DO YOU NEED TO EARTH BOND PLASTIC WATER PIPES?

[@efixx]

More electricians Q&A here 📺👉kzbin.info/aero/PLmWOIPxaBWH7XMcW07S7CTQM9G-M1GHzc

[@boherrmannsen8219]

late to the party, but you can't bond plastic. it's simply common sense, so you might want to do a 2 hour video on what common sense is :-D (bad danish joke)

[@tomcapon4447]

"You can't apply bonding to protect from faulty installation elsewhere." I wholeheartedly disagree. Workmanship is always a variable when making standards, and overlapping protections save us every day.

[@lhffan]

Not in this case

[@learningwithlyricsandsongs]

@@lhffan But, you asked what we would do. We know that there are idiots who do unsafe work. We also know that we are all human and minds do wander. On the other hand, if the fault was in the consumer unit, bonding it could make things much worse.

[@squakkers]

To the “I’d bond it anyway” brigade the video clearly shows that when it’s not extraneous it’s no different to any other metalwork in the property. If you “bond it anyway” you’re going to introduce a fault current that wouldn’t otherwise exist. We’re all about keeping fault currents away from people yet bonding an irrelevant piece of metal is increasing the chances of someone coming into contact with live metalwork. Or am I missing something?

[@coralbay00]

Exactly 💯 buddy. Its potentially putting someone at risk of electric shock in the event of the pipework becoming live because there would not be a return path.

[@squakkers]

@@coralbay00 so shouldn’t bonded conductive parts that are not extraneous be coded C2 or FI on an EICR?

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

@@squakkers probably hard to prove its not once the plumbing is fully assembled mate. Have to trust the original designer... But given some of the comments on here that's probably easier said than done.

[@coralbay00]

@@squakkers it's a dark area that one. Tbh I would consult niceic (since I'm paying for 2nd opinions) and get advice if I couldn't clarify. The internal pipework throughout the building can in itself be unpredictable. Ie bathroom fitters rock in and cut into the copper slapping in plastic pipe potentially breaking continuity. Put on the spot.......I would agree C2 if certain and fi.......if uncertain. Don't you just love earthing arrangements 🤦‍♂️

[@squakkers]

@@coralbay00 No! 🤣

[@CarlCosby]

18th edition says no to bonding plastic incoming pipes. btw - It’s either earthing or bonding, not earth bonding. They’re two separate functions 👍🏻

[@gowdsake7103]

What it should say is that in that case then any metal sink or fitting should be earth bonded to a ground spike

[@CarlCosby]

It’s either earthing or bonding, they’re two separate functions. The sink isn’t an exposed conductive part, therefore not required to be earthed. The sink “could” be an extraneous conductive part, if so, it would therefore require protective bonding. If not, no protective bonding. There’s a test one can do to prove if something is or isn’t considered extraneous.

[@tristandowning5609]

@@CarlCosby What is that test?

[@jensschroder8214]

I live in Germany. We have TNC-S and a plastic water pipe. The pipes in the house are made of copper and are bonded to the foundation earth. The house is almost 50 years old. As far as I know, the heating engineer has requested that the earthing is available, so the earthing is not at the inlet of the pipe but on the heating system. But that doesn't matter with copper tubes.

[@AdrianBawn]

The plastic pipe obviously doesn't make a direct connection to earth, but what about any metal pipe fittings further down the road? At mains voltage water can act as a conductor (or we wouldn't worry about IP rating for things exposed to damp environments) so while the path to earth via the pipe itself doesn't connect to earth directly under the house, surely there's a path to earth via the water in the pipe itself? I accept that the potential is probably a lot lower than the actual copper earth that comes into the building though, so likely wont be a problem, but I would still expect that there is the possibility of an issue there.

[@gowdsake7103]

Exactly except bonding to the pipe would be utterly pointless but anything metal should be bonded on the water system

[@simongreenidge6454]

Demo of how little current would actually flow through the water in the pipe: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3ecdXaEoMZ4bqs

[@petermichaelgreen]

​@@simongreenidge6454 Where I do think there could be a concern is when the insulating section is very short. If there are meters of insulating pipe then the current is going to be reduced to non-hazardous levels, but if there are only a few centimeters of insulating pipe between sections of conductive pipe that could be a different matter.

[@Electric-First]

If water pipe enters to the dwelling in plastic you don’t need the bonding . That is all

[@simongreenidge6454]

@@petermichaelgreen Yes, an interesting situation. This video also makes me wonder whether, in a house with a plastic incoming water supply pipe; does any of the network of copper water pipe within the house be (supplementally) bonded e.g. the bathroom?

[@HenryLoenwind]

There's one more issue: The whole house is at "real earth" potential unless it's built on plastic foundations. Usually that doesn't matter, plaster, bricks and carpet aren't good conductors and the area we touch them is quite small. But now you have copper pipe through your whole house that is buried in brickwork. It makes contact over a quite large surface, plenty of parallel paths---and Ohm's law on parallel connections starts to raise its head. I'd recommend to measure the resistance between "real ground" and any touchable metallic object to decide if it should be bonded.

[@michaelherbert2982]

Yeah and if you do bond onto plastic water pipe (but a piece is in copper) what about the millions of gallons of water in the pipe, no one mentions this.... What do you think

[@tomcapon4447]

@@michaelherbert2982 Unless your city pumps you seawater, it won't conduct anything through the plastic pipes.

[@michaelherbert2982]

@@tomcapon4447 But Tom... I got 15mm copper pipe then going to plastic.... But its full of water... Millions apon millions of gallons of water... So it won't travel through that?

[@tomorichard]

@@michaelherbert2982 water is a awful conductor.

[@InTimeTraveller]

@@tomorichard pure water is a bad conductor but your tap water is a pretty good conductor (because it's nowhere near pure).

[@bigshoe9130]

As an apprentice, this helped me alot. More on this topic please eFIXX!!!

[@MultiOutdoorman]

On a brand new install i would accept the non-bonding of plastic incoming water pipes ( what about plastic gas pipes then ? ) Existing installs can and do bring the risks of cables being found under floors etc resting on metal heating pipes etc ( but they could now be all plastic !) The discussion on protecting metal sinks on older BS7671 regs brought similar conflicting views didnt it ? Personally, I'd still bond and do continuity tests to verify integrity.

[@asp217]

Joe you cannot state that if the service pipework is plastic then it does not require main equipotential bonding. It is possible that elsewhere within the property that the installation copper pipework enters the true earth and comes back up again, and therefore can be deemed extraneous. A simple test to prove is what I do,....continuity test between the MET and the pipework. If the reading is

[@efixx]

Regulation 411.3.1.2 states it. If the metal pipe enters the ground as you've described then it's a different situation and may well need a bond, if it changes to plastic where it enters and exits the ground it won't. I know what you're saying though Andrew and there'll be much more information on this subject on the way. 😊

[@stuartcraigon2003]

Even if it doesn't enter earth and rise again the point of bonding is nothing to do with that.

[@stuartcraigon2003]

@@asp217 sure I fixed it for you seeing as you can't read!

[@kletops46]

"We can't bond just to cover poor installation" This is a correct statement... However. I was receiving shocks and tingles from my New washing machine and kitchen sink, turns out Mice had chewed through the Flex feeding the washer. This left the live conductor touching the water feed pipe and therefore livened-up the whole unbonded house water installation. Makes you think ?

[@gteaz]

Sounds like your metal pipes had no earth.

[@assassinlexx1993]

There is a difference between grounding and bonding. The washing machine should have a proper ground wire that is wired to house grounded system. The flex cover should be bonded too.

[@matthewmelbourne9139]

Interesting video, but I suspect the more complex answer is "it depends". You're only considering the water supply as it enters the building. What if some of the copper is in contact with the earth elsewhere, e.g. a kitchen island? If you can guarantee that it's not, that there is probably more danger of metallic parts becoming live under fault conditions if they were bonded. However, it's also very likely that a boiler (for example) will have all the metallic pipework bonded, so the point is probably moot anyway. If in doubt measure it, and make a decision based on that.

[@tomcapon4447]

This literally came up on r/electricians this week. Pipes not bonded at entry, shorted to hot through a stray wire, and now all the fixtures in the house have live voltage on them relative to anything plugged into an electrical outlet.

[@FoodOnCrack]

@@tomcapon4447 Which is why we have everything behind a GFCI in the Netherlands and not only bathrooms or only sockets.

[@Orgakoyd]

@@FoodOnCrack That’s how it is in the U.K. too.

[@EdwardBretherton]

would the dpm in the floor act as an insulator to avoid contact with earth, plus you would use plastic pipes to an island to avoid the corrosion of copper , simple answer cross bond gas water and heating pipes

[@marksmith6259]

I've seen a voltage difference between cold and hot pipes within a house form when the hot water pipe heats up as a tap opens. I'm just wondering if in future a reg will come out with a bonding portion of pipe to bring the water to a zero potential.

[@davidhilton7780]

There is the electrostatic potential, and the flow of water can still give a little charge. I have seen dust cling to plastic water pipes in use, although current is minimal the field is quite large.

[@mrtechie6810]

What if there is a bond wire to the cold water pipe inside the apartment. At some point, the plumber replaced the feeder pipe with PEX. Is there an easy way to check whether that was the main earth ground of the apartment, and would it need to be rebonded or to add earthing rods?

[@philhermetic]

Most of what I was going to say has been covered below, especially Tom Capons post, but all you need to do is ask a simple question. Will bonding it make the installation less safe? obviously not, Will bonding make the installation more safe in the event of a fault? Yes it will, so you put it back. you do not know that plastic pipe has not been installed elswhere in the building that has isolated this part of the conductive pipework from other bonding at boilers, immersion heaters etc. Regs are there to provide safety( or used to be!), It is the engineers job to ensure safety, not the regs, and anything done to enhance safety is good. Mere compliance is not good enough, just an A*se covering excercise. The attitude that," the regs say I dont have to do it so I won't" is what kills people. I was trained on IEE 14th metric 1970 and have CGND Electrical Engineering. I am afraid I have little faith in the IET as the regs are difficult to understand, contradictory, and open to interpretation, which the IEE regs were not. We were trained on every regulation till we had been through the entire book TWICE, and then examined. You were allowed one retake if you failed, and then you were out of the college, and out of the industry, today, everyone passes

[@JC-jv5xw]

Totally agree about the regs. Continual incremental changes to generate more revenue for themselves and their manufacturer sponsors. The whole book needs a complete revision with thorough proof reading to eliminate the confusing terminology (who thought up the distinctions between extraneous/exposed/equipotential ! ) and numerous ambiguous contradictions. And why the need to change section numbers at all - as if there were not enough subsection levels?

[@kenbrown2808]

actually, the issue with metal piping in the ground is just the opposite. the earth is NOT a low impedance path to ground, and the bonding network is. so by bonding metal service piping, you are bringing that piping to the same potential as your ground reference. it's not such a big deal with household voltages, but you can get a palpable voltage gradient if distribution voltage starts leaking to ground. in the US, the relevant clause in the code is to the effect of, metal piping must be bonded if there is a possibility of it becoming energized. the usual interpretation of that is that a metal fitting under a sink is not likely to be energized unless it is connected to an appliance - and the appliance will be bonded, so there you have it.

[@andysims4906]

I had a thing about 15 years ago . Plastic incoming main . All the pipe work in the flat was plastic. Customer had a electric shower and complained he got a nasty shock . Shower was about 8 foot away from the incoming plastic main. Couldn’t find anything wrong on testing. It was also a intermittent thing..After a lot of head scratching it was Infact a fault on an adjacent flats water heater .The element was faulty, so was the voltage operated trip. The fault was Infact traveling through the water in the plastic pipe into my customers flat and earthing through him when he was stood in the bath using the shower.. most tradesmen round here still use copper but if it’s plastic I get them to put a small copper section in so I can earth this so this sort of thing never happens again . This was a potentially dangerous situation that no one seems to consider

[@jemmyh2511]

In this case, was the shower unit itself, and therefore it's constituent metallic parts, not earthed?

[@leetaylor5988]

Similar thing happened to me .. but the author of this page stated in a comment above that tap water is not the conductive .... he’s lost me there .

[@davepusey]

Once the metal pipework enters a class 1 appliance, like a water heater or central heating boiler, it will likely get bonded anyway via the chassis being earthed.

[@TheMakyato]

what about when the ground cable of the appliance /socket get disconected

[@Orgakoyd]

@@TheMakyato How would this happen?

[@TheMakyato]

@@Orgakoyd by human error or accident , in europe can happen especially with boilers or washing machine . sometimes you can get electrcuted just on the wet floor

[@TurboBaldur]

Since the city water is conductive enough to prevent static charge from building up with a non-conductive pipe it's not necessary, but if the pipe were transferring a non-conductive fluid such as oil or gas, absolutely ground both ends of it as the friction between the non-conductive pipe and the flowing non-conductive fluid builds up a static charge.

[@davidhilton7780]

Any working fluid through a closed isolated loop will exhibit some potential...

[@TurboBaldur]

@@davidhilton7780 yes absolutely, but any conductivity in the fluid will drain the charge away, but of course with enough friction and not enough conductivity you can get a charge building faster than it dissipates.

[@davidhilton7780]

@@TurboBaldur so wouldn't bonding both ends of a non-conducting line to conductive ends safely dissipate the static in the line and reduce the risks...

[@davidhilton7780]

Thanks for your input, I enjoy it greatly. And thank you for conversation on something as trivial as bonding.

[@stamplusalmelo]

In The Netherlands every home has there own earth-rod connection to the earth. The water inside the pipe may be conductive as well. Therefore inside a bathroom a metal schowerdrain, a metal radiator, warter-taps etc etc are bonded to an earth-wire as well. In older houses with wooden floors, where there is a steel floor-support (in concrete on top of the wooden floor), the steel is earth-wired as well. Is that different form the UK?

[@MorzakEV]

Yes, most connections in the uk, except for a few rural properties have either a separate earth connection from the local distribution, or an earth connection which is tapped off the neutral as it enters the property (and the neutral is regularly earthed along its path from the transformer to the property). Bonding varies depending on the age of the property and what wiring regs were being worked to. Building metalwork is also bonded, but steelwork is not very common in uk homes (it’s only usually in one off type builds or commercial buildings). It’s amazing to see how differently different countries approach the same problems.

[@wrdcc01]

My boilers gas pipe will bond the water pipes but this may give a potential difference as it's not as direct as bonding the water pipes directly. This applies to indirect earth connections via an immersion heater, the motorised valves, a waste disposal etc etc. The pipes to radiators or an outside tap may also be contacting the ground at various points so I think pipes should be bonded regardless to assure continuity of earth protection, seems daft not to.

[@keirstitt8277]

The gas pipe might be bonded but why does putting supplementary bonding on water at point of entry help? If you need supplementary bonding - which given exemption for RCD protected circuits you can't imagine how you ever would in a modern domestic installation - then you'd install the supplementary bonding in the bathroom not at the stopcock.

[@patrickoregan2148]

We do the main bonding usually in the hot press in Ireland, under the sink would be supplementary bonding to the sink, but in the new regs due to lack of bonding points, ie no flange on sinks plastic pipes and flexible braided pipes. if we prove there's no earth path we don't have to bond, ie via insulation test .

[@seankearney6915]

Like someone else has said I wondered about the water conducting. I am not an electrician, but have this question which many DIYers must have come across. Metal pipe into the house and to the sink with bonding at the taps. Kitchen redone with all plastic plumbing from the point the water comes into the kitchen. Stainless steel sink fitted with metal taps, but plastic tails and plastic as far as the kitchen door. I assumed that because the sink is insulated now there was no point in any sort of bonding. In fact even when there was bonding I was never sure of the logic on a metal sink. I sort of thought I understood on a plastic or pot one that connecting the hot pipe to the cold gave a route back to earth so that seemed sensible.

[@poochey1]

From another country so please excuse my ignorance, but given the water is conductive enough to cause electrocution and is likely contacting the literal earth just outside the property at the next metal fitting and thus has potential, why would you not bond it anyway to ensure no potential shocks? In my country our version of TN-C-S also adds an earthing steak at the property to help prevent this situation. If you have disconnected all your bonds from the incoming water supply you can test this by checking the voltage potential from both your taps and electrical Earth. I'm also surprised you don't have an earth steak, what would happen if you touched a metal exterior wall mounted light and the literal earth in the rain?

[@TheEulerID]

This is to assume that the only connection point between the ground and the water pipe is the incoming pipe. An underground feed in conductive piping to a garden tap or outbuilding would do the same thing. There may be other possibilities too, whereby the property's internal conductive pipework has a connection to the ground. It may be rare, but it surprises me that it is not mentioned in the regs as a possibility. Of course, the most likely way that the copper piping would have a connection to the ground would be via a gas boiler if the incoming gas supply is via conductive pipe, but then the bonding on that ought to deal with the situation.

[@djalasdair4984]

My house has plastic pipes coming in, but I don't know that there aren't any parts of the internal metalwork touching anything conductive that's in the ground... In fact I'm pretty sure that the metal pipe to the oil tank will be connected through the combi-boiler. This old install is bonded and I'm keen to keep it that way

[@djalasdair4984]

I also have plants touching my outside tap

[@MervynPartin]

Unless the incoming water supply is demineralised water then it will be conductive (If there were any more minerals in our hard water local supply, it would be supplied in sacks). Regardless of the entry to the house, some of the downstream supply pipework may be metal anyway so there is possibly still a risk. Has there been any investigation as to this being credible? Edit:- I have read some more of the earlier comments regarding water being conductive and I would add this observation based on my experiences in power stations- Demineralised water is non conductive, in fact it is used to cool HV stator windings in large alternators. Insulating pipework lies between the windings and the pumps. However, town water supply is conductive otherwise the electrode boiler (that was used for emergency use in part of the plant) would not work, as it depended on high currents passing through the water within. My personal choice would be to bond anyway, as the IET rules on earthing seem to change rather often.

[@bulbul68]

Is there a potential for the current travelling through the water of the plastic pipe until it meets a metal pipe that’s buried underground?

[@Tomukas]

I knew it!!! I thought it did not make sense when my electrician said my incoming water mains must be bonded even though it comes through MDPE pipe. Glad this video sorts it out!

[@johnburns4017]

In one job the guy came to change the gas meter, saying where is the earth cable to the water stop cock. We told him it is not needed as it was plastic. He left not doing the job. As he was leaving we called him an incompetent lazy ****. We kicked up about it and in also stated it was not needed quoting the reg. And not to send back this incompetent idiot. They apologised sending a different guy.

[@James_scott86]

@@johnburns4017 You sound delightful

[@Chris-gt3rs]

It’s recommended to still bond if the rest of the installation is all metalwork. What he said in the video about cables being spaced away from pipes is just wishful thinking. Look under your floor boards, cables wrapped around pipes is basically guaranteed, check your boiler, immersion heater, appliance cables behind sinks etc. You’d be deluded if you think everything’s a1 just because you can’t see it.

[@johnburns4017]

@@James_scott86 I do not tolerate idiots.

[@johnburns4017]

@@Chris-gt3rs With RCDs and RCBOs the need to bond a pipe not connected to earth disappears. No need. As was stated you do not design a system expecting it to be a cowboy job.

[@davekendall9749]

Interesting, I have a blue feed pipe and have earthed internal pipping but was told to also earth stake the internal side of the stopcock with 16mm. This video got me thinking, I had wanted to run a soft copper insulated radiator supply a short distance to the garage in the ground, & the boiler is external oil but the oil supply pipe does already run in the ground !!! This is going to be sleeved in the future but never the less getting wet. & what about old house pipes that in concrete floors. The supply in is overhead line & earth with a main RCD.

[@jdickson242]

My thought is the pipe should be bonded as soon as it turns to metal inside the house; Reasons 1-Do you know the whole supply pipe is plastic? 2-i have seen supply pipes where the last foot has been converted to plastic but the rest underground is metal. I know tap water has a quite a high resistance per metre inside plastic but it would still provide a conductive path. 3-What if something is changed in the future and ended up grounding your copper pipes. Better to locate the cable & clamp than do it at a later date.

[@davidbeakhust9797]

I am not an electrician, but part of my job in an electronics based industry included reviewing technical specifications of the same order of complexity and detail as bs7671, though not usually so long. At best the section as a whole is made AMBIGUOUS by the second line you highlighted. At worst, it lures you into taking the second highlighted part to trump the first. My department would have asked for it to be rewritten to remove the ambiguity, if it was a specification of ours! Electricians take it to mean no need to bond if the water incomer is plastic, but I read it as meaning this: "If you have metal water main coming from the ground but a plastic stopcock or the like interrupts the conductive path, there is no need ALSO to bond the metal part rising from the ground, on the supply side of the break. Only bond the metalwork on the consumers side of the insulating break" The purpose is equipotential bonding. It says so in the heading. If you don't bond the water pipes, etc, you do not HAVE equipotential bonding. My interpretation - that you don't ALSO bond the little bit coming from the ground resolves the apparent conflict. BUT IT NEEDS A REWRITE! In almost every case this piece of pipe at "true ground" will not be more than a few inches long. The context is important, too. It is about EQUIPOTENTIAL bonding. A fridge next to a radiator will be connected to the CPC. It is logical that the radiator too is at the same potential, possibly even if a PEN fault has developed. That is what I take "equipotential" to mean. If you do not bond the pipes then the scenario you kind of dismissed might arise, that a fault - or dodgy workmanship - might cause a potential difference between metal cases of class 1 electrical equipment and nearby radiators, gas pipes, structural steel etc.

[@tinytonymaloney7832]

Agree with this video but for some reason I still would prefer to bond it. Plus, isn't water conductive and technically there is a solid H2O conductor running inside the pipe which at some point will be in contact to earth via a pumping station, long shit yes but I don't entirely agree that your copper pipe is entirely insulated because you have plastic pipe. Who knows what's underground a few hundred yards away. I'm not knocking your video, you are correct, just old habits are hard to remove from the older generation. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

That's why you should test it...

[@sm1thers]

it conducts, but if you do the maths with the equivalent resistors all is well, maybe he should do the video with the detailed maths.

[@travoltasbiplane1551]

@@sm1thers no. Just measure the resistance of the part for goodness sake. If it's greater than 23kiloohms it's not extraneous. Possibly lower depending on circumstance.... No complex maths... Just knowing how to do your job.

[@Orgakoyd]

In the case of an earth fault within a piece of equipment, wouldn’t there be an over current or RCD trip which removes the danger?

[@TinTin-bf7ef]

My plumber fitted a new stop tap, he used a plastic push fit connector onto the main water feed in then copper pipe then stop tap as it was live when he changed it. He left the bonding wire disconnected. Now because I have a plastic connector between the main feed and the house pipe work does it still need bonding as the old wire doesn’t reach to what’s left of the inlet feed pipe

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

My home in the US has plastic PEX piping and it is not bonded to the electrical service ground. Code does not require it. However, water is a conductor and water flows from buried metal pipe in the street and comes in contact with metal valves and fixtures in the home. Could a voltage potential be applied somewhere in the system, perhaps a faulty electric water heater element? Perhaps bonding at a location near the entrance via a stainless steel or brass pipe fitting might be a good idea?

[@J0nny61]

I've always been puzzled about bonding, the reason being, every piece of metal pipework is connected to a CPC, maybe not, but I can't think of the scenario when that's not the case. If you have a gas supply and boiler, the CPC for the boiler connects any metal pipework to earth as would any water heater. A gas boiler connects the CPC to both the water and gas, though I do seem to remember that some boiler manufactures don't do this, I'm not certain of that. When the water companies changed the network to plastic a lot of older properties lost their earthing system all together, as it used to be common practice to use the water pipe as very reliable earth. There are thousands of properties, especially older ones that no longer have a proper earthing system. Why aren't there dead people everywhere due to this issue?? Totally agree that there's no point bonding metallic pipework if the incoming pipes are plastic. Great video and thank you.

[@efixx]

All very good points, any metal work that does need bonding will need a bigger cable than most CPCs provide though. Stay tuned for more!

[@J0nny61]

@@efixx Thank you for replying, when you say most CPC's will need a bigger cable it would depend how the earth fault was initiated. The adiabatic equation proves that most CPC's can withstand a far higher fault current than the protective device will let through. Food for thought.

[@scoutjonas]

The need for good grounding is to trip the breaker at a fault. The safety of the house comes from having one single potential on all toucheble surfaces. If all metal pipes, electrical enclosures and house frames are bonded you will not get electicuted even at a fault. No need for good earthing 😀.

[@tomorichard]

@@J0nny61 we are not concerned with an internal earth fault when we talk about main bonding. We are concerned about bringing all extraneous metalwork to the same potential as the installation earth. The bonding conductor will be sized to cater for diverted neutral currents

[@deang5622]

It's correct name is equipotential bonding. Why? Because all points are at the same potential. Let's not get confused between earthing which CPC's are for, and bonding. They fulfil two different requirements.

[@reusinkinstallatietechniek6256]

Good day this is Mike from Amsterdam Holland we got the same problem here but the regulations are you have to bond your tube because when it conduisait it will still conduct the bonding

[@steveschulte8696]

JOe's analysis of the potential between the neutral at the entrance and the grounding conductor at the transformer is a bit hyperbolic. In the US NEC, there shall be a local grounding conductor in contact with the earth and connected to the ground potential terminal in the breaker box (that is the Green conductor). Bonding to the incoming water supply pipe is one method of creating a grounding connection. Other methods are to connect the earthing conductor to a grounding rod of at least 8 feet (3 meters) driven into the ground, or the attach the conductor to the metal reinforcing rods in the concrete of the foundation. (Ref. NEC-1999 article 250-C). Any non-conductive pipe shall be bridged across from the grounding electrode to the metallic interior pipes, and the exterior grounding water pipe shall be in direct contact with the earth for 3.05 meters. There is another regulation in the IRC abound the distance from the entrance of the metallic pipe to the electrical earthing conductor.

[@ejonesss]

if you are reading from an old code book it may be required in the updated book. if you are reading from a new book then it may have been required and discontinued. the only reasons i can think of why to bond plastic pipes os. 1. a financial kickback the more stuff you have to install the more the industry makes money so maybe grounding wire and clamps cost money and it was done for money. 2. static charge certain contents may cause static build up so it was done to bleed off static. 3. ground loops if there is a section of plastic between 2 metal pipes it is to keep all the metal sections at the same level. 4. plumber was out of pipe clamps so he used an electrical clamp but if that is the case there should be no reason to connect a grounding wire. unless the code book sais that any electrical clamp in the system has to be grounded.

[@frankmitchell3594]

Is there any point in connecting to the outside of a plastic water or gas pipe? The plastic is an electrical insulator after all.

[@vitorao]

I would bond internal metallic pipes because of the risk of they being in contact to the line conductors at some point. That should not happen in a well done electrical installation, but accidents happen and there are bad electricians who will leave wires exposed near metallic pipes.

[@basilkatakuzinos659]

My question is if the municiple side of the pipe is metal somewhere would we still not have conductivity through the water in the pipes into the earth! Thereofre metalic surfaces like water taps would still be a danger?

[@jayday4879]

bonding is there for failure a broken element in your boiler can create the whole thing to come live .. if lightning hits pipework in your loft it needs to go to ground... a modern house were all the pipeworks made out of plastic I will agree.. what your showing needs bonding

[@Graham_Langley]

To muddy the waters, PME/TN-C-S installations are required to have an insulation joint the gas supply if it's via a metal pipe to stop it carrying any fault current. So does the gas pipework downstream of the IJ still need to be bonded? And what about the exposed metal pipework upstream of the IJ as that can't be bonded. FWIW the incoming water main is black MDPE so shouldn't need to be bonded but I ran a new 10mm² cable to avoid an argument with the commissioning electrician when I changed the CU.

[@mfx1]

I find the fact that this video even needs to exist and many of the comments concerning.

[@tonysheerness2427]

In the sketch he says the water pipe could be lower resistance than the earthing, however the pipe has to connect to the earthing bond of the transformer to make a circuit, no way can it be lower as it is connecting to the same bonding on the transformer. It can be equal to the earthing or higher but not lower

[@aidanroutledge6157]

What if metallic water pipework entered the mass of earth elsewhere in the system after the incomer? I would be bonding then! Think properties with annexes or external water taps… etc.

[@markpotter8280]

then you would bond it there, if a property has two or more points where the pipework enters the building you would bond at each point it doesn't happen a lot but I have seen it. For example a house has a main water supply that is metal coming into the property from underground into the kitchen but then it also has a metal pipe going underground from the wc to an outhouse you should bond at both locations within 600mm before any joints yada yada yada

[@aidanroutledge6157]

@@markpotter8280 agreed. old pubs with cellars are notorious for metallic water pipework re-entering earth after the incomer which has been replaced with a new plastic incomer. Important to review all extraneous systems and not just assume based on incomer.

[@b21playa]

If a lead water pipe was swapped out for mdpe, would bonding the old still be worth it?

[@ianbelletti6241]

In the US it does require bonding. The water in the pipe is not pure, therefore it is conductive. It goes through a metal pipe in the earth somewhere. That is why we ensure all metal pipes are bonded on the US. If metal water pipes are separated by plastic pipe we have to bond both sections. Note to those who would argue with me about the water not being pure: When I say it is not pure I am not talking about how safe it is to drink. Safe to drink is a different metric as compared to purity. Tap water contains minerals. It is not pure H2O until it is distilled. All drinking water and residential tap water has minerals in it.

[@anthonytidey2005]

My house has bonding in the bathroom, kitchen and down stairs loo. But the pipe bringing in the mains eater to the d s loo is plastic. All water supply pipes in the house are copper except the ufh on the ground floor. So if all copper pipes have bonding but I do not believe is bonded back to ground? So what is the point, think the house was built in the 70"s Should I bond the nearest pipe to the supply metal protective shield, which is under the stairs and the ufh manifold 22mm copper pipes are there to approx 1 meter away. Thanks for the thoughts on earth bonding and video.

[@sundog486]

And if that pipe feeds an electric shower? And how tight is the mains earth terminal on the shower?

[@mick8821]

So out of interest on the EIC do you put N/A in the tick box then? Would this be sufficient or would you need to prove bonding is not necessary by providing a measured resistance value to prove it isn’t required ?

[@DelticEngine]

The plastic water pipe is only isolated when it is dry, otherwise it is connected to ground through the water within it so any metal pipe connected to this plastic water supply pipe is grounded through the water itself to nearest conductive pipework in the ground. A ground can also be formed through a water leak. If there was a fault applying a voltage to metal pipework connected to a plastic water main there may appear to be no problem until one day there is a leak and the pipework is now effectively grounded creating a return path. This leads to a situation where it could be rather difficult to determine why breakers suddenly start tripping for seemingly no reason (possibly intermittently), people suddenly getting electric shocks in the bath or shower with seemingly no apparent fault and other anomalies. Whereas if the metal pipework was grounded the fault would be apparent straight away and not seem to disappear and then return as well as there being a ground connection that could me tested for current flow which would drastically increase the possibility of diagnosis in a timely manner and genuinely protect peoples lives.

[@MrGuvEuroman]

I’ve dealt with a live gas main entering properties, it’s scary stuff, deffo bond.

[@scottrobinson5594]

Gas in Plastic?

[@gteaz]

@@scottrobinson5594 Yup, it works just as good as metal.

[@davandbre]

What if the alcathene water service had a leaking joint underground sufficient enough to carry current, then the copper pipe inside the property could have potential??

[@davidrayner4699]

Hi Joe, I would still bond! The reason being that as water isteslf conducts electricity it becomes a return path and thefore a potential difference to the installations 'earth' value as regards an equipotential difference! Regards David

[@simongreenidge6454]

In a house with radiators that are plumbed with copper pipe; are the central heating water pipes bonded completely independently of the house water supply? Could disconnecting the water pipe bonding mess with the radiator bonding?

[@shootsteel]

Whether metal or plastic pipe, surely the water in the pipe is a conductor in its own right? Where does that fit in the calculations?

[@brianwoodruff4891]

In the list (iv) it says central heating do you have to main bond central heating ?

[@efixx]

If the central heating pipes are extraneous conductive parts then yes. If they're not then no.

[@smitcher]

I'd bond it anyway because you have no way of knowing if the homeowner has installed a metal pipe elsewhere that exits the building, to an outhouse etc. If there was no plastic between that and the incoming metal stopcock then the pipework would then all be at earth potential. You could argue that that shouldn't happen but it's unlikely that a home diyer or plumber would consider that and possibly neither should they have to - it's the electrician's job to ascertain that and plan ahead for it. You mentioned a possibly scenario for not including bonding because it shouldn't be relied upon to prevent danger where other regs have been violated but then surely that is the same for a metal pipe coming in. The earth bonding is there to provide a path back to the panel in the case of a fault which could occur even with a plastic pipe entering, such as driving a nail through a pipe and cable at the same time... I'd say the difference would be that the bed can be moved but the pipework cannot be so should be bonded. You could argue though that the bonding could occur at the most convenient location and not necessarily within the regs distance of entry to the building...

[@ks-hg5vo]

How much potential could exist if the plastic was only a couple meters long does not water within the pipehave a low enough restitance to be a path/hazard where it is then connected to the lead incomer just thenother side of the wall. The short piece of plastic isnot acting as a complete isolation from ground? So a potential could exist?

[@ronbladon7833]

As almost every gas supply is of MDPE one can only assume no bond to gas is required..or is it?

[@gbelectricks]

How about this scenario, “a non extraneous” water pipe with an insulating section at its point of entry doesn’t require a main equipotential bond. So what about when this turns internally into a copper water pipe installation, then this copper pipe is installed into a metallic boiler manifold. Then this manifold connects to the extraneous gas pipe work (with a metallic section at its point of entry) surely now this “common” copper pipe work is now deemed to be extraneous???? And how the hell do you successfully perform a 22K test on “commoned up” gas and water copper pipe work installation? 🤷‍♂️

[@markpotter8280]

you would bond the main incoming gas in that case as that is still incoming to the property

[@gbelectricks]

@@markpotter8280 yes I agree but the extraneous gas pipe work is making the non extraneous water, an extraneous conductive part, and there’s no way of separating the two.

[@andy.underwater.videos]

Even tho the water pipe entry is plastic, the copper pipes in the house come into contact with all sorts and if you measure a resistance to earth, then it may need bonding.

[@richardday2893]

Yeah. If you earth something that doesn't need to be earthed, ( as you said bedframe), then that creates a dangerous situation, because now if you touch something live, and that earthed object, the current will shoot through you.

[@efixx]

Yur, could be dangerous.

[@davepusey]

But that is why we have RCDs now.

[@richardday2893]

@@davepusey RCD will reduce the level of electrical shock that you may get. But you'll still get a belt but for a shortish period of time. RCDs used for protection on sockets are rated at 30mA. Studies have shown that 'usually' the heart needs over 40mA for 200mSec to go into fibrulation so it is calculated that 30mA will give a reasonable level of protection. They are not a catch all 100% safety blanket. they are an electro-mechanical device and (as such) can go wrong - that's why they need to be tested every 3 months. If anyone disagrees, how about standing on a wet floor, and put your tongue on a live cable.

[@oliverriall]

Agreed, no need to bond, no point at all. I have a new build, plastic pipe and bonded anyway, I thought builders were all about saving any money they could?!?

[@Chlorate299]

Misinterpretation of regulations is a really big problem - they're written awfully and sometimes the training is just as bad.

[@jimmylovescake6813]

Does this still apply when these water pipes are surface mounted on walls throughout an installation and include outside taps and electric water heaters? As exposed conductive parts, there is no question that they shouldn't become live, but what does the term 'under fault conditions' apply to? (Have bonded pipes in an installation like this recently)

[@daviddearden6372]

Assuming the water main in the street is cast iron which is still in quite common use, the water itself will be at zero potential. You may then have a couple of meters of plastic service pipe to the house so by the time the water gets into the copper of the domestic pipework it will not be at zero potential but still quite low. Water is not such a good conductor as copper but still does conduct otherwise why the numerous regulations re installation in potentially damp/wet areas. So if the bonding to the domestic side of the plumbing is no longer required what am I getting wrong.

[@Chlorate299]

A couple of meters of water in a plastic pipe will have a high enough impedance at mains voltage to be effectively an open circuit.

[@ColinRichardson]

I am being super dumb here... Why would the bonding not be on the "ground" side of the first valve? Because, if someone has turned the water off, they may be removing a piece of pipe between that valve and in inside of the house, and now the bonding is no longer connected to "earth"?

[@ianhadfield65]

I wear my seatbelt with no intention to have a crash so I'd connect it .. And seen as water is conductive what if there is a leak ? Would it then become 0v?

[@bramcoteelectrical1088]

I would leave a earth bond floating around the incoming water on a new rewire just incase there is some major change to the water supply...unlikely but the hassle of not having it around is more... But not connect... and just leave in board but mark it not connected... Depends lots of variables..

[@imark7777777]

Very well put. I'm of the same mind it makes sense not to connect it but having it connected doesn't seem like it would be that much harm and would be extra insurance in-case of an unintended fault. I'm not thinking poor workmanship that should be the above all standard is that accounts for so many things. I'm thinking water heaters and boilers which are already grounded anyway having a fault or other water loving electric appliances. And well water is non-conductive in a pure state most water has some minerals in it so it wouldn't be truly nonconductive. So does this mean if I have plastic piping going to my tub I can make toast in the bath? Well apart from the GFCI/RCD.

[@drivewasher]

Silly question then... What about the water in the pipes? The plastic underground AND in the copper in the house. Isn't the water grounded?

[@MrSJT]

Ions in the water makes it conductive but you would never get enough ions to get the reading lower than 22kohm for it to be rendered extraneous. See my main comment.

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

What about stainless sinks with these new- fangled electric boiling water taps ? ( double insulated ? or cpc'd wiring?)

[@glen7463]

I would still bond if it’s an existing installation or pipework. Somewhere on the pipework could be bonded to earth but not the rest of the cpc

[@bencampbell2041]

Bond it so you don't have an argument when ev installer comes round and does a quick check. 🤣

[@kroon275]

My ev charger was installed today, but it won't be remotely activated until i get the bonding done 😒

[@duncanovens158]

😂so true half a idea is dangerous

[@brianoneill350]

What about a metal radiator in the bathroom, or a dual fuel towel rail. RCD protection is this in place. A metal bedrame sits in the middle of a floor. I would bond it for bathroom protection even with RCD.

[@SuperVstech]

But, what about the water inside the pipe transferring bonding in the metal piping in the home?

[@airshipwreck]

What about fault conditions of say an electric shower? If there was no bonding the supply pipe would be at mains potential.

[@efixx]

The CPC within the supply cable to the shower will be connected to the metallic parts of the shower including the heating element. In the event of a fault this would cause the RCD and or the mCB protecting the circuit to operate.

[@goldwingutube]

I am aware of this before, does not sound right to me that exposed metal in a house is not bonded, most houses will have a boiler of some description, chances are the water pipes will pick up an earth anyway. You mention we cannot allow for bad workmanship that say a cable melted and made the metal work live to be an excuse, yet we have all sorts of safety measures in place to stop electric shock, mmm not convinced.

[@stuartcraigon2003]

It's not even anything to do with cables contacting pipes, safety devices in the DB will deal with that, its about lightning strikes more than anything.

[@madhatter61]

Depends on what sort of floor the house has, if it's soil under boards like in an old terrace, there's a chance of pipes resting on the soil even if the income is pvc. Then there's a chance of the floor being unfilled and concerted to stop pooling surface water on the surface.

[@grahamwelford5810]

My only comment would be, none pure water is somewhat conducive, if the mains water pipe has leak and is therefore earthy could this then cause an issue, if the metal pipe work in the building is not bonded?

[@markkennard861]

If there is any earth leakage current wouldnt the RCD trip ? (Residual currect device.)

[@_______DR_______]

If the incoming pipework is plastic, and all the internal pipework is copper, it will have no potential right up until the point you connect the CPCs for your central heating and immersion heater, then it will be at earth potential once again. Maybe just bonding it anyway isn't necessarily a bad thing to do 🤔

[@warrenliversage]

gas installation pipework also plastic incoming ? The gas regs for this require bonding

[@korona3103]

I heard about an EICR recently that had missing earth bonding labelled as a C1. Tennants had to be relocated as the rental agency freaked out. Shocking!

[@alouisschafer7212]

A missing bond is a C1? Thats crazy.

[@andy.underwater.videos]

@@alouisschafer7212 i agree its not immediately dangerous

[@karenmoreton9120]

I have been told I don't have bonding in my property, I am having electric car and so need to get the pod fixed, they won't do it until I get bonding where will I find it please. Dammed if I have a clue .

[@efixx]

It should be where your water stop-cock is and where the gas meter is. If it's installed and if it's needed.

[@johnhoward2104]

I think you're playing devils advocate here Joe!! In the video, you've completely ignored the issue of metalwork within an installation picking up an earth potential along its route by virtue of being buried in the ground, for some reason, despite it having a plastic supply - see, for example, sections 4.3 and 4.5 of the OSG.

[@efixx]

Not intentionally John, this is the first video of many on this subject and you're quite right about pipes entering the ground elsewhere, however that would be a different situation to the one considered in this video. We'll get to other scenarios down the line. 👍

[@stevejagger8602]

A PEN fault will promote an alternative return path for neutral current through any extraneous earth connection ie metal water or gas pipes, either from the property affected or as a bypass through a property from an adjacent property on the same supply. Plastic service pipes do at least prevent a dangerous rise in main earth current due to PEN faults. They are more common than you think - check out Team Electrical podcasts 1 and 2 on Diverted Neutral Current. We are not taught to think critically so we expect the DNO head to be whatever it appears to be. Today most service heads are TNC-S and not TNS because somewhere outside the property a repair to the old PILC cable will have made the supply TNC-S. The only exception might be in a rural area where supplies are mostly fed overhead.

[@johnburns4017]

When the main water pipe is metal and the internal pipes are plastic, which is quite common, the few inches of metal pipe into the house needs bonding.

[@phester28]

some pipes within the house run through the ground. I.E an extension done in copper pipe that was run through the concrete. Therefor is there still a potential within the house?

[@markpotter8280]

then you bond that pipe not the main incomer

[@Mike_5]

MDPE mains supply pipe fittings could incorporate a moulded Brass metallic earth fitting easily to overcome these issues

[@SonoIlFactotum]

The main water supply have probably something, somewhere, metallic (an older pipe, a shutoff valve, etc) touching the water inside the pipe, and the earth outside the pipe. So the water is touching the earth via this part. Then if you have something metallic in your installation inside the house, touching the water, a faucet, a valve, a pipe, then this metallic part is touching the earth too, via the water that is touching the metallic part outside, that is touching the earth... 🤷🏻

[@spike9692001]

If its not extraneous then why bond it, applying protective bonding to a conductive item which is not an extraneous-conductive-part might lead to the risk that under fault conditions these items may become raised to the fault voltage for the time it takes the protective device to disconnect.

[@DeKempster]

What about metal water pipe that goes to plastic in the building? (Im not from the UK but this stuff is interesting)

[@efixx]

Good question, if the incoming pipe was metal I'd bond that bit to comply, very low risk though.

[@Psychotol]

How would water hardness affect the resistivity of the water in the pipe? Can it be low enough in a hard water area to connect metal pipes in the house to metal work upstream via the plastic sections with sufficient conducance to restore the threat? Or would it be like limescale brine at that point? (in which case you might have bigger problems anyway).

[@MrSJT]

The worst i measured is 100k ohms so all good

[@tzony1_original]

If you bound the plastiq is like there is no bounding because plastiq does not conduct electricity, you can bound thr metal part of the pipe, is a secure stuff for an emergency when the water from inside the pipe can be energize.

[@looking9175]

Think the question should be , is the internal pipework an extraneous conductive part or not.