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?

 

[7029 dave]

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.

Nor me Andy, Dave is a very knowledgeable member so I was thinking maybe I am wrong, after all all you guys are still at it.

 

[Midwest]

I take no credit, stole it from a post on another forum;

From the 13th edition as amended to 1963:

409 (C) The earthing lead shall be connected, at a position as near as practicable to the consumer's terminals, to an effective earth electrode buried in the ground, for example a metal water-pipe system having metal-to-metal joints (see Appendix E) or to a copper strip or rod. Connection to a water pipe shall be made as near as practicable to its point of entry into the ground. A gas pipe shall not be used as an earth electrode.

NOTE.- Attention is drawn to the increasing use of non-metallic water-pipes and mains, which cannot be used for earthing.


The 14th edition 1966 changes the electrode requirements thus:

D.34 (ii) Where a means of earthing has not been provided by the supply undertaking, the consumer's earthing terminal shall be connected by the earthing lead to an effective earth electrode or electrodes, such as copper strip or rod, which shall be buried in the ground at a position as near as practicable to the consumer's earthing terminal and shall satisfy the tests specified in Appendix 6. Neither gas nor water pipes, separately or jointly, shall be used as the sole earth electrode of the installation. (Paul1966 IET forum (2008)).



Reg 542.2.6 goes on to say 'The metallic pipe of a water utility supply shall not be used as an earth electrode. Other metallic water supply pipework shall not be used as an earth electrode unless precautions are taken against its removal and it has been considered for such a use'.

 

[7029 dave]

Reg 542.2.6 Note permits the use of privately owned water supply pipework for use as an earth electrode, where precautions are taken against its removal and it has been considered for such use. This relaxation will not apply to an installation within a dwelling.

 

[Midwest]

Reg 542.2.6 Note permits the use of privately owned water supply pipework for use as an earth electrode, where precautions are taken against its removal and it has been considered for such use. This relaxation will not apply to an installation within a dwelling.

It doesn't actually say that (I'm being a bit picky), if you read the end of my post above (#32). And can't see where it specifies it can't be done in a domestic property?