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Hi all. I attended a job tonight where a plumber got a belt from an incoming cold water main. he cut it below the 10mm earth bond to tee off for a boiler.I am just wondering if there are any regs applying to the plumber cutting the pipe with regards to maintaining continuity. I know they have to connect an earth wire across the pipe when cutting gas pipes. does this also apply to water pipes and can anyone quote any regs that apply to this. thanks
 
Well if it cut before the bond then he has removed it, it's not just there to protect the stop tap or the few feet near where it's bonded.

true, but any plumber cutting a pipe to tee in is leaving part of it unbounded until the tee is complete. I would say its good practice to put an cable across the pipe before cutting it to maintain continuity but is there a reg that says this has to be done?
 
No there won't be a reg for water pipes.
The reg for gas pipes is to prevent potential ignition of gas left in the pipe.

The plumber had no chance, if he's switched of the supply to the building he was in and then disconnected the bonding he'd had probably got a shock when refitting it.
 
Thanks. the plumbers a mate. am just trying to make sure he wont get in any trouble. I know the earth wire across gas pipes while cutting comes from their regs. was just wondering if anyone knew of an equivalent for water pipes. I don't believe theres anything in our regs about it but don't have my book handy at the mo.
 
OOPs;

Found this which applies to cutting underground service pipes outside of properties, From Water U.K;
Safe Working Procedure
1. Temporary Earth Safety Loops (TESL)

1.1 Before commencing any work on metal water services, the relevant section of pipework should be bridged with a “Temporary Earth Safety Loop” (TESL). The TESL should comprise a 6mm[SUP]2[/SUP] (minimum)insulated multi-strand cable fitted with insulated clamps. The procedures for attaching the TESLs are set out below and must be followed.
 
i doubt it. think about the purpose of extraneous bonding. it's there so that in the event of a fault, any pipework in the building will rise to the supply voltage for the duration of the fault, so as to prevent a potential difference between the exposed conductive part and the extraneous. if he's cut before the bond, then the pipework in the building is still connected to the exposed conductive part/s via the MET. what is not then connected is the pipe coming into the building, which could have a voltage on it. you could also have a voltage gradient in the ground, which is what killed them 2 nags at newbury a year or so ago.
 
The Water Regs are only concerned with fittings and notification, not working practices.
Building regs also cover some notifications eg, unvented but not working practices.
The Gas regs are unique in how specific they get.

This is from the Gas Regs;

102 A temporary continuity bond to the appropriate standard is required when disconnecting and reconnecting pipework where the production of a spark could cause a hazard.
 
The Water Regs are only concerned with fittings and notification, not working practices.
Building regs also cover some notifications eg, unvented but not working practices.
The Gas regs are unique in how specific they get.

This is from the Gas Regs;

102 A temporary continuity bond to the appropriate standard is required when disconnecting and reconnecting pipework where the production of a spark could cause a hazard.


Not very nice of them to say that production of an electrician could cause a hazard?
 

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