Plastic fittings on copper - do I need to earth the copper?

[SteveJ55]

Hi, i'm fitting a new radiator and was about to use plastic push on connectors but was told that I need to earth the copper pipes as the plastic breaks the earthung circuit. I don't have a clue about earthing pipework. Can someone help?
Thanks
Steve

 

[OwainDIYer]

You do not need to earth pipes, nor should pipes be used as earths, so electrical continuity is irrelevant.

EXCEPT

In a bathroom wired to 16th or earlier Wiring Regulations, where circuits are not protected by RCD or RCBO, pipes and cables (including the cpc ('earth') of cables) going into the bathroom must be bonded together to prevent outside voltages entering the equipotential zone.

 

[SteveJ55]

Thanks for your swift response.
How do I know if it is 16th or earlier? The property was built in the 1960's.
Steve

 

[OwainDIYer]

(a) are the pipes you are cutting in or close to and serving a bathroom/showerroom?

(b) has the house been rewired since 2008? or are all circuits (lights and sockets) protected by RCDs?

If (a)=Yes AND (b)=No then you may need to maintain continuity of the pipes, or, if the wiring still dates from the 1960s, equipotential bonding may be missing and need to be updated.