Earthing socket boxes

[helpar]

My house has just been rewired. Its subsequently come to light that
the socket boxes are not earthed.
Is this very serious, does is contravene part P standards? Should i get the guy back to fix it?
Your help appreciated. H

 

[comms]

So long as one of the lugs is static (not adjustable) there is no requirement to earth the back box with a fly lead.
So if you call him back odds on he'll charge for the time or state the above.

I tend to just out of habbit by using 1mm g/y singles.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Its considered 'best practise' to earth the back boxes but not a regulation provided one lug is fixed - per the above.

 

[helpar]

Hi Thanks for your replies, that puts my mind at rest.
H

 

[ColJack]

a stupid rule that needs sorting out if you ask me..

if you unscrew the socket to wallpaper round it ( for example ), and a live wire comes loose when you pull it forward, then you have a live metal backbox that will then make a hell of a bang when you put the screws back in later ( usually with your fingers, not an insulated screwdriver, at least to start them.. )

does the backbox not need to be bonded to the circuit CPC for EEBADS compliance?

 

[plugwash]

iirc this is mentioned in one of the IEE guidance notes and the official postition is that a fixed lug combined with an accessory that earths the screws (almost all do) is considered sufficiantly sound to be used as the means of earthing for the backbox.

 

[RF Lighting]

Should you really be unscrewing socket fronts which are still live though?

 

[plugwash]

Should you really be unscrewing socket fronts which are still live though?

not if you can help it. sometimes you may not have much choice if the cuitcuit in question cannot be powered down for some reason. Starting screws by hand in or out of a live accessory without using insulated gloves seems unnessacerally risky to me.

 

[markie]

Should you really be unscrewing socket fronts which are still live though?

Maybe not, but if your a diyer who thinks he's a know it all and has his neon screw-driver might not think that way.

 

[ColJack]

I would estimate that about 80% of the (non-electrical) DIY population loosen sockets or switches to paper or tile behind them without so much as a thought to switching them off...


8 out of 10 people believe that you can prove anything with statistics
90% of statistics are made up..

 

[helpar]

I certainly would have done. not any more though thanks for
the top tip.H

 

[securespark]

Should you really be unscrewing socket fronts which are still live though?

not if you can help it. sometimes you may not have much choice if the cuitcuit in question cannot be powered down for some reason.

YOU MUST NEVER WORK LIVE! if the circuit cannot be powered down, you wait until it can...

 

[ColJack]

why do they make insulated screwdrivers and cutters then?

in some circumstances it is impossible to work dead.. though generally not domestic...

 

[Steve]

in some circumstances it is impossible to work dead.. though generally not domestic...

What about power cuts? Then the whole factory / whatever has to be powered down. So why cant they spare a few minutes for you to replace a plug socket etc? Shocking.

 

[ColJack]

and for places like hospitals with emergency back up generator that kick in when you turn the mains off? and sometimes even backup, backup generators..

besides, a power cut is an unavoidable loss of production for which they can usually get recompense from the DNO or insurance or something..

if they earn £10000 a minute then those 15 mins to replace, and test a new socket cost them £150000...