KITCHEN/SINK EARTHING

[claire28]

Can some one please give me a definative answer to this question. We have a 1900s terraced house. We've just ripped out the kitchen and are now fitting a new one. Last summer we had a new boiler fitted and a new stop tap as the original one broke.

Our electrician tells me that the sink is not earthed and that this is a major problem. He also says the only way to make it safe is to run an earthing wire from the fuse box in the front room, right through the house, digging up the floors as he goes to the sink in the kitchen at the back.

Is this right? Is it illegal not to have this done? Is there an easier way of doing it?

Please help. He's returning on Saturday and I would like to be able to have some info so I can understand what he's telling me!

Thanks!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Our electrician tells me that the sink is not earthed and that this is a major problem.

That's not true. Was he talking about the sink, or do you have a metal waste pipe in contact with the ground?

However....

He also says the only way to make it safe is to run an earthing wire from the fuse box in the front room, right through the house, digging up the floors as he goes to the sink in the kitchen at the back.

If the stopcock is under the sink, and this is where the water supply enters your house, then this does require a cable to be run back to the main earth terminal.

Is this right? Is it illegal not to have this done?

Possibly, indirectly. It's not illegal, per se, to have this contravention of the wiring regulations, but if your electrician is there because you are having work done which is notifiable in terms of Part P of the Building Regulations, and that work depends on the presence of main bonding, then it has to be fixed, and contravention of the Building Regulations is an offence.

Is there an easier way of doing it?

Could the cable go up the wall, along under the floor, and down again? Or around the outside of the house?

 

[claire28]

so, the person who fitted the new stop cock when our boiler was installed in May last year should have earthed it then?

We can't really go around the house with the earthing as it's a terrace so we'd have to chuck it over the roof! This might sound stupid.. can it be run behind skirting boards as this would mean we cold leave the floor alone?

In terms of Part P and notifiable work we're having a kitchen refit, no major plumbing work just replacing the sink and moving some sockets, is that classed as notifiable?

Thanks!

 

[dabaldie]

unfortunately if you start moving sockets in a kitchen then YES it is notifiable.
now if you were just replacing sockets then NO its not notifiable.
sorry.

 

[claire28]

So I need to know if the electrian is either a member of the Competent Person Scheme or if he's submitted a building notice (doubt that). If he is a member how can he demonstrate that, is there a certificate or something? If neither of these are the case what then?

Have you ever wished you'd never asked a question in the first place. I only wanted a new kitchen!