Water pipe installed above db

[staffok]

While I was on holiday a plumber as run a water pipe over a distribution board, I cannot seem to find any regs regarding this. Any help appreciated

 

[trev]

Maybe there aren't any. The regs cannot possibly cover every possible situation but you can take some and apply them to yours.
When you say "Over a DB" what exactly do you mean by that? Some pictures would help us advise you properly.

 

[telectrix]

if it's blocking access to the DB then get him to shift it. if not, as long as it's causing no detriment, it's OK.

 

[staffok]

Not blocking access. The pipe is just over a metre above board

 

[driverman]

I'm sure there are many situations like this...but maybe a ceiling in between. I wouldn't worry about it, unless of course it's somehow restricting access to unit

 

[trev]

I'd only worry about this if the environment was one where there's a significant risk of the water pipe getting damaged.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Not blocking access. The pipe is just over a metre above board

Ok ... not blocking access.

Is it leaking?

 

[Baker1988]

Aslong as there is no joint straight over the db and that the db and the pipe is not somewhere where ot can be damaged, I wouldnt worry about it

 

[Darkwood]

As above as long as its not got any joints that will run off on to the DB if leaking then its fine... this includes the piping arrangment been the lowest point at the DB where any leak could track down the pipe length and drip off at the lowest point, it could be called for changing the environment requirements for the board to be IP rated as joints etc give hightened risk of a leak and if plumbing fitted after then you may raise it from that perpective.

 

[PEG]

I remember a similar scenario to this,in a mates house,Victorian terrace with 2" lead main running through each cellar,6 properties in all,with wiped or compression joints near to boards in each house...survey pulled this as an issue needing "urgent attention". They recommended swapping to new alkathene supply and stop cock. New supply in,previous lead blanked. But now,there is a NEW joint,mechanical,as close to tee as possible (reduce dead-leg),and rest cannot be touched as supplying other properties! So now,issue is possibly WORSE than before,discounting lead removal,surveyor visits for release of retention,and says "Oh well,you tried..."

 

[Geordie Spark]

My Consumer Unit (installed by me) shares a cupboard with its friends Electric Meter and Gas Meter in my downstairs cloakroom.

Running horizontally on the wall about 2 feet above Consumer Unit are Mr Central Heating Flow pipe and below him Mr Central Heating Return pipe (also installed by me). They all get on well, play nicely together and do not drip on each other or spark at each other.

So, as long as pipe joints are properly made (mine are all soldered) and the pipes properly supported and protected against frost what's the problem??

It's hardly likely that they are going to be wiped out by a stacker truck in a domestic situation is it??

Leave the damned pipe alone and find something else to mither about!!!

 

[7029 dave]

As long as its not leaking.

 

[Geordie Spark]

As long as its not leaking.

Correct!!!

But that was stating the bleeding obvious wasn't it??

 

[bigdavs83]

Fit a huge drip tray in case of spray when it leaks and some nice attractive white drain pipe to your nearest drain and that will sort you right out.

 

[PEG]

...Having read this thread,i am starting to question my decision to fit a sprinkler above my DB in case of a fire...:bow:

 

[telectrix]

...Having read this thread,i am starting to question my decision to fit a sprinkler above my DB in case of a fire...:bow:

better off with a CO2 device. less mess.

 

[Engineer54]

Any ceiling mounted pipework where it is unavoidable, that passes thru an electrical room or other restricted space will be run in a wall to wall PVC duct/pipe on most of the projects i've worked on. But 99% of the time they will be routed around such areas....

As for CO2/halon type discharge systems, i've seen them cause more damage and problems to the area they are protecting. Mainly from suspended ceiling mountings that are not up to the job of rigidity during the discharge. Anyone seen a 32mm steel pipe being thrown about like twig off a tree smashing everything in it's path?? Seen that on more than one occasion, thankfully all during the discharge testing of the system.

 

[7029 dave]

Correct!!!

But that was stating the bleeding obvious wasn't it??

HA HA I could not resist.

 

[sammyshooter]

528.2.2 Distance from non electrical services

 

[davesparks]

Something else to consider is if it is a cold water pipe and a damp area such as a cellar then you can get condensation forming on the outside of the pipe which may drop onto the fuseboard.

I have encountered this problem in a pub cellar where the warmth of the beer chillers combined with the coldness of the pipe led to a lot of condensation dripping.

A little bit of rust has formed on the top of the board where the paint had chipped. The company doing the EICR wanted to replace the board. I cleaned the rust back to bare metal, painted the metal with a dab of hammerite and fixed an angled bit of paxoline above the board to direct the drips away from it.
No need to remove a perfectly good TPN DB just for a few spots of rust, the water hadn't got inside the board at all.

 

[PEG]

Any ceiling mounted pipework where it is unavoidable, that passes thru an electrical room or other restricted space will be run in a wall to wall PVC duct/pipe on most of the projects i've worked on. But 99% of the time they will be routed around such areas....

As for CO2/halon type discharge systems, i've seen them cause more damage and problems to the area they are protecting. Mainly from suspended ceiling mountings that are not up to the job of rigidity during the discharge. Anyone seen a 32mm steel pipe being thrown about like twig off a tree smashing everything in it's path?? Seen that on more than one occasion, thankfully all during the discharge testing of the system.

Yes,i have. I had cause to work on several of our largest mobile cranes,and these were fitted with Halon systems due to requirements of BNFL. They operated for only 5 seconds,and would destroy most of engine bay,but fire would be out...One of our tasks,before initiating any work in restricted position of engine bay,would be to isolate Halon system,as accidental deployment may mean curtains...you can't hold your breath,if you haven't got any irate:

 

[Engineer54]

Yes,i have. I had cause to work on several of our largest mobile cranes,and these were fitted with Halon systems due to requirements of BNFL. They operated for only 5 seconds,and would destroy most of engine bay,but fire would be out...One of our tasks,before initiating any work in restricted position of engine bay,would be to isolate Halon system,as accidental deployment may mean curtains...you can't hold your breath,if you haven't got any irate:

If all the discharge systems fitted to these large cranes did that much damage to them all i can say is that the systems were badly designed as well as the discharge pipe fixings. There is normally around a 45 to 60 second warning before a discharge takes place. All it takes to stop the physical damage is the discharge pipe being securely fixed to the frame of the cranes, and being as i would assume the frame being made up of substantially thick metal, there should be no reason for pipe fixings to rip themselves away from those fixings.