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Property/DIY

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No Earth Bonding at Gas Meter

7 replies

TwoFlatsasOne2019 · 30/09/2019 18:16

We've just finished a big renovation on our property - new boiler, etc.
We've had our gas certificate and electrical certificate, all passed on to Building Control and all was fine.

The thermostat wasn't working properly so I called in the manufacturer who sent over a service engineer.
Turns out there is nothing wrong with my thermostat, I was just not understanding the controls!
However, as part of his visit he said he was obliged to do a safety check - everything was fine, except he said he had to point out to me that there is no earth bonding at the gas meter (which is situated outside my property).
In the same breath, he told me not to worry as about 50% of homes don't have this, but he was obliged to note it and point it out to me.

Now, I don't know whether my builder / electrician should have done this as part of signing off our works to regulations? Or whether I should just leave it? We haven't fully moved in yet, so if it needed to be done, now would be the time to pull up boards and carpets.

Has anyone been through the same?
And, if you've had this done, was it a big upheaval?

OP posts:
wouldyouadamandeveit · 30/09/2019 18:21

Was the meter moved as part of the work? If so the Electrician should have done it as part of the work.

Though even if the meter wasn't moved I'm surprised he didn't do it.

wouldyouadamandeveit · 30/09/2019 18:22

Sorry, just to add, earthing is a very quick job.

Greatnorthwoods · 30/09/2019 18:24

It’s a extremely quick job, we did it ourselves. (Basically attach cable to location on meter, stab other end of cable into the soil below)

TwoFlatsasOne2019 · 30/09/2019 18:30

No, the gas meter wasn't moved at all during the works.
I thought the bonding had to be from consumer unit to the gas meter? (This is what I have googled, but I could be wrong).
If it's from the electric meter to the gas meter, that would be easy and not very disruptive at all.
Sorry, I'm very confused Confused

OP posts:
Greatnorthwoods · 30/09/2019 18:37

It doesn’t really matter, if it’s easier to tie into the electricity meter ground cable do that

R1R2 · 30/09/2019 23:04

Please ignore Greatnorthwoods, Sticking the end of the cable in the ground will accomplish precisely nothing. Strictly the bonding connection of a service that requires bonding should be withing 600mm of where it enters the building and before the first tee where is "reasonably practicable" and at any point where the service reenters the earth and reemerges. Not all gas and water services need to be bonded as alot of newer services are plastic and do not introduce an earth potential.
The bonding conductor should be connected from the service to the main earthing terminal for the installation. Its quite likely and correctly that it is is bonded inside where the pipe enters. The Electrician who did the installation will have had to check/install bonding to carry out any work and this would be recorded on the installation certificate some certificates will also detail the location of the bond but not all.
Bonding is critical to the safety of your installation where required so get this followed up and installed if necessary as soon as possible

TwoFlatsasOne2019 · 01/10/2019 18:46

@R1R2 - thanks a million!
After having read your post, I did wonder if my bonding wasn't hidden.
As we have only just finished our building works, I looked at the Electrical Certificate that had been sent to me and to my relief, I saw that the bonding of the gas meter and water was ticked! Phew!
The certificate didn't say where it had been bonded, but am assuming it will be inside our property where the pipe enters?

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