Earth bond clamp for oil pipe

[dnjr]

Dear All
Got a board change to do where there is an incoming oil pipe.
Plastic tank with PVC covered copper pipe most of the way. Comes inside and its just copper coming up through the floor. Did an IR test and got 0.00 so it needs bonding ( as I understand it its got to be under 0.02 to not need bonding)
Problem is the pipe is only about 8 or 9 mm dia. and i cant find a small enough clamp.
Someone suggested either a P clip or strap banding but they dont seem very professional. what are people using please
cheers
dnjr

 

[westward10]

You can get Ezybond clamps but they only go down to 15mm from what I have seen. There are rumours these are not in compliance with BS951 but I believe the manufacturer has resolved this.

 

[dnjr]

You can get Ezybond clamps but they only go down to 15mm from what I have seen. There are rumours these are not in compliance with BS951 but I believe the manufacturer has resolved this.

Hi Westward. Yep seen them but as you say dont go small enough. I cant be the only person needing to bond oil pipes. there must be something out there....

 

[telectrix]

bare copper p-clip is the answer. 4mm brass nut & bolt with a lug on the bonding cable.

 

[Wilko]

Hi - only thing I found was an earth rod clamp. It's 9mm and I recall drilling it out to 10mm and being very careful not to overtighten it.

9mm ( 3/8" ) Cast Earth Clamp - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/TLEC.html

 

[telectrix]

you can't over tighten them things. the bolt will shear before it crushes spaghetti.

 

[davesparks]

Did an IR test and got 0.00 so it needs bonding ( as I understand it its got to be under 0.02 to not need bonding)

You might want to check your maths there!

 

[dnjr]

You might want to check your maths there!

teach me to read first
IR was 0.00M ( as I understand it , if its below 0.02M then it needs bonding if its above 0.02M then no need. Think I meant to put Over 0,02 but typed under...
Am I right this time davesparks ?

 

[telectrix]

over 0.22Meg means it's not extraneous and does not need bonding. if under that, a continuity test is required from pipe to MET. a reading below 1.0 ohms suggests that it is bonded through other services, e.g.water and may not need additional bonding.

 

[dnjr]

over 0.22Meg means it's not extraneous and does not need bonding. if under that, a continuity test is required from pipe to MET. a reading below 1.0 ohms suggests that it is bonded through other services, e.g.water and may not need additional bonding.

Hi Teletrix
I thought it was 0.022M ( 22000 ohms)
over that dont bond under that and it needs bonding
I did a continuity test and got 0.06 ohms I had it in mind it had to be below 0.05 to be acceptable (GN3) could be wrong, its been a long day
I cant find either a oil pipe bond or a water pipe bond so getting worried and going belt and braces

 

[telectrix]

that 0.05 figure has to be the most misquoted figure of all time. it's the max. resistance betweem a bonding cable and the pipe to which it is bonded. I.E the resistance across the bonding clamp from cable to pipe.

 

[Risteard]

that 0.05 figure has to be the most misquoted figure of all time. it's the max. resistance betweem a bonding cable and the pipe to which it is bonded. I.E the resistance across the bonding clamp from cable to pipe.

Precisely. It's just to demonstrate that the clamp is adequately connected to the pipe!

 

[davesparks]

teach me to read first
IR was 0.00M ( as I understand it , if its below 0.02M then it needs bonding if its above 0.02M then no need. Think I meant to put Over 0,02 but typed under...
Am I right this time davesparks ?

Also including some clue as to the units is quite important, I didn't quite register that you used an IR tester and was thinking in ohms.

My opinion on this subject is not exactly in line with the popular opinion on the forum, I'm inclined to interpret the regulations as requiring incoming services that be bonded at point of entry.

 

[sparkdog]

I usually manage to fit a standard earth clamp to an oil pipe.

 

[dnjr]

I usually manage to fit a standard earth clamp to an oil pipe.

I've tried. Just too big for this one.

 

[davesparks]

I usually manage to fit a standard earth clamp to an oil pipe.

I did that once on a 10mm PVC coated soft copper oil pipe and crushed it, apparently the plumber thought this was a bad thing, but I just told him it was revenge.

 

[suffolkspark]

I usually manage to fit a standard earth clamp to an oil pipe.

I've only been in the trade 14 years which know isn't as many as some on here, but I've never had an issue doing this either? I've always used Tenby ones I know some cheaper ones are a different shape so perhaps don't grip smaller things?

 

[sparkdog]

MICC Pyro bare copper P clip as mentioned earlier.

 

[dnjr]

thanks all. Will try p clips

 

[dnjr]

Wholesaler came up with this
It's an earth bond link made by Tamlex for trunking bent round. Giving it a go

 

[suffolkspark]

I still di t get why an earth clamp wont fit? Take a pic im intrigued, ps dont forget to affix bonding label to your clamp

 

[dnjr]

I still di t get why an earth clamp wont fit? Take a pic im intrigued, ps dont forget to affix bonding label to your clamp

Hi Suffolk
Standard clamps I have seen either have a sort of box section bit in the clamp which would wobble about on top of the pipe or have a 'U' shaped but with the clamp which is too big and straddles the pipe and band can't go tight enough. Honest. I've tried. ...

 

[telectrix]

wind a bit of bare 6.0mm round the pipe. solder in place. sleeve the tail after .

 

[dnjr]

wind a bit of bare 6.0mm round the pipe. solder in place. sleeve the tail after .

Now that is a bloody good idea
Hats off to you

 

[Wilko]

Some care required if you are planning to solder a heating oil supply line. From memory, soldering needs about 200C and the auto ignition point of heating oil is about that too. Just saying ...

 

[telectrix]

1.do it when there's no oil in the pipe

2. clamp heat sinks on pipe to prevent the oil overheating. it needs to vaporise to ignite.

 

[westward10]

The oil will not ignite unless it reaches temperature where it vaporizes allowing it to mix with oxygen, liquids do not burn it will however act as a heat sink removing the temperature from the pipe.

 

[Wilko]

The oil will not ignite unless it reaches temperature where it vaporizes allowing it to mix with oxygen, liquids do not burn it will however act as a heat sink removing the temperature from the pipe.

That's right, these fuels won't burn without air. It's my understanding the vapour point of heating oil is significantly below the melting point of solder. Again, just saying ...

 

[telectrix]

maybe an experiment.... a whole new concept of the bang test.

 

[westward10]

That's right, these fuels won't burn without air. It's my understanding the vapour point of heating oil is significantly below the melting point of solder. Again, just saying ...

The flash point of heating oil depending on the type will be approximately half 200°C.

 

[telectrix]

but how can it vaporise when it's confined in the tube?

 

[Ian1981]

but how can it vaporise when it's confined in the tube?

Witchcraft

 

[westward10]

but how can it vaporise when it's confined in the tube?

It can expand but even if it did manage to reach flash point and vaporize it would still need a sufficient heat source to ignite. Highly unlikely but most things are possible especially if it started spraying from a joint due to the expansion. I personally would not try it.

 

[Wilko]

I'm not saying death and destruction will ensue, but I would "prudently avoid the known risk" of applying heat to a fuel line.

 

[Guitarist]

I've tried. Just too big for this one.

I've never had an issue getting standard earth clamps to fit a 10mm oil pipe.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I've used a length of 1.0mm bare copper before. Bind it in tight turns around the pipe and back on itself if necessary. Clamp over that, done right it'll fit tight.