Separation of water pipes from meter...

[JoeBhoy90]

Hi all

just after a quick bit of advice...

ive come across this a water outlet that is directly underneath a main meter and tails  today whilst carrying out an EICR...

am I right in saying that the distance between both needs to be a minimum of 150mm?

appreciate all and any advice

 

[Spoon]

Hi Joe.  Welcome to the forum.

The 150mm you talk about is under "Separation of gas installation pipework from the electrical installation" in the OSG.

I cant find anything about distance of water installation pipework from the electrical installation in the regs.  It just mentions 'close proximity' 

 

[Spoon]

Have a look as section 528.3.

 

[Evans Electric]

ive come across this a water outlet that is directly underneath a main meter and tails  

What do you mean by "water outlet "  Joebhoy ,  is it a tap  or the incoming water main. . 

 

[Murdoch]

No code .......................

Hundreds if not thousands of installations like this across the UK ........... so common sense applies and leave it well alone

UNLESS somebody can quote a reg number 

 

[binky]

if it was above the water outlet, you could possibly argue the electrical gear is 'not suitable for the environment' it's installed in' , ie it may be prone to drips of water etc etc. BUt I'm not aware of anything that makes it subject to regs, and the 150mm is probably just a recommendation, just like sockets next to sinks.

 

[Doc Hudson]

am I right in saying that the distance between both needs to be a minimum of 150mm?

No.  You need to ask yourself what code you intend writing  on your EICR?  What sort of perceived danger or risk have you assessed is present? Do the cables have bare exposed live conductors nearly touching a metal pipe? Is there any immediate action required, or urgent action, or further investigation? I presume not. Maybe you are suggesting an improvement is needed, Move the meter? Reposition the tails? 

If there is any issue with meter-tails it would more often be that they are lacking sufficient fixings or mechanical protection to prevent them from being snagged or pulled weakening the terminations at either meter or CU.  I think the 150mm guidance you are thinking of is between a Gas Meter and a Consumer unit.

Doc H.

 

[NozSpark]

Here's one for you... just about passes the 150mm reg as it has an insulating barrier, but defy you to get into the CU

View attachment 62AAFA1F-A703-4BF3-B178-A6857BA95102.heic

 

[Sharpend]

So is the polythene over the pipe their attempt at insulation??? 

 

[NozSpark]

So is the polythene over the pipe their attempt at insulation??? 

It's a lot thicker than polythene.....

 

[Sharpend]

Oh double insulated. 

 

[NozSpark]

Oh double insulated. 

 site applied 

 

[Sharpend]

 site applied 

msl1:   :Applaud   :Applaud

 

[Doc Hudson]

Here's one for you... just about passes the 150mm reg as it has an insulating barrier, but defy you to get into the CU

View attachment 10343

I was so distracted by the carpet it took nearly 50minutes for me to notice the gas pipe! Did you need trauma rehabilitation after being in close proximity to that pattern?

Doc H.  

 

[NozSpark]

I was so distracted by the carpet it took nearly 50minutes for me to notice the gas pipe! Did you need trauma rehabilitation after being in close proximity to that pattern?

Doc H.  

Whoever put that gas pipe there had some sense of humour ..... it balanced out the carpet

 

[Doc Hudson]

Whoever put that gas pipe there had some sense of humour ..... it balanced out the carpet

That is a valid point. in fact I could even see a defence for the Gas man here. All good intentions to run the pipe around the CU. But after spending more than 10 minutes in the vicinity of the carpet, obviously his (or her), brain cells, and logical train of thought would be completely mashed up, so reverted to basic "connect-the-pipe-and-get-out-ASAP" mode of operation. So possibly you are being a bit harsh in your evaluations?

Doc H.

 

[ProDave]

This was one where I did an EICR. I could get into the CU without problem when I did it.

I went back a week later do do some remedial work and found the plumber had been.



Sorry it's a poor picture.

 

[roys]

This was one where I did an EICR. I could get into the CU without problem when I did it.

I went back a week later do do some remedial work and found the plumber had been.

View attachment 6132

Sorry it's a poor picture.

Who had to move what in the end Dave?

 

[ProDave]

Who had to move what in the end Dave?

Ongoing.

The remedial work only required me to turn off a circuit, which I could do. I pointed out to the landlord that I cannot now access the CU so it will become an issue to be solved when the next EICR is due.

 

[Sharpend]

Who had to move what in the end Dave?

just a hunch, I’ll put money on Cu being moved. A plumber is only capable of doing a job once regardless if it’s right or wrong. :C