Earthing backbox

[ezekiel]

just completed a kitchen rewire and a niceic approved electrian for the council came out to test and although he passed the installation, he picked up on no earth flylead from metal back boxes & said as long as i added them today he will sign it off - rather than query i did as requested.

so is it necc to to do this as socket fronts are all plastic and i always thought you would do this for metal fronts ive searched regs but cant seem to find any reference

 

[skenk]

I was taught you should always earth the back box. It should be earthed by the fixing screws anyway but these weren't designed for the purpose of earthing so you need to flylead . . .

 

[rssteve]

no need to earth as far as i was aware as the faceplate should be on when live. as long as there is one fixed lug.

 

[RF Lighting]

There is no actual reg which specifies this, provided there is one fixed lug on the backbox.

However, it is considered to be good practice, and I would fit the link without even thinking about it, as would most electricians I have worked with.

 

[securespark]

OOI, I know there is no reg that specifies links having to be installed, but is there any reg quoting the fixed lug?

 

[RF Lighting]

I suppose maybe the all encompassing 411.3.1.1?

If there is no fixed lug, then there is no guarantee that the exposed conductive part (the back box) is is connected to a protective conductor?

 

[securespark]

Fair point, guv.

 

[ColJack]

the earth to the backbox harks back to the days when metal conduit was used as the earth for the circuit..

and yes there is a regulation for that one..

no idea what it is in the 17'th, but in the 16'th it was 543-02-07.