Alan Sparky asks about the main equipotential bonding conductor to oil/duct work in a workshop. His question has been answered by both the NICEIC and the ECA (Theme – Regulations & Legislation):
Question: Do pipes carrying oil in a mechanic's workshop require a main earth bond?
These pipes do not leave the building and carry the oil from plastic tanks contained within the same building. The pipes are also suspended off the main steelwork of the building, which has a main equipotential bonding conductor to it.
Secondly there is ductwork running down the workshop extracting fumes out the building; the fan itself is situated outside on top of a raised concrete platform (about 6m high). The ducting again is suspended from the steelwork of the building.
Would this require a main equipotential bonding conductor back to the MET?
NICEIC answer: It may be wise to check to see whether the pipework is classed as extraneous. However, it does not come from outside and is not directly in contact with the general mass of earth from the outside. This would indicate that only a supplementary bond would be required on this pipework.
ECA answer: If the pipes and ductwork are suspended from the structural steelwork it is likely they are effectively connected to the MET through the steelwork. Check the continuity to see if this is so.
If for some reason they are not effectively connected, bond them to the structural steel, which is in turn bonded.
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