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Bonding a metal bath

David-Adams
Good evening


I am having one of those moments where I can’t sleep because I am worrying about something I probably don’t need to. That’s the rational part of me talking, unfortunately the anxiety monster won’t b***** off. 


We have just had our old cast iron bath replaced with a nice new shiny steel one. The old bath was bonded back to the terminal block by main consumer unit over 6mm earth cable via the airing cupboard. We also have an electric shower. 


The new bath has no taps on it (they are wall-mounted and fed by copper pipes). The waste is all plastic. The electric shower has been replaced with a new electric shower. The copper pipes in the airing cupboard have been connected via a new 4mm earth cable. My electrician says that according to the 18th edition, there is no requirement for the metal bath to be bonded. 


I have no reason to doubt him, except for the anxiety monster eating away at my brain I mentioned earlier. What limited literature I have found seems to suggest this is correct, but in some circles it is a hotly debated topic with contradicting views. I was just wondering if someone could confirm this for me please. I would also be interested in understanding why this is the case to satisfy my own natural curiosity of all things!


Many thanks in advance
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    bob-tahoma:

    We have just had our old cast iron bath replaced with a nice new shiny steel one. The old bath was bonded back to the terminal block by main consumer unit over 6mm earth cable via the airing cupboard.



    It may be that when the bathroom was last refitted, or electrics installed, the current regulations specified a lot of bonding. Since 15th Edn, requirements have reduced. So in all probability, that old "bond" was redundant.
    The copper pipes in the airing cupboard have been connected via a new 4mm earth cable.

    If that means that the hot and cold pipes have been connected to each other, it was probably unnecessary because they are likely to be connected elsewhere. Soldered copper pipes do not need to be bonded more than once.
    My electrician says that according to the 18th edition, there is no requirement for the metal bath to be bonded.

    I agree with your electrician. It is electrically isolated now and best left that way.
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  • 0

    bob-tahoma:

    We have just had our old cast iron bath replaced with a nice new shiny steel one. The old bath was bonded back to the terminal block by main consumer unit over 6mm earth cable via the airing cupboard.



    It may be that when the bathroom was last refitted, or electrics installed, the current regulations specified a lot of bonding. Since 15th Edn, requirements have reduced. So in all probability, that old "bond" was redundant.
    The copper pipes in the airing cupboard have been connected via a new 4mm earth cable.

    If that means that the hot and cold pipes have been connected to each other, it was probably unnecessary because they are likely to be connected elsewhere. Soldered copper pipes do not need to be bonded more than once.
    My electrician says that according to the 18th edition, there is no requirement for the metal bath to be bonded.

    I agree with your electrician. It is electrically isolated now and best left that way.
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