No earth bonding

[LeeUK]

I've just recently had gas put in and a combi boiler installed. I've noticed after looking at other people's set ups that I don't have any earth bonding to the pipes on the boiler or to the external gas box/meter. Is this safe?

Also the electrician that wired up the wireless thermostat said something about the earth on the main electric service fuse to the house was too small or underrated. He said I should call the DNO (Northern Powergrid) to get it upgraded. Would they charge for this? Am I currently sitting in an unsafe house waiting to be electrocuted?

 

[bremen1874]

If you die it isn't my fault, but...

An underrated main fuse isn't going to harm you. The worst that could happen is you not having any power until its replaced (unless you fall over in the dark and hurt yourself).

AFAIK the incoming gas and water should both be earth bonded (8mm IIRC) where they come into the property (assuming metal pipework).

Any additional bonding will depend on how modern the consumer unit and wiring is, and whether the pipework is metal or plastic. If you have a fully RCD protected consumer unit or plastic pipework then nothing extra should be required.

 

[LeeUK]

Not the fuse underrated (although it is old so probably is) it's the earth wire coming out of the earth block that he said was underrated or not thick enough.

There is an earth wire going from the incoming main water supply to the earth block at the electric meter but no earth from the gas pipe. I understand the gas supply pipe under the garden is plastic though.

 

[bremen1874]

If the gas installation has resulted in unearthed metal pipework running through the house then I'd get it looked at (or at least ask advice from real person with the necessary qualifications).

If you're concerned about what the electrician said then get in touch with them and ask for clarification. There's a big difference between not to current specs. and actually dangerous. The rules keep changing, but they're often not retrospective.

If a qualified electrician came and did work to your wiring and left it in an unsafe condition then he needs reporting.

 

[Traffic_Warden]

Gas should be bonded within 600mm of the point of entry, on solid pipework not flexible (or bonded inside the gas box), it must be accessible, and must be bonded in 10mm2 cable, with a BS951 bonding clamp.

Same goes for water, 600mm from the stop-tap, or as practically possible.

If it's plastic under your garden, it must go to some local isolation point (normally the white boxes outside on the wall of your house), we usually bond them there where it converts to solid pipework.

Hope this helps

 

[LeeUK]

Thanks, there is certainly no bonding anywhere on the gas pipe right from meter up to boiler. Will have to get another electrician in to take a look at what needs doing.

 

[ZG002]

The electrician who wired up your new heating system should have bonded the gas, guess he couldn't be bothered. Who did the install?

 

[LeeUK]

The electrician who wired up your new heating system should have bonded the gas, guess he couldn't be bothered. Who did the install?

ASG installed the boiler. They sent a separate electrician a couple of days later to wire up the thermostat and it was him who mentioned about the earth on the electric meter not being up to scratch. He never took a look at the gas box or gas meter.

 

[SkodaMart]

Uprating the earth bonding was part of the job.

Should have been done at the same time, it's not 'optional'

 

[ZG002]

Uprating the earth bonding was part of the job.

Should have been done at the same time, it's not 'optional'

Yep.

I'd contact the installer first, see if they are willing to help. should have been bonded as part of the job.