Earth Clamps On Lead Piping

[Mark_Burgess]

yoohoo lead isnt extraneous you dont bond it

Reg: 542.2.3 Suitable earth electrodes shall be used. The following types of earth electrode are recognized for the purpose of the regulations.

(vi) Lead sheaths and other metal coverings of cables.

 

[Knobhead]

This set off as a sensible question. It’s now degenerated in to a farce!

Makes me wonder why I spent all that time plumbing lead cables.
View attachment 12184

 

[wildgoose]

I've got the info I needed from the beginning of the thread - just wanted reassurance really about the earth clamp interaction with the lead piping. The following discussion about lead being a conductor or not, was just a wind-up wasn't it

 

[sedgy34]

i was just gesting and caused a stir :smug:

 

[trev]

Lead is not extraneous? Hmm interesting.
What about structural steel? Or have I been doing that wrong too?

 

[sedgy34]

i think there is something that says lead is not as good a conductor than copper but still conductive, we dont bond the lead at a gas meter we bond the copper pipe

 

[Knobhead]

Have a look on Google

“Metal conductivity”

You may just learn something.

Though I doubt it!

 

[JD6400]

I think it is just nic good practise and not in the regs ? But back in the days when i was working for a firm that undertook mainly council rewires around the Aylesbury area , we used a independent nic testing firm and they always pulled tns feeds if they were not sweated and made us TT it instead .
The reason given was that lead is not solid enough to guarantee the clamped connection .

 

[telectrix]

ever been hit over the head with lead pipe? it's bloody solid and hard.

 

[Knobhead]

I think it is just nic good practise and not in the regs ? But back in the days when i was working for a firm that undertook mainly council rewires around the Aylesbury area , we used a independent nic testing firm and they always pulled tns feeds if they were not sweated and made us TT it instead .
The reason given was that lead is not solid enough to guarantee the clamped connection .

What a load of male bovine excrement!

 

[JD6400]

Always thought that it was a little over the top , but it was not our place to argue !

 

[Silly Sausage]

An earth clamp on a lead sheathed supply cable and no one would question it!

 

[SW1970]

This thread is one of the most entertaining in a long time. Thanks for the laugh!

 

[Knobhead]

Just to set the record straight:

Copper = 16.9 mΏ / M³
Steel = 167 mΏ / M³
Lead = 208 mΏ / M³