- Reaction score
- 67,272
For years it has been a requirement to bond to metal back boxes with one fixed lug. In 2004 or 2005, an amendment to 16th then said as long as there was 1 fixed lug, the box need not be bonded, reliant on the faceplate pins to provide it's earth. Is this still current under the 17th? One of my concerns is that, when replacing plastic plate switches with metal ones ( brass / stainless ) these faceplates have an earth terminal which must be earthed, so does one take the existing earth off the back box and connect it to the faceplate, or bond from box to plate. it is common practice for decorators to undo sockets and switches so as to paint the wall, not the fitting or get wallpaper behind the faceplates. Obviously, when the screws are out, the box has no earth, so my thoughts are to bond both. CYA. What do my learned friends on here think?