To Bond or Not to Bond that is this question?
We were recently called out to look at the earthing and bonding arrangements in a property in Fordingbridge. The photo above show's it was a bit of a tricky one!
What are earthing and bonding?
Earthing and bonding are both methods used to prevent electric shocks. They work quite differently but are often confused for one another.
- Earthing provides an alternative, safe route for a fault current to follow - instead of causing a shock should you touch a live metal part.
- Bonding involves the connection of all exposed metal not designed to carry an electrical current. By connecting these parts, the possible voltage that may be there in the event of an electrical fault is reduced considerably.
Both earthing and bonding are checked before any new electrical installations take place.
Case study - Poor bonding
The first problem is that to conform with the IET BS 7671 electrical Wiring Regulation - if the incoming water supply is in plastic pipe work then the copper water pipes do NOT require bonding.
However as you can see the new copper pipe has reactivated an original branch which re-enters the ground.
The second problem is that the green a yellow earth cable is undersized for the TNS installation at 2.5 mm
Third problem is that the connection to the water has just been wrapped around the pipe where a proper bonding clamp should have been used to securely attach this important connection.
In my professional opinion I would install a new bond in 10mm square cable with a bonding clamp and as the copper water pipe is clearly in contact with the ground/earth.
Earthing and Bonding Checks
If you are planning a new electrical installation, or if you are unsure about the earthing and bonding arrangements in your Fordingbridge home, get in touch with me today.
