To cross bond or not?

[Darryn Almeida]

I've had a new boiler installed in one of my buy to lets and the tenant called up after a few months to say they were getting a slight shock through an adjacent tap. My electrician said that this was due to the boiler not being earthed/cross bonded. The guy who installed the boiler said this wasn't a legal requirement and doesn't make a difference and couldn't be the cause. The electrician insists that if copper pipes are used, this is a requirement. I'm keen to know who's right. Any thoughts?

 

[Scott_D]

Not required any more as far as I know
Gas should be earthed at the meter and mains cold at the stop tap

 

[JCplumb]

A sparky told me that cross bonding isn't needed if the consumer unit is at least 17th edition. Anything older than that and you still need to cross bond.

 

[Tea-Break]

I’m not an electrician, but if the system is a PME as most are. Then all exposed metallic pipes will need connecting to the CPC.
A simply resistance test with a multi-meter will prove it.

 

[Burger]

I've had a new boiler installed in one of my buy to lets and the tenant called up after a few months to say they were getting a slight shock through an adjacent tap. My electrician said that this was due to the boiler not being earthed/cross bonded. The guy who installed the boiler said this wasn't a legal requirement and doesn't make a difference and couldn't be the cause. The electrician insists that if copper pipes are used, this is a requirement. I'm keen to know who's right. Any thoughts?

Any ideas on how many rcds on consumer unit? Should have x2 if 17th edition. As JC plumb stated, earlier still requires cross bonding etc.

Water and gas should be main equipotential earth bonded regardless of wiring edition.

 

[Chuck]

I'm keen to know who's right. Any thoughts?

There is clearly *an* earthing/wiring problem with the property. I suspect you'll find there is a lack of earth continuity somewhere. If so, cross-bonding the boiler may mask the problem but won't fix the root cause.

I think you want someone with a broader-remit than than just the boiler. My vote is that you should get the electrician to check the earthing of the entire dwelling starting at the consumer unit.

 

[Darryn Almeida]

Thanks all. The electrical box was replaced at the same time as the boiler so will be a current edition. Sounds like it isn't a boiler related issue after all and checking the earthing of the whole house is the way forward

 

[Burger]

Judging by this I have found may still not be current edition, but does state that earth bonding arrangements are adequate. Did you receive an electrical condition report and were you issued a certificate?

 

[Rob Foster]

If your tennant is reporting an electrical shock issue, then if it was one of my properties I would be round there directly stuff which edition the consumer unit is Rob Foster
aka centralheatking

 

[Burger]

If your tennant is reporting an electrical shock issue, then if it was one of my properties I would be round there directly stuff which edition the consumer unit is Rob Foster
aka centralheatking

True. Sometimes you can get too engrossed in legislation and miss the whole point