Boilers. To bond or not to bond?

[Voltimax]

That is the question.

Big argument going on at another forum about this. Is there a requirement to cross bond boilers? On-site guide says no, but some argue otherwise.

I'll let you lot discuss and fight, I'm just a stirrer with my wooden spoon in hand.

:slap

 

[Evans Electric]

Stirrer , I don't do them anymore TBH Modern boilers all seem to have the pipes made off onto a common metal plate, can't see the point TBH.

 

[kme]

On-site guide says no,

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, or required to comply with another reg - there is your answer.

Similar - I had a "Gas-safe" plumber tell me that I had to cross-bond his gas meter pipework, to stop any PD between pipes when meter was disconnected. Nonsense. If he wants to bond between the copper pipework, and the lead, fine. I`m not.

For what its worth - my opinion....

p.s. Volti - Mrs. KME says your avatar gives your age away........ :slap :innocent

 

[steptoe]

That is the question.Big argument going on at another forum about this. Is there a requirement to cross bond boilers? On-site guide says no, but some argue otherwise.

I'll let you lot discuss and fight, I'm just a stirrer with my wooden spoon in hand.

:slap

NO

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, or required to comply with another reg - there is your answer.Similar - I had a "Gas-safe" plumber tell me that I had to cross-bond his gas meter pipework, to stop any PD between pipes when meter was disconnected. Nonsense. If he wants to bond between the copper pipework, and the lead, fine. I`m not.

For what its worth - my opinion....

p.s. Volti - Mrs. KME says your avatar gives your age away........ :slap :innocent

and that is your reason,

I have had this with loads of plumbers,

show me the electrical reg buddy,

sorry mate, thats a gas reg, you do it.! not my problem, its your reg.!

have had the same with the bonding of outside gas meters, I bond where it enters the property, gas regs are the plumbers problem.

 

[Theorysparky]

The only time i will bond the boiler piping if it is near a bathroom and to do so would enable me to meet the requirements of supp. bonding

if in doubt test across the pipes i bet they are less than 0.05 ohms

but we all see a situation differently and apply our experience where necessary

 

[PC Electrics]

One of the British Standards that gas boilers are designed to requires that boilers guarantee electrical continuity between all the pipes by design. That's why you see pipes connecting to boilers with a 'support plate' these days. Thus, provided at least one of the pipes (usually the gas) is effectively bonded, there will be continuity to all of them and so no need for any supp bonding.

Bonding across the boiler pipes was a gas reg years ago before this design requirement was in place.

The requirement does not apply to oil boilers, so they may still require the supp bonding.

 

[Theorysparky]

But how long has that requirement been in effect ???

new boilers you can see the plate ,,,,older ones you cant

 

[Voltimax]

p.s. Volti - Mrs. KME says your avatar gives your age away........ :slap :innocent

Go on then Mrs KME, guess my age, but be warned, my 4 year old daughter loves Monkey so I may not be as old as you think

 

[kme]

She says "replays don`t count - she remembers the originals........"

(think thats a "wimp-out"; but don`t tell....... )

 

[Voltimax]

She says "replays don`t count - she remembers the originals........"(think thats a "wimp-out"; but don`t tell....... )

Tell her I too remember the originals, so I guess she's got a fair idea of my age. To be honest I have that avatar, not because I like Monkey, but because I look like him :^O

 

[kme]

Mrs. KME`s response.......

:Chair fall :slap ] ] :x

 

[sellers]

Thought I would add onto this thread, a local plumber gets me to always put a spur in or check the existing electrics for when he does a boiler change.

I went to look at one yesterday, single socket right next to where the boilers going. no problem to change that to a spur. Check board, 3036's, some rubber VIR cable and no bonding. I agree to install bonding. Should I cross bond the boiler pipes due to no rcd protection?

 

[Chr!s]

Plumbers this, plumbers that, gas safe so called engineers, i feel there's a slight prejudice going on here, poor plumbers.

mmmmm, ill be the devils advocate

The water and gas services of an installation are considered to be extraneous and are bonded to the met.

These feed a combi boiler, unfortunately electrical continuity is not maintained due to large amounts of ptfe and internal plastic components.

Definition Extraneous conductive part

a conductive part....... Copper pipework, yes

liable to introduce earth potential...... possible yes

not forming part of the installation......that it isn't

The central heating pipe are run in the concreter floor and through other parts of the structure and its found through testing that its resistance to earth is 2000 ohms, and that it is electrically isolated from the main protective bonding.

What do we do?

And what did we need to do to see as to whether bonding was required or not?

 

[binky]

THe only time I cross bond boilers now (twin RCD CU of course) is when I can't get access to incoming pipes for gas and water due to parkay flooring etc etc. But as pointed out new boilers are cross bonded anyway (which i wasn't aware was official), so in future will probably only go for gas and water pipes at boiler, when I can't get to anywhere else.