i am under pressure to resolve it but it is difficult one & whatever option i choose its going to be expensive for them (Sunday night x 2 electricians) so i want to get it right
Thanks in advance for any idea's
