Main bonding and the new regulations.

HappyHippyDad · Sep 3, 2018

Evening all..

I am so used to the fact that there has to be Main bonding that I am struggling to not put it in in the following case:

Incoming pipe is plastic. The builder has then fitted a plastic stopcock (inside the house) and then a mixture of plastic and copper from there (see pic).

I haven't tested the copper pipe you can see next the stopcock but I expect it will test as connected to the MET due to parallel paths. It will be impossible to disconnect all these paths to see if extraneous.

I'm guessing with the new regulations I don't main bond? Plus it's plastic anyway, it would be ridiculous to put a clamp over plastic!

Ian1981 · Sep 3, 2018

They aren’t really new regulations regarding main bonding, they have just added a sentence detailing where main bonding may not be required for clarity.
As it has always been a requirement to bond extraneous conductive parts

Octopus · Sep 3, 2018

Yup, the muddy water is still muddy ...

Richard Burns · Sep 3, 2018

When testing you are not checking if the conductive part is connected to the installation earth but whether it is connected to different potential from the earthing of the installation, in most cases this is the potential of the external ground.
Unless those copper pipes go down through the earth they are not introducing a different potential and so do not need bonding.

Pete999 · Sep 4, 2018

happyhippydad said:
Evening all..

I am so used to the fact that there has to be Main bonding that I am struggling to not put it in in the following case:

Incoming pipe is plastic. The builder has then fitted a plastic stopcock (inside the house) and then a mixture of plastic and copper from there (see pic).

I haven't tested the copper pipe you can see next the stopcock but I expect it will test as connected to the MET due to parallel paths. It will be impossible to disconnect all these paths to see if extraneous.

I'm guessing with the new regulations I don't main bond? Plus it's plastic anyway, it would be ridiculous to put a clamp over plastic!

View attachment 44098

I would hazard a guess, that in the picture that is NOT the main water intake.

Midwest · Sep 4, 2018

And there is a potential electrical outlet situated behind an appliance.

Pete999 · Sep 4, 2018

Midwest said:
And there is a potential electrical outlet situated behind an appliance.

Good spot, never even looked for that

Midwest · Sep 4, 2018

Pete999 said:
Good spot,

You know what its like Pete; post a photo of your work, and some 'hole will pick holes.

HappyHippyDad · Sep 4, 2018

Pete999 said:
I would hazard a guess, that in the picture that is NOT the main water intake.

It definitely is.

Pete999 · Sep 4, 2018

happyhippydad said:
It definitely is.

How do you work that out HHD

HappyHippyDad · Sep 4, 2018

Pete999 said:
How do you work that out HHD

Because the builder installed it and he told me it was. He also explained how it was acceptable as a stop cock and explained why he actually preferred it to a standard metal tap (less likely to leak). It's his department and I except his word as a professional and competent builder.

Midwest · Sep 4, 2018

I would agree with Pete, that looks like 15mm pushfit?

Pete999 · Sep 4, 2018

happyhippydad said:
Because the builder installed it and he told me it was. He also explained how it was acceptable as a stop cock and explained why he actually preferred it to a standard metal tap (less likely to leak). It's his department and I except his word as a professional and competent builder.

This Plumber that spun you that yarn, are you sure he is a Plumber?

DPG · Sep 4, 2018

Agree with Pete - doesn't look like main incomer. Looks like 15mm push fits. Unless he has adapted the incomer under the cupboard or floorboards.

Plus I don't like the stop tap just hanging there - bound to get knocked. There's a clip below it but the pipe isn't lined up with it. Very poor.

HappyHippyDad · Sep 4, 2018

Pete999 said:
This Plumber that spun you that yarn, are you sure he is a Plumber?

Thanks for the input Pete, but I'll bow politely out of this conversation as it's the builders work not mine.

robd · Sep 4, 2018

Never seen the water board send a bit of 15mm plastic in as a water main to be fair. Unless it's a holiday let being fed from an existing supply looks a bit strange.