House earth bonding advice needed.

[Merv555]

I have just had my gas meter moved to the front of my house due to the replacement of the gas mains pipes being replaced with plastic pipes. As they could not run plastic under my house they had to re position the meter and meter box to the front and then run copper pipe up and through the wall under the floorboards out the other side down the wall and around to a back house where my boiler is.They Teed into the boiler pipe and back feed to the cooker and blanked off at the old meter box.
The earth bonding that I had was connected at the meter to my consumer unit.
The plumber said that the earth had to be with in 600mm from the gas pipe entering the house. Now the question, do I bond the pipe under the floorboards as it enters the house which will never be seen or do I bond it as it enters the house for the second time by the boiler?
Any help would be appreciated.
Merv

 

[Pauly]

It’s not really that bigger deal where it goes as long as it’s connected to a solid bit of copper pipe
Plumbers regs vary slightly from our and they always want the 600mm but different people do it differently, some sparks will go under floor as close to supply as poss (even in the external box) others will put it where it first enters the house that is visible (ie not underfloor boards ) this is the approach we normally take as it can then be found and inspected/tested by any future plumbers/sparks who work there

 

[mark]

This is what the regs say-

"All main bonding connections are to be applied to the consumer's side of any meter, main stop valve or insulating insert and, where practicable, within 600 mm of the meter outlet union or entry point to the building if the meter is external."

Its got to be bonded as it comes into the house right next to the meter- but I'd be wary of hiding the clamp under the floorboards , its part of a visual check for both gas and electrical work , it could be a right PITA in the future as it won't be visible.

It's often clamped inside the meter cuboard - On YOUR SIDE

 

[Silverfox]

The connection needs to be 600mm from your new meter position if possible,straight back to your consumer unit.
Like others have said,the connection needs to be visible,for inspection purposes.
Regulation below.



The main equipotential bonding connection to any gas, water or other service shall be made as near as practicable to the point of entry of that service into the premises. Where there is an insulating section or insert at that point, or there is a meter, the connection shall be made to the consumer's hard metal pipework and before any branch pipework. Where practicable the connection shall be made within 600mm of the meter outlet union or at the point of entry to the building if the meter is external.

 

[Merv555]

Thanks for your replies, so I would be better off running the earth cable out through the wall and clip it to the pipe and then into the meter box and clamp it there, then connect to the main earthing point at the consumer unit?

 

[Roadrunner]

You know I had gas put into my place over thirty years ago, fitted the boiler and heating but no one told me I had to have an earth bonding. A few years ago the extension was built and I had a bunch of cowboys fit a new system and still could not tell you if it's bonded. It's all passed and I have the certs so that is all I care about. If there is no bonding & I know there is none on the plumbing does not bother me. Why are you worrying about it. The only thing I known needs doing is the earth from the electrics.

 

[Banj]

If you plan on selling or renting out the property bond it inside the meter box, otherwise bond it where ever is easiest, if the mains water is bonded you could cross bond bellow the boiler easily on a combi

 

[Roadrunner]

If you plan on selling or renting out the property bond it inside the meter box, otherwise bond it where ever is easiest, if the mains water is bonded you could cross bond bellow the boiler easily on a combi

Bonding the mains water, mine is plastic and so are most new houses now so how can you bond that.l

 

[Kevthegas]

The bonding is more important because of the plastic water and gas supplies.
The bonding is intended to protect the internal plumbing, obviously if plastic pipe is used after the stopcock common sense has to come into play.

 

[Roadrunner]

Well the Plummers or electricians never put any bonding in my place as far as I know unless it's in the loft

 

[Kevthegas]

Personally I would get it checked.
Scenario:-
Earth wire comes loose/falls out in the fused spur or supply for the gas boiler/ water heater.
Boiler/pump/control water leak/fault and power goes to the nearest metal, as there is no earth path
no fuses may not blow.
Customer touches radiator/pipework or boiler and gets an electric shock.

It can/does happen rumour is it happened to a politicians relative and she died, then regs changed?
( so I was told years ago how true I do not know)

 

[Banj]

They'll be a copper pipe some where, normally just after mains stop tap incomer

 

[Ian78]

Bonding the mains water, mine is plastic and so are most new houses now so how can you bond that.l

There is no requirement to provide "Protective Earthing" if the incoming water services is plastic.

Water & Gas services are classed as extraneous conductive parts (if metal) - so "Protective Earthing" is installed to stop any potential coming into the the property, thats why they usually want it within 600mm of the meter or as it enters the property, however it can be installed wherever reasonably practicable, (label the mains area and gas meter indicating its location if its not in its normal position as required).

 

[Stigofthedub]

Get it tested as well. I found in my first house the earth bonding wire in the meter cabinet was pushed too far through the connection and the screws were on the insulation.

 

[Loz]

I ran a 10mm earth from the CU to the boiler and then just bonded all the copper pipes under the boiler, I also have an earth that runs back out with the copper gas pipe and is bonded next to the gas meter, everyone is happy...

 

[Merv555]

There is no requirement to provide "Protective Earthing" if the incoming water services is plastic.

Water & Gas services are classed as extraneous conductive parts (if metal) - so "Protective Earthing" is installed to stop any potential coming into the the property, thats why they usually want it within 600mm of the meter or as it enters the property, however it can be installed wherever reasonably practicable, (label the mains area and gas meter indicating its location if its not in its normal position as required).

That makes sense, I could not see the point of running a cable all the way back to the gas meter as the 28mm copper pipe has probably got less resistance than the the 10 mm cable anyway.I will run a short cable to the boiler gas pipe from the CU.

Thanks for your help.

 

[MicP]

Personally I would get it checked.
Scenario:-
Earth wire comes loose/falls out in the fused spur or supply for the gas boiler/ water heater.
Boiler/pump/control water leak/fault and power goes to the nearest metal, as there is no earth path
no fuses may not blow.
Customer touches radiator/pipework or boiler and gets an electric shock.

It can/does happen rumour is it happened to a politicians relative and she died, then regs changed?
( so I was told years ago how true I do not know)

I remember this story, it has the politician relative and electrocution..
MP's daughter electrocuted in botched fitted kitchen
I always think of this when I start drilling holes in walls. I think my dad told me the story when we found a similar cable diagonally across the kitchen wall when we did a bit of work on my house!

 

[Bryan1971]

To much bonding going in this chat for my liking

 

[Bryan1971]

You should be getting rid of those old fossil fuel boilers and going for heat pumps, its the future, not garlic bread anymore