Main equipotential bonding to gas supply

[polo1]

Hi all, electrician from the dark side looking for your views please.
Background- We are working on an unusual job, bit of a mini castle converted into flats.
Gas has been installed in five flats (not recently) but have never been fitted with main equipotential bonding.
We’ve looked at the properties involved & it’s well nigh impossible for us to run the 10mm bond without major disruption and possible damage to centuries old wall panelling & floors.
In the electrical regs, we don’t have to bond the gas if the copper supply immediately after the meter has an insulating section (plastic?) installed (the pipe can’t then introduce a different potential).
So, question.....is it permissible for a gas safe registered engineer to install such an insulating section?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

No cant use plastic

But more than likely the supply to the meter will be plastic

Could you use an earth rod (thinking out side of the box) ?

 

[Gasmk1]

No cant use plastic

But more than likely the supply to the meter will be plastic

Could you use an earth rod (thinking out side of the box) ?

beat me too it i was going to say earth rod

 

[polo1]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. Out of curiosity, is it because gas distribution mains are covered that they can be in plastic, but accessible gas pipe has to be steel/copper?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Can’t have plastic above ground

And if it’s been renewed they just install a new plastic pipe through the old steel supply

 

[Scott_D]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. Out of curiosity, is it because gas distribution mains are covered that they can be in plastic, but accessible gas pipe has to be steel/copper?

UV rays will make it brittle
It’s also easy to cut/damage

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any help @Murdoch

 

[Murdoch]

Any help @Murdoch

Interesting question .

Flats raise a number of issues and this isn’t unusual.

The last time I encountered something similar, the incoming gas, all the meters and the incoming lecky and meters and switch fuses were in the same cupboard .... so the bonding cables were all run in the same cupboard

As for an Earth rod, that doesn’t produce the desired outcome of equipotential bonding as the rod would not be connected to the met .....

Hope this helps

 

[polo1]

Folks, apologies for the delay in coming back to this issue. I’m now aware that in the commercial/industrial sector, there is a device which can be installed in/on a copper gas pipe which breaks the (electrical ) continuity of the pipe. Does anyone know if there is a domestic sized equivalent to fit a 22mm dia copper pipe?

 

[bacon_sandwich]

IGEM/g/5 edition 2, looks like it covers your particular situation.
Appendix 5 covers several different types of multi occupancy buildings.
Also a call to gas safe technical may help find a product that could be used in the UK. you can google the igem doc