Earth bonding of gas pipe

FreeBear

Just had a new gas boiler installed, and am being told the Protective Equipotential Bonding of the gas pipe is not included in the price. So if I want it done, I'll have to pay an electrician myself.

The installation required fitting of some 7m of new (copper) pipe from the gas meter which they knew about when quoting for the job. A Gas Safety certificate has been issued and it is claimed that bonding had been visually checked (impossible, as it hasn't been done).

In my mind, it is reasonable to expect the earth bonding to be done as part of the installation. Comments ?

CSI_Yorkshire

I agree.  

dimbo61

https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/earth-meter-gas-bonding-cost/

dimbo61

Now they talk about it costing from £130 to £250 for a qualified  electrician  to install. We had a new boiler fitted a few years ago and told we needed 19mm pipe from meter to boiler as requirement.  I pointed out that new more efficient  boiler would use less Gas so no need to replace pipe. No can do its the law. Got charged for new pipe which they NEVER fitted.
Found out a few years later  after major  refurbishment 

FreeBear

dimbo61 said:

https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/earth-meter-gas-bonding-cost/

But why should I have to pay if it should have been done as part of the boiler installation ?

£65-£230 for a 67p clamp (10mm² cable already in place) is excessive !

dimbo61

Fit the clamp yourself then.
Screwfix, toolstation,  wickes, etc 
If it was a rental you would need an EICR  but it's your home 

grumbler

Is the mains gas pipe metal or plastic? AFAIK, bonding is needed only if it's metal.

But yes, if it's needed, it's easy DIY job, especially if the certificate says that it's fine.

Alanp

Is it not bonded at the meter?, or do the regs say it has to have extra at the boiler,?

FreeBear

grumbler said:

Is the mains gas pipe metal or plastic? AFAIK, bonding is needed only if it's metal.

But yes, if it's needed, it's easy DIY job, especially if the certificate says that it's fine.

Copper pipe all the way from the meter to the boiler, most of which runs around the front of the house just below the DPC (potential for soil to build up & making contact with the pipe). No bonding at the meter - Regs state that bonding should be within 600mm of where the pipe enters the property.

Whilst I agree it is a simple enough task to DIY (it is only a bit of wire for....sake), testing* is beyond the scope of most people, myself included - I don't have a suitable meter that will read low enough.

*) http://www.electricalaxis.com/2020/11/how-to-perform-proper-testing-of.html