Water bond location

[monkeyhanger]

I'm doing a few bits in a house which is getting let sometime next week. A shower circuit needs installing (initially went to connect a cooker but found the cooker sw in kitchen dead, the cable had been chopped off under the bathroom floor and ran up the wall for an electric shower). That needs repairing also. They have agreed a CU change (was old brown rewirable board with no rcds), but there is a query I have,
the water bond is to a cold water pipe in the garage, nowhere near the stop tap. Its been done here because its a foot away from CU and incomer. It's 10mm (acceptable). Would it be ok to leave as is and put down as non-compliance / code 4 on a PIR & noted on installation certificate for the shower circuit/ cu change?

In normal circumstances I would have just ran a new earth to the stop tap, but a new kitchen has JUST been fitted etc. etc. and would be a right pain to install. The landlord is having none of it.

 

[WayneL]

The problem is, Yooj, that going by the OPs description, the bonding to the water is at the very end of the pipework - at a tap in the garage.

If there is a plastic insert anywhere in that house, now or anytime in the future, then anything the other side of the plastic is not bonded.
So, basically, the kitchen taps, for instance, will be at earth potential - end of equipotential zone!

This is why it must be done at the point of entry - nothing can then interupt the purpose of the bonding.

To say that the OPs situation complies is ridiculous - it's dangerous.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

It clearly doesnt comply although that doesnt necessarily mean it is dangerous. As long as a very low continuity between the point of bonding and the stop**** can be confirmed it would be safe at the time of the installation.If the decision was taken not to resite,it should be noted on the cert that this was on the instruction of the client,that there was a low continuity at the time of the installation,and that the advice of an electrician should be sought before undertaking plumbing alterations.

I fully agree with Wayne that the bond doesnt comply and should be resited,but I dont think a dangerous situation would exist as a result providing the precautions above were taken......a matter of opinion though,granted.

 

[pennywise]

The water bond needs installing in the right place especially if it's a CU change and you know it's not in the right place. No if's no but's (only exception in a block of flats). If it means running it around the outside of the house in conduit so be it, where there's a will there's a way . Bond first board second

 

[Yooj]

As I said, the regs are open to interpretation, and it is how you interpret the term 'Practicable'.

Don't get me wrong, only last week on a board change I stipulated that the water bonding needed to be updated, and I did exactly as per Pennywise stated i.e. outside the property and in the back of the kitchen cabinet...It actually was a bonus for the client as water was ****ing out the stop-****, and their kitchen was slowly flooding.

The problem is, Yooj, that going by the OPs description, the bonding to the water is at the very end of the pipework - at a tap in the garage.

We are only assuming it is at the end...for all we know the garage might actually be right next to the kitchen, and the pipe to the garage could only be a metre away...though both of our assumptions are just that.

If there is a plastic insert anywhere in that house, now or anytime in the future, then anything the other side of the plastic is not bonded.

Well not necessarily so...Assuming that there is likely a boiler, then this will likely have copper connections to all services - water both hot and cold and central heating, and thus faciliate a transference of bonding...again, whilst not ideal, I think that this will reduce the risk factor.

This is why it must be done at the point of entry - nothing can then interupt the purpose of the bonding.

Forgive me, but being pedantic, as quoted by yourself, the regs say nothing about 'Must' only if practicable.

Yooj

 

[monkeyhanger]

Just to update-

NAPIT technical eventually got back to me and confirmed that it was completely acceptable to verify the continuity of the pipework, leave the bond as it was (on the garage pipe), and make a note on the cert that this was the case.


BUT I've been asked to arrange some more electrical work in the house in a few weeks time, and I've persuaded them to have the bond moved to the stop tap to prevent any future problems due to plumbing work etc- though why they have waited until the house is decorated etc. and a tenant has moved in along with their carpets & furniture.... i dont know!