You are of course quite right - and such things do occur - one of the symptoms of a failing PEN is tingles from domestic appliances, as well as dimming or over-brighteing of lights which tends to make people more wary, and such things do normally get reported and fixed smartish..

There is an argument that a house floor is likely to be (but only most of the time) drier, and more likely to have a DPC or even an insulating coat of lino or carpet than a garage or car park. As such the floor is indeed at true terra-firma earth voltage, but via a high resistance, so even padding about the house in pyjamas and bare feet at bed time,  the shock current is still at least limited. And this is where the arguments about earthing of radiators and kitchen sinks, and what to, start to matter. A gas cooker may be well earthed to true earth via a metal gas pipe (it may not be if it is on a hose, but not all are intended to connect that way) , and gas boiler almost certainly is So should we bond the sink to PME earth, or leave it floating? This is one of those questions that is far from clear cut, and the advice to bond the incoming metallic services is an attempt to make sure it all moves as one.

There will always be  cases that are not ideal, outside taps, outside lights and power often mean the PME earth is exposed to touch outdoors, but the risk of this is lower than the risk of not earthing at all, PME faults are quite rare, and normally fixed quickly. It is worth remembering that there are not large numbers of lifeless bodies slumped under the PME supplied metal street lamps and bus stopsevery morning, and the few that are are far more likely to do with late night drinking. (which from an electrical point of view is just as well)

You are of course quite right - and such things do occur - one of the symptoms of a failing PEN is tingles from domestic appliances, as well as dimming or over-brighteing of lights which tends to make people more wary, and such things do normally get reported and fixed smartish..

There is an argument that a house floor is likely to be (but only most of the time) drier, and more likely to have a DPC or even an insulating coat of lino or carpet than a garage or car park. As such the floor is indeed at true terra-firma earth voltage, but via a high resistance, so even padding about the house in pyjamas and bare feet at bed time,  the shock current is still at least limited. And this is where the arguments about earthing of radiators and kitchen sinks, and what to, start to matter. A gas cooker may be well earthed to true earth via a metal gas pipe (it may not be if it is on a hose, but not all are intended to connect that way) , and gas boiler almost certainly is So should we bond the sink to PME earth, or leave it floating? This is one of those questions that is far from clear cut, and the advice to bond the incoming metallic services is an attempt to make sure it all moves as one.

There will always be  cases that are not ideal, outside taps, outside lights and power often mean the PME earth is exposed to touch outdoors, but the risk of this is lower than the risk of not earthing at all, PME faults are quite rare, and normally fixed quickly. It is worth remembering that there are not large numbers of lifeless bodies slumped under the PME supplied metal street lamps and bus stopsevery morning, and the few that are are far more likely to do with late night drinking. (which from an electrical point of view is just as well)