We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Bathroom bonding

NO its not want you think!

So looking for confirmation really.

Having bathroom gutted and reinstalling new and have a couple of questions. Builders seem very professional and I dont really have any complaints

Old bathroom has a metal tub and pipework and both sink taps and actual bath had earthing cable attached. This has all been replaced with all rubber piping, still metal taps and metal tub. Should there be an earth cable now?

Also the wall was chased out to get some pipework in for a new shower. Speedfit type hose pipe and joins were used in the chase work connecting to copper to connect the new shower. Is this now a standard practice? I read somewhere that is needed a certain type of flexible pipe is approved. Im only asking as concerned for any future leak. Ive used speedfit before but only on surface pipes where i could swap/fix if any issues. Chase work has all been tiled over now (Ive some spare tiles)

Thoughts/facts please?

Cheers.

Comments

  • As I understand your current set-up you have a bath that is supplied via plastic pipe and the bath waste connects to plastic pipe in which case bonding is not required as the plastic breaks any electrical continuity.

    I've used push-fit connectors within stud walls to go from plastic to copper on numerous occasions but I never used push-fit joints in chasing. Depending on the application I'd either run copper between the floor/ceiling and the shower valve or a continuous length of plastic. You are not really supposed to bury push-fit joints in plaster or tile adhesive plus they are so bulky you have to chop the wall more to fit them in - they might have put something over the joint to stop the plaster/tile adhesive getting into it in which case it will probably be ok but not my way of doing it. I'm not sure what the certain type of flexible pipe is approved you are referring to?
    Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 17,370 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Copper pipe, when buried in a wall, should be protected from cement & plaster by a plastic sheath - 15mm copper is a nice fit inside 20mm plastic conduit - Cement based products and plaster will attack copper causing leaks eventually. And it is never a good idea to bury joints where they can not be accessed/repaired.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
  • to be fair you could access the pipes via breaking a couple of tiles and I have spares
  • the "earthing cable " as you call it is/was actually supplementary bonding. 
    whether or not this is still required depends on many factors.
    more info here https://napitweb.azureedge.net/member-downloads/CP%204%2008%20Pages%2016-17.pdf
    but in a nutshell you don't need it if all circuits supplying the bathroom have 30mA RCD protection, all circuits comply with ADS, and all extraneous metalwork is connected to the MET and there is main equipotential bonding installed.
    if in doubt, get an electrician to have a look at the job 

Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 241K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.