This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Bonding a metal bath

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
Parents

  • Legh Richardson:




    geoffsd:




    "Sparks seemed to get carried away with bonding"

    I know, hundreds of thousands of sparks, wiring millions of properties, what ever we're they thinking of?

     

    Oh yes, wiring to the "IEE regulations"!!! 



    Please could you quote or provide a link to these regulations that required isolated metal items to be bonded?

    How do you equalise potential on an item that has none? Introduce one and then equalise it?


    What about a metal soap dish screwed to the wall above the bath?


    What about the cutlery drawer?

    What about a metal plate rack above what might have been a dishwasher in a kitchen?

    Always a good idea to take mearuements if there is some doubt to the quality of bonding and earthing don't you think?


    legh

     




     

    The soap or plate rack is never going to be bonded, they could however be fixed to a metal stud within a wall giving a conductive path.


    The biggest danger is that a fixing screw has nicked the line conductor leaving the rack at mains potential resulting in the death of a lady taking plates out of the dishwasher when she touched the electrically live plate  rack and the earthed dishwasher at the same time, as has happened.


    Andy Betteridge
Reply

  • Legh Richardson:




    geoffsd:




    "Sparks seemed to get carried away with bonding"

    I know, hundreds of thousands of sparks, wiring millions of properties, what ever we're they thinking of?

     

    Oh yes, wiring to the "IEE regulations"!!! 



    Please could you quote or provide a link to these regulations that required isolated metal items to be bonded?

    How do you equalise potential on an item that has none? Introduce one and then equalise it?


    What about a metal soap dish screwed to the wall above the bath?


    What about the cutlery drawer?

    What about a metal plate rack above what might have been a dishwasher in a kitchen?

    Always a good idea to take mearuements if there is some doubt to the quality of bonding and earthing don't you think?


    legh

     




     

    The soap or plate rack is never going to be bonded, they could however be fixed to a metal stud within a wall giving a conductive path.


    The biggest danger is that a fixing screw has nicked the line conductor leaving the rack at mains potential resulting in the death of a lady taking plates out of the dishwasher when she touched the electrically live plate  rack and the earthed dishwasher at the same time, as has happened.


    Andy Betteridge
Children
No Data