who's right

[leep82]

ok so today i went to a job with a colleague where he has already been and made a start. Its a full rewire for a builder who we do a bit of work for. The house is completely empty and is getting completely gutted from top to bottom.

As mentioned my colleague has already been to the house, to isolate all of the existing circuits and to install a temp supply for power tools, battery chargers etc.

The exisitng board, which will obviously be getting upgraded, has rewireable fuses and there is no RCD protection. The main earth is by means of the incoming water and there is no bonding to the gas or the water. The temporary supplys that have been installed are RCD socket outlets.

Although only a temporary job i suggested that both main bonding to gas and water should be installed and if no PME connection was available, an earth rod installed. Even if this was only a temporary measure. He thinks i am going over the top and that once the property is finished everything will be up to current standard.

So thoughts please, am i being OTT or is in fact my colleague being a little carefree?

 

[leep82]

Thanks again for replys, its been interesting reading and we still cant seem to agree ( me and my mate ).The temporary sockets have integral RCD protection, once the job is completed everything will be up to current standards, gas and water bonded, earth rod installed or use suppliers earth if provided, rcbo's/rcd's at the distribution board. The discussion between us came about because he accused me of being OTT on stuff that will be done right and is only for a couple of weeks max

 

[Risteard]

stuff that will be done right and is only for a couple of weeks max

As I said earlier, you are not exempt from complying with BS7671 for that couple of weeks.

 

[andyb]

once the job is completed everything will be up to current standards,

The job is completed (installation of sockets for builders) and from what you've said it quite clearly isn't up to standard. No earth, no bonding plus whatever.

I'm not trying to be righteous here but you did ask. Think about a worse case scenario.
Someone gets badly hurt and the rcd on one of the sockets failed. HSE investigation, who fitted that socket? where's the cert?

 

[leep82]

I agree

 

[bigspark17]

Bs7671 does state all temp suplies to building sites should be tt.. How are you going to achieve this on a flat renovation at 23floors high.?

Is the dno supply TT or PME you havent stated.? If PmE then DNo would come out to sort earth conection if reading 5ohm if tt tehen you must install earth electrode before energising

 

[7029 dave]

Just MO you can not rely on other services to gain an earth.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Just MO you can not rely on other services to gain an earth.

unless its a private water supply.:smile5:

 

[davesparks]

Just MO you can not rely on other services to gain an earth.

Why not? It is permitted in bs7671

 

[7029 dave]

The op should just TT if that is all available. No dramas.

 

[7029 dave]

Why not? It is permitted in bs7671

Well I am not up on the current regs, the 14th and 15 th no chance.

 

[davesparks]

Well I am not up on the current regs, the 14th and 15 th no chance.

Really, that's interesting, I'll have to dig out my copy of the 14th and have a look. Going back further (11th/12th/13th) then it was a requirement to connect to the towns metallic water main as the means of achieving a good earth connection.

I'm not questioning you, just fascinated by the history of the trade and how things have changed

 

[7029 dave]

Really, that's interesting, I'll have to dig out my copy of the 14th and have a look. Going back further (11th/12th/13th) then it was a requirement to connect to the towns metallic water main as the means of achieving a good earth connection.

I'm not questioning you, just fascinated by the history of the trade and how things have changed

Just think about it, if you are relying on an earth path via a gas main,full fault current , the outcome could be lethal.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Just think about it, if you are relying on an earth path via a gas main,full fault current , the outcome could be lethal.

542.2.6 prohibits the use of a metallic pipe for gases or flammable liquid to be used as an earth electrode.

 

[7029 dave]

542.2.6 prohibits the use of a metallic pipe for gases or flammable liquid to be used as an earth electrode.

Well it has been that way for donks.

 

[andyb]

Why not? It is permitted in bs7671

As far as I'm aware you definitely can't use a gas pipe and you cant use the water pipe belonging to the water board.
I've never know any different Dave.