Earthing a church

[colin durning]

Hi all,
I had been asked to look at the flourys in a church hall as they have problems getting new lamps.
When testing earth cont.(mettalic fittings) i detected 137v between fitting and MET.
I stopped there and inspected the system, free of charge of course, and found 2 100A supplies, 4 sub DB's, 2 water and 2 gas supplies. No bonding whatsoever,only 1 main earthing conductor that feeds 1 sub DB.

I have advised them to get it earthed pronto and they would like me to give quote.

Would it be acceptable to run the bonding to a sub DB, or will i have to run them to the SOURCE???
Not sure if a sub DB is regarded as the source.
Will i have to run main earthing conductors to each sub DB.

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[Engineer54]

Looking back over these photo's i think that Malcolm has got it spot on, especially the point that this isn't going to be a walk in the park job!!! lol!!! Also agree that your first and major concern is to sort out the earthing and bonding issues for this church. An in depth discussion with the local DNO on the two supplies coming into the church would be advantageous, one of them may well be obsolete. I would definitely try to make just one of them your main supply point with all distribution sub's etc, located in that supply heads location, not scattered around as it seems to be at the present. One more thing, i haven't seen many churches of this age and with steeples of a 100ft or so without some form of Lightning Protection, especially if the church stands in it's own open grounds.

Churches and there administration just about always plead poverty, just remind them they have a lawful responsibility to the public and there parishioners and staff to provide a safe environment within there premises at all times!!! If the denomination of this church is either C of E or Catholic, they can't be pleading poverty!! haha!!!

 

[colin durning]

Thanks Malcolm...great advice.

Iam going to have to go back round for yet other look. Looking back at the photo's myself i think your prob. right about that supply being redundant...but you never know!

I've been reluctant to get involved too much as you know what happens when just having a wee freebie look. Prob about 8hrs wee looks so far.
Initially, when i found the mettallic fitting had Volts on it, i had a quick look at the install and when found no earthing i lettered them stating the installation was dangerous. I then met with a couple of guys who deal with the financial side of the church, money for this is a big issue as the've only got dough for wind and water tight. I was asked to quote for earthing and if they manage to get some money, for rewiring some VIR circuits etc. Again, another wee look. This turned up another gas supply, water supply and the electrical supply that looks redundant and the PIR from 7 years ago.
Eng54, i hav'nt got a clue what kind of church it is. Its not RC. Lots of BB's and other groups use the hall but the church does not have many punters, there's another church of the same less than half a mile away with more punters so this one has been neglected a little.
Looking at it again its prob nearer 60-70ft, i had a look for lightning protection but did'nt see owt.
Hope to have more snaps soon

 

[colin durning]

Ok, i got access and took some more snaps with a borrowed camera, still uploading pics. Wish i'd used the BlkBerry now.

The redundant looking supply appears to be redundant.

The old part of the church is fed from an an old 60A sw directly of the meter http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i332/dubf8t/IMG_0874.jpg, this in turn feeds these two DB's. I'll call these DB3 and DB4http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i332/dubf8t/IMG_0869.jpg

This one may have the supply tattie jointed behind the fuse carriers as noted on PIRhttp://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i332/dubf8t/IMG_0859.jpg

Here is what i'll call sub DB1 http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i332/dubf8t/IMG_0856.jpg
Sub DB2 http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i332/dubf8t/IMG_0872.jpg

What about the old PIR, fancy a swatch... i'm kind of getting into this now lol