Our Voltimum Experts answer your questions on a daily basis in our Technical Expertise area. This first Question of the Day, on bathroom supplementary bonding, is answered by SELECT:
Question: Can you answer a question I have about installing the electrics for a central heating system (boiler located in kitchen)? The plumbers install a radiator in the bathroom using copper pipes. Is it part of the electrical installation to supplementary bond that additional radiator to the existing supplementary bonding in the bathroom. Even though I have not carried out any work in the bathroom, do I, as the electrician, still have to supplementary bond the new radiator that the plumbers have installed.
Or, if there is no supplementary bonding installed, is it a requirement to install bonding as a new extraneous conductive part that has been installed in the bathroom? Would this work fall on the electrician who is wiring the boiler, or on the plumbers to install the bonding?
Answer by SELECT: Yes, if a radiator is installed in a bathroom, and the pipework is substantially copper, then supplementary bonding between extraneous conductive parts, other extraneous conductive parts and the cpc of electrical circuits within the bathroom should be provided. (see reg 601-04-01 and 5478-03). The work should be carried out by an electrically competent person.
Voltimum UK Editor, James Hunt adds: Please note that the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations - to be published in January 2008 - is almost certain to say that no supplementary bonding will be required in bathrooms, but zones will be simplified and there will be other changes. For the time being, the practice outlined above by SELECT should be followed, but Voltimum users should take a very careful look at the 17th Edition when it is published.
To see many more Q & A in Voltimum UK’s Experts Area, please click on the link:
https://www.voltimum.co.uk/consult.php?universe=consult.index.questions