bathroom light question/boiler earth bonding

[elsparko]

as a 1st/2nd year i was always taught as a rule of thumb that if a tap/wateroutlet can be reached whilst touching the pendant/fitting that it should be upgraded to a waterproof chap.

i C2 3 fittings on friday and its being questioned by landlord, am i right in thinking that any room that has a shower/bath must have waterproof light fittings? the other bathroom is just a bog and a sink so i think that one would be ok but i would still c3 it.

another thing was my equipotential bonding, the boiler is supplied by metal gas pipe (correctly earthed) it is copper piping at the boiler but entering the house it turns to plastic pipes, do i need to cross bond the boiler pipes or are they covered by the gas/water services being earthed and the fact that its plastic pipe into the house?

away to dig out my regs book but thought id chuck a few questions on here

 

[westward10]

The light fitting must be suitable for the location.

 

[Des 56]

I would think it rare (other than perhaps if its in a special location) in most circumstances that a boiler would need bonding ever

 

[Octopus]

And if its outside the zones it can be anything.

That said I always fit IP rated lights in bathrooms, irrespective of zones.

You can't C3 a light in a room with just a toilet and basin.

 

[elsparko]

The light fitting must be suitable for the location.

i agree but apparently their second opinion reckons a pendant with metal shades is suitable for location, 2 of the lights are definitely within half a metre of the shower/and bath

 

[elsparko]

I would think it rare (other than perhaps if its in a special location) in most circumstances that a boiler would need bonding ever

it should be bonded inside but on a council contract we were specified that the boilers must be crossbonded, and all hot/cold at sinks, even when they are rcd protected and main services bonded anyways.

I just read up on the regs and the boiler is definitely ok, but the light fittings 2 of them are definitely in zone 2 and not suitable for location

 

[westward10]

Are they pendants or battens.

 

[elsparko]

Are they pendants or battens.

pendants, does it make a difference if they are snubnosed?

 

[Ian1981]

If the light fitting is above 2.25 meters from floor level then it will be out of any of the zones tho it should be suitable for the external influences that a bathroom offers.

 

[Ian1981]

 

[elsparko]

it was just above my head and im 6ft, i thought all rooms containing showers/baths should have waterproof light fittings, maybe just my last boss being overly fussy and its rubbed off on me

 

[elsparko]

may have to just put all the fittings to c3 as "what is suitable" is a bit vague, my opinion is that rooms with water and electricity the fittings should be of a decent IP rating, maybe im just too fussy but i wouldnt be happy fitting those in a bathroom.

i remember as a kid splashing water onto a lightbulb when it was on, smashed glass everywhere and in the pitch black too..

 

[Octopus]

you need to brush up on your coding IMHO

Some bedtime reading for you!

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/mediafile/100404922/Best-Practice-Guide-4-Issue-4.pdf

 

[westward10]

pendants, does it make a difference if they are snubnosed?

What are snub nosed.

 

[Midwest]

it should be bonded inside but on a council contract we were specified that the boilers must be crossbonded, and all hot/cold at sinks, even when they are rcd protected and main services bonded anyways.

I just read up on the regs and the boiler is definitely ok, but the light fittings 2 of them are definitely in zone 2 and not suitable for location

Do you mean something like this?

 

[elsparko]

you need to brush up on your coding IMHO

Some bedtime reading for you!

https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/mediafile/100404922/Best-Practice-Guide-4-Issue-4.pdf

im still learning, by no means an expert on the regs lol, still just a 3rd year , like learning to drive it is only when you go out on your own that you really learn, the more i read over the regs its definitely a c3 offence.

as a rule of thumb if a room contained a bog it got a waterproof light fitting when doing inspections, at least on the council contracts at my last job

 

[Ian1981]

Why would just a W.C need an IP rated light?
Can’t you pee in the bog without hitting the light?

 

[Octopus]

im still learning, by no means an expert on the regs lol, still just a 3rd year , like learning to drive it is only when you go out on your own that you really learn, the more i read over the regs its definitely a c3 offence.

In which case why isn't your boss checking all this?

 

[Octopus]

Why would just a W.C need an IP rated light?

It doesn't

 

[elsparko]

Do you mean something like this?

View attachment 39407

i mean that the pipes should be earthed internally to the earth terminal inside the boiler itself so no real need for bonding with tags and cable


the light fittings may come down to a matter of opinion over what is "suitable" as i did not measure the height of the lowest point of the pendant from the ground