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Is this method of earthing a water pipe permissible?

Arran Cameron

A house has the main earth terminal block located next to the electricity supply cable in a cupboard in the living room. The water supply is a blue MDPE pipe located in the kitchen that transitions to a copper pipe about 2m before the stop tap.

About 1m away from the earth terminal block are a pair of copper central heating flow and return pipes. These same two pipes are located right next to the copper water supply pipe in the kitchen.

The easiest, and most economical on cable, method to earth the pipes is to connect the earth terminal block to the central heating pipes in the living room, then connect the central heating pipes to the water supply pipe in the kitchen.

Is this permissible, or must a long length of earth cable be installed under the floorboards connecting the earth terminal block to the water supply pipe?

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  • 0

    I wouldn't be happy with using the CH pipes for main bonding because they may be removed or replaced. However, from the sound of it, the water supply does not need to be bonded.

    We haven't been told whether or not the CH pipes are in contact with the ground. If they cannot introduce a potential, no bonding is required at all.

  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    I don't think the CH pipes are in contact with the ground anywhere.

    There are also the cold and hot water supply pipes around the house. They don't appear to be in contact with the ground anywhere.

    I have a mentality that all (significant) sections of metallic pipework should be earthed and not left floating in case a pipe accidentally becomes live.

    The CH pipes, along with the cold and hot water supply pipes (in the vicinity of the boiler at least), are earthed via the mains earth connection to the boiler. If the mains cable is disconnected then the pipes are most likely left floating.

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  • 0 in reply to Chris Pearson

    I don't think the CH pipes are in contact with the ground anywhere.

    There are also the cold and hot water supply pipes around the house. They don't appear to be in contact with the ground anywhere.

    I have a mentality that all (significant) sections of metallic pipework should be earthed and not left floating in case a pipe accidentally becomes live.

    The CH pipes, along with the cold and hot water supply pipes (in the vicinity of the boiler at least), are earthed via the mains earth connection to the boiler. If the mains cable is disconnected then the pipes are most likely left floating.

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