cables near gas pipes

[ml1936]

today i seen a 10mm Earth tie-wrapped to main gas pipe, is this aloud? i thought all electric cables had to be min 25mm away from gas pipes?

 

[RF Lighting]

Does it connect to the pipe?

 

[ml1936]

yeah
and it also goes into top of the outside WP box to connect to it, shouldnt it go in underneath to keep IP rating?

 

[kirkgas]

earth cables must be exempt from this rule as they are connected directly to the gas pipe, "ordinary" cables should be a minimum of 25mm apart to avoid arcing if the insulation is broken, an earth cable cannot arc to the gas pipe if it is connected to it.

 

[ml1936]

What about earth cable and gas pipe going straight into top of outside WP enclosure, wouldnt it be better if they went into bottom keeping the top waterproof? Is there a regulation on this?

 

[RF Lighting]

What's a WP enclosure?

 

[ml1936]

Waterproof

 

[RF Lighting]

Why is a gas pipe going into a waterproof enclosure?

 

[ml1936]

The outside meter cupboard

 

[RF Lighting]

Oh right.

It doesn't really matter then.

It's not waterproof, so any water that gets in the top will just drip out the bottom.

 

[ml1936]

Am i right in thinking electric meter box needs to be then?!

 

[RF Lighting]

Weather resistant maybe, but not waterproof.

It would be normal to use the bottom entry on an electric meter box.

 

[ml1936]

ok cheers

 

[securespark]

As for the tie-wrapping, I believe that is non-compliant, but I have not yet found the reg. I'm sure there is a reg that says something like,

"cables must be supported by independent means..."

Rob?

 

[gas4you]

Earth and pipe work should only enter the gas meter box from the approved bottom 'knock out'.

Earth cables should also not enter a cavity gas meter box through the back internal 'hole' that the gas pipe goes through.