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Old Iron Underground Gas Pipe Earthing.

 I came upon this installation today. There is no P.M.E. earth terminal but just a TT rod outside. Ze is about 15 Ohms. But even accounting for the rain recently I can not see that a single 4ft. rod can achieve that low a Ze. The old Denso tape covered iron gas pipe runs underground to the road. It is bonded inside the house as is (presumably) the water pipe. The house is a 1930s aged property. I am noy happy about the final circuits in the consumer unit that do not have R.C.D. protection. Some of these supply outside metal lights on the bungalow wall. I can't imaging in the 80s or 90s this arrangement ever complying. Is the installation relying on the old gas pipe as an earth electrode? I could not do a thorough test today as the gas man was servicing the gas boiler.

Comments please?

Parents
  • Too dangerous to walk away and leave.

    Do a global insulation test on the whole installation and if you get a reasonable test result simply swap the main switch and the 30 mA RCD around in the existing consumer unit, so that the RCD protects the entire installation until the consumer unit is replaced.

  • With the customer's permission that is a good idea.

    Indeed gas pipes or water pipes must not be used as earth electrodes. 

    542.2.6.

    Z.

Reply
  • With the customer's permission that is a good idea.

    Indeed gas pipes or water pipes must not be used as earth electrodes. 

    542.2.6.

    Z.

Children
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