Main bonding clamp onto old service pipes

[kingeri]

Hi all, when connecting a new main bonding connector onto old water/gas pipes that are blue, do you clean the area on the pipe first? If so, what's best to use?

 

[telectrix]

i assume you mean blue/green as in old copper, not blue plastic.! if copper, then clean with emery and/or wire wool to get to bright copper.

 

[Des 56]

Wire Wool Pads - Plumbing Tools - Plumbing -Tools, Electrical & Plumbing - Wickes

 

[kingeri]

Thanks, that's what I generally do too.....the reason I ask is that I saw a British Gas man putting a clamp straight on to a dirty old blue copper gas pipe. No cleaning. I asked him why he didn't clean it and he said it wasn't necessary and that they never bother!

 

[telectrix]

I saw a British Gas man


​so, that proves that it's wrong , then.

 

[kingeri]

I saw a British Gas man


​so, that proves that it's wrong , then.

Haha, how true. The same guy tried to condemn my NEW installation because his automatic pass/fail Zs device failed on all the sockets. I retested and there is absolutely no problem with any of the readings. He then told me he has authority and I don't.

 

[Des 56]

BG high resistance connection
Taken to its extreme,if the resistance was high enough,it equates with not bonding the pipe in the first place

I suspect they use a pound note calculator to do their testing and fear of god preaching to convince the punter of certain death

 

[kingeri]

I told him I have knowledge and he doesn't.

 

[snowhead]

Ask the same BG man if he would NOT clean copper pipes before doing a solder joint.
His answer will be that he would never consider NOT cleaning.

And assuming he's Gassafe, he doesn't even have authority to turn off the gas supply against the customers wishes.

 

[kingeri]

The worst part was that the customer was left not knowing who to believe. I explained as best I could but the BG man was in the background shaking his head. In the end, I waited til he had gone then came back and finished off.