Do you need to earth bond bathroom if it is on RCD?

albert_s

techmob wrote: »

how do you know if a circuit is RCD?

it will be protected by a device to BS61009 or 61008 rated at a tripping current of 30mA, not to be confused with the capacity of it which could be 40A,63A,80A or similar, note the small m

techmob

the main water supply into the house comes from a plastic pipe. there are copper pipes going from the boiler into plastic speedfit pipes. they join to other copper pipes that are on show such as radiators. there are copper pipes going into the bathroom, sink etc. mostly where you don't see is plastic where you do see is copper.

the boiler i have is a worcester 30Si , would you know off the top of your head if that needs bonding?

i should add. there are 2 RCD's
RCD 1
upstairs lights
downstairs sockets

RCD 2
downstairs lights
upstairs sockets
cooker

there is an ISO going to the outhouse RCD which will control the lights and sockets

basically he said everything would be like that. i am no expert so trying to get my head around it

thanks

albert_s

I wouldnt imagine the boiler needs bonding,
or your pipes need bonding,
but the easy and cheap way around this is to do as has been suggested and simply fit an RCD to the unprotected circuits, assuming you have some space in your consumer unit,
BTW, I have never come across an electric shower yet that doesnt require a 30mA RCD to comply with the manufacturers instructions, which you must do in order to comply with BS7671(electrical regs)
if you dont have RCD on every circuit then even though the bathroom may be RCD'd you will still need to bond all the metalwork in the bathroom together, including cpc's,
ie, all your bathroom pipes and all the electrical cable earths need to be joined together.

techmob

so if he does it how i said above then i wont need bonding, correct?

thanks

albert_s

that would be fine, what sort of cable is he going to use to the outhouse?

techmob

also, when he has finished what should i ask from him. do i ask him to test it all infront of me etc? and get the certificate?

went into the house before and turned the light on and it flickered and won't come on now. i know everything isn't finished yet but that could mean it is not wired properly. should i get him to put a tester on the whole circuits etc before i pay. not sure what i should be looking for when the job is completed?

thanks

techmob

albert_s wrote: »

that would be fine, what sort of cable is he going to use to the outhouse?

armoured cable.

diable

I was told by a sparks if its under 17th ed regs then you bond the gas pipe by the meter and where the plastic incoming pipe joins the copper pipe in your property.

I would also like confirmation on this as I will be renovating my bathroom and if I don't have to run an earth it will save me a lot of time and effort.

albert_s

armoured is fine,
I doubt watching him test will be of any meaning to you, its about knowing if the figures are about right in your head according to what he should already have an idea to expect.
most sparks, me included, dont issue the certificate until paid.
but he should most deffo have it tested before he can call it finished.
its a couple of hours work just running around taking readings and writing them down so you will know he is doing it.
a flickering light then not working sounds like a loose connection that has now 'blown off' .

albert_s

water and gas still need to be bonded to the copper on the consumers side inside the property, even if your gas meter is outside you bond within 600mm of where it enters, and the same with water, within 600mm of the first piece of copper after the stopcock or any meter(if fitted).