Bonding water pipe query

Joined
28 Jan 2011
Messages
517
Reaction score
44
Location
Manchester
Country
United Kingdom
I have a 15mm copper water supply pipe. The pipe comes out of the oversite concrete under the suspended timber floor at the front of the house. The copper pipe runs across the top of the oversite concrete to the rear of the house and comes out of the floor in the kitchen. However, half was along the run from front to back, there is a branch that takes water to the right side of the house to supply a downstairs loo and the combi. There are effectively 2 stop taps, one where the pipe enters the kitchen, and one where it enters the downstairs loo.

In relation to bonding the supply, would it be done before the branch - I.e. under the house, or within 600 mm of it coming into the kitchen......
 
Sponsored Links
I suppose the question is, is the pipe considered to be 'within' the building as it runs in the void under the house and bef9re the stop tap?
 
can you get to it easily? and run a cable to is easily?

and it be easily visable for inspection?
 
Sponsored Links
I can get to it by crawling round under the floorboards. Not ideal for inspection tho. To attach it at the kitchen stop tap would be just as awkward, but subsequent inspection would be much simpler.
 
544.1.2   The main protective bonding connection to any extraneous-conductive-part such as gas, water or
other metallic pipework or service shall be made as near as practicable to the point of entry of that part
into the premises
.
 
Is it classed as 'in' the premises when it's running under the floor in the carwl space and before the stoptap
 
Probably, but then you use the "as near as practicable" part.

It doesn't actually matter electrically where it is bonded but the point of entry prevents the pipe AT the point of entry from being diconnected by alterations inside the building.

You have said that you can access the correct position, so ...
 
Put it where you can, but if it's really out of sight - the next man won't know it's there and will probably end up re-doing it anyway, unless a note or some kind of indication is present.
 
Just to complete what BAS has said;

544.1.2   The main protective bonding connection to any extraneous-conductive-part such as gas, water or
other metallic pipework or service shall be made as near as practicable to the point of entry of that part
into the premises
.
"Where there is a meter, isolation point or union, the connection shall be made to the consumer's hard metal pipework and before any branch pipework. Where practicable the connection shall be made within 600mm of the meter outlet union or at the point of entry to the building if the meter is external."

So, basically, as soon as you can access a point of the pipework within 600mm after the meter, and inside the property, you have to bond to it at that point before any branch pipes.
 
That's when the 600mm inside the property comes into being. Not many houses have the water meter inside the building but a lot of commercial properties do.
 
That's when the 600mm inside the property comes into being. Not many houses have the water meter inside the building but a lot of commercial properties do.
It says "or at the point of entry to the building if the meter is external". Not within 600mm.

Actually, as has been said earlier, the point where it becomes visible/accessible is a much more 'practicable' place. The problems with having electricians decide if a water service is bonded, when you have to lift floorboards to find out, should make it obvious that that is not sensible. If it is difficult to access the hidden pipes it is also very unlikely that someone is going to modify them in such a way as to invalidate part of the bonding.
 
That's when the 600mm inside the property comes into being. Not many houses have the water meter inside the building but a lot of commercial properties do.
Round here all new meters are now being put inside, mine was put under the wooden floor
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top