Earth Bonding- Should I Be Worried?

[charliegolf]

Hi All,

Often read on here about pipes being earthed, and here's my question...

Twenty years ago, I commissioned and managed the build of my house. One feature used was the use of Hep2O pipework for water and heating. In the entire house (I know it inside out), the only place where there is what I understand to be earth bonding is at the copper pipework into/out of the boiler. There is a 3ft, approx 10 mm dia earth spike in the ground, the cable which I belive runs fron the CU.

Obviously all my taps are metal! Should I be worried?

Oh, NONE of this work is DIY by the way, all done by a sparks and signed off by BC.

Ta

CG

 

[EFLImpudence]

Often read on here about pipes being earthed,

You do - because people don't understand.
Pipes may require bonding (joining together electrically) because
they are earthed by some means other than the electrical supply - in the ground.

Twenty years ago, I commissioned and managed the build of my house. One feature used was the use of Hep2O pipework for water and heating.

Therefore they will not be earthed and so do not require bonding - if none of the metal parts is in the ground.
Do you have a gas supply?

In the entire house (I know it inside out), the only place where there is what I understand to be earth bonding is at the copper pipework into/out of the boiler.

This is not necessary but loved by plumbers.

There is a 3ft, approx 10 mm dia earth spike in the ground, the cable which I belive runs fron the CU.

That doesn't seem adequate if it is the electrode.

Obviously all my taps are metal! Should I be worried?

No.

Oh, NONE of this work is DIY by the way, all done by a sparks and signed off by BC.

Ok.

 

[charliegolf]

Thanks very much for that. Yes I have a gas supply too. Also, you mention that the 'electrode' might be inadequate- shoild I get it checked out?

Thanks

CG

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks very much for that. Yes I have a gas supply too.

The gas supply pipe will almost certainly need bonding, as will the initial part of the water pipe (befoire your plastic pipes 'take over' if it enters the house as metal pipe

Also, you mention that the 'electrode' might be inadequate- shoild I get it checked out?

That would seem desirable, since, as EFLI said, it sounds a bit 'modest' (hence possibly iffy). How do you know it's only 3 feet long? If you get an electrician to check this out, (s)he will also be able to advise about the bonding of water/gas pipes. Would it be possible for you to provide us with a photo of the 'service head' (with the electricity company's fuse) where the electricity supply enters your house (or an external meter cabinet)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes I have a gas supply too.

That will likely be metal and require bonding.

Also, you mention that the 'electrode' might be inadequate- shoild I get it checked out?

It is very small.
The electrician will/should measure it as a matter of course.

 

[EFLImpudence]

as will the initial part of the water pipe (befoire your plastic pipes 'take over' if it enters the house as metal pipe

I may have misread the OP and thought the supply was plastic.

 

[charliegolf]

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These are pics of my gas and elec boxes as requested. All the pipes from the boiler are in copper until they go into the ceiling (or outside for the overflow etc) then change to plastic. At the time, I seem to recall Hepworths specified that the first 1m of heat and hot water piping must be copper off the boiler. Every one of those pipes is bonded.

The water main enters the house in plastic but has a metal stop cock and some copper before the plastic reumes.

CG

 

[EFLImpudence]

These are pics of my gas

The gas would appear to be bonded correctly.

All the pipes from the boiler are in copper until they go into the ceiling (or outside for the overflow etc) then change to plastic. At the time, I seem to recall Hepworths specified that the first 1m of heat and hot water piping must be copper off the boiler.

Just for heat reasons.

Every one of those pipes is bonded.

They don't need to be - pointless.

The water main enters the house in plastic but has a metal stop cock and some copper before the plastic reumes.

I misread correctly No bonding required.

 

[JohnW2]

as will the initial part of the water pipe (befoire your plastic pipes 'take over' if it enters the house as metal pipe

I may have misread the OP and thought the supply was plastic.

The OP didn't actually say that - but, as the OP has now confirmed, you "misread correctly"

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

The gas would appear to be bonded correctly.

It would. However, doesn't that look like a PME supply, in which case the "3 foot earth spike" might be a red herring?

Kind Regards, John

 

[charliegolf]

The gas would appear to be bonded correctly.

It would. However, doesn't that look like a PME supply, in which case the "3 foot earth spike" might be a red herring?

Kind Regards, John

Translation for the non spark please!

CG

 

[EFLImpudence]

It would. However, doesn't that look like a PME supply, in which case the "3 foot earth spike" might be a red herring.

It certainly looks like TN of one type. No PME label.

 

[JohnW2]

The gas would appear to be bonded correctly.

It would. However, doesn't that look like a PME supply, in which case the "3 foot earth spike" might be a red herring?

Translation for the non spark please!

Sorry, I was really waiting for a response from EFLI before I translated for you! It looks as if you probably have an earth supplied by the electricity company - in which case the 'earth spike' you mentioned might be redundant/irrelevant.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Translation for the non spark please!

It may no longer be required.

The electrician will know we hope.

 

[charliegolf]

Thanks everyone, I am reassured that the Golf family are safe! I will call in a sparks and ask about the earth spike, and take any action suggested.

Cheers

CG