Main bonding, what to do....

[polo1]

A second floor flat, hi spec decoration and finishes, and the incoming water supply (in copper) is on the other side of the flat from the CU which is to be replaced. There is currently no main bonding, but the gas will be relatively straightforward.
The floors are all done in hardwood, the ceilings have original plaster coving. An upgraded CU is going to be a significant improvement even without the water incomer being bonded, but.......!
What would you do?

 

[Guest77]

If the worse happens the water could always be connected via the gas and a through crimp at the bonding point on the gas, and then as Dave mentioned a label stuck at the stop cock saying where the connection is and why it is there, lets be sensible here, a fully furnished posh flat, no owner in their right mind will have it pulled apart for a wire will they?

 

[telectrix]

my gas is bonded where it passes 6" away from the CU. not wasting expensive 10mm cable to get 25ft. to the meter, which, incidentally is in the garage, so technically not within the building.

 

[polo1]

Guys, thanks for the input. Think I'm going to run 10mm from the gas to the water at the boiler. The client simply won't agree to cables (of any colour) clipped around the house and I think this is the best I can do and leave the property with a clear conscience!

 

[nickblake]

It does say where practical bond it to the nearest position you can and mark it on the certificate best you can do at the end of the day you are improving the installation

 

[atm84]

what if they are painted? and what if the white cable is identified at the termination with green and yellow sleeving? come on now.

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

 

[Knobhead]

If you’ve got water and gas to a boiler I don’t think a bit of 10mm between them is going to make much difference.

Out of interest, have you actually tested the water pipe?

 

[Guest77]

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

I am not even interested in looking atm, lets face it the installation is existing not new, the building is heavily furnished and professioally decorated to a high standard, the customer will not tolorate any seen cabling. Based on this the OP wants some advice from fellow sparks on what the next move should be, My view is the installation will be better off with a new board so if adding a bit of cable in from the gas to the water is the easiest way and the installation safer than before then great, rollocks to the BGB, after all most of it has been written by numpties, if however a white cable is another option and green and yellow added to the board end and bonding clamp ends for identification then surely this is better than no cable at all?

 

[Silly Sausage]

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

Get your hand up... :smilielol5:

514.3.2 & 514.4.2

 

[trev]

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

7671 is guidance, there is an allowance for deviations as long as those deviations do not leave the installation in a condition which affords a lesser degree of safety than that specified in the book.
Please explain how the colour of a bonding conductor's insulation affect's it's pupose and performance.

 

[atm84]

The copper conducts better when the insulation is G/Y. It feels safer and more content.

 

[guest119]

Check the cable before you use it then.
Should be 70% yellow and 30% green to comply with 17th ed bs 7671.

Boydy

 

[trev]

So few others have thought of deviations which are allowed by 7671?
Suppose I installed a bonding conductor which was blue and red, I did this to camouflage it against the existing decor. An unrelated fault which I had nothing to do with results in a fire, which court is going to criticise me for not installing a G/Y cable when my blue and red one is correctly sized.

 

[Knobhead]

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

Get your hand up... :smilielol5:

514.3.2 & 514.4.2

Shouldn’t that be hold your hand out? I’m sure Pink Minx will lend you her cane.

 

[trev]

Tony, please stop mate. There are some pictures that don't need to be painted

 

[Knobhead]

If they have been painted after they have been installed, that is up to the client, however only G/Y bonding conductor shall be installed to comply with Bs 7671. if you can find anything to disprove this then I will hold my hand up but i doubt you will.

Check the cable before you use it then.
Should be 70% yellow and 30% green to comply with 17th ed bs 7671.

Boydy

So which core do you use in a 3c SWA as the CPC?

So few others have thought of deviations which are allowed by 7671?
Suppose I installed a bonding conductor which was blue and red, I did this to camouflage it against the existing decor. An unrelated fault which I had nothing to do with results in a fire, which court is going to criticise me for not installing a G/Y cable when my blue and red one is correctly sized.

If there’s a fire Trev, I don’t think anyone would know what colour it was.