Bathroom bonding with steel stud walls

[Richard Redman]

Hi all, after some advise on bonding in a bathroom, ive fitted an electric shower, its RCD protected and ive bonded the water pipes. 2 of the walls in the bathroom are steel stud walls, another electrician says it doesnt need bonding as its on a RCD ? Help

 

[Wilko]

Are the steel studs exposed?

 

[Pete999]

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Are the steel studs extraneous?

 

[Richard Redman]

Are the steel studs exposed?

No they won't be, ply and plasterboarded over .

 

[Andy-1960]

Emma Shaw electrocuted 'because electrician was UNQUALIFIED' | Daily Mail Online - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2584721/Young-mother-electrocuted-flat-electrician-tested-leaking-boiler-UNQUALIFIED.html

 

[westward10]

If they are proven to be isolated then no, any cables passing through them require additional rcd protection.

 

[Richard Redman]

Emma Shaw electrocuted 'because electrician was UNQUALIFIED' | Daily Mail Online - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2584721/Young-mother-electrocuted-flat-electrician-tested-leaking-boiler-UNQUALIFIED.html

Emma Shaw electrocuted 'because electrician was UNQUALIFIED' | Daily Mail Online - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2584721/Young-mother-electrocuted-flat-electrician-tested-leaking-boiler-UNQUALIFIED.html

Yes, ive seen this before, terrible!
Think I'll bond it to the pipes that are bonded for peace of mind !

 

[Andy-1960]

Yes, ive seen this before, terrible!
Think I'll bond it to the pipes that are bonded for peace of mind !

I think that's the best option, especially in a bathroom and they also say you should not rely on an RCD for protection of life. Our NICEIC inspector pointed this out to us a couple of years ago.
I actually felt the sparks who tested this and signed it off was hard done to, how would they have been able to test if the studding was live... especially if there was no leakage to earth at the time.

 

[Pete999]

I think that's the best option, especially in a bathroom and they also say you should not rely on an RCD for protection of life. Our NICEIC inspector pointed this out to us a couple of years ago.
I actually felt the sparks who tested this and signed it off was hard done to, how would they have been able to test if the studding was live... especially if there was no leakage to earth at the time.

NIC say no more

 

[westward10]

That situation had little to do with the studwork not being bonded and more to do with lack of testing although it is highly unlikely it would have been picked up until the boiler leaked. Scape goat comes to mind.

 

[Andy-1960]

Red rag to a bull hey Pete?

 

[Pete999]

Red rag to a bull hey Pete?

On the nail Andy

 

[Toneyz]

Even if metal stud wall and cables RCD protected the metal stud work is isolated from earth and could have been live for years however there was a sequence or events coming together in this case if a screw went through the live conductor to the metal stud how could the be identified during a insulation resistance test ?.As long as the cable is installed to the regs eg cable zones protection of abrasive edges RCD protection of cable in metal stud walls. Other trades need educating of where not to insert fixings. When I used to do house bashing we used to mark the floors (and on both sides of stud ) where the cable runs were.

 

[Andy-1960]

Even if metal stud wall and cables RCD protected the metal stud work is isolated from earth and could have been live for years however there was a sequence or events coming together in this case if a screw went through the live conductor to the metal stud how could the be identified during a insulation resistance test ?.As long as the cable is installed to the regs eg cable zones protection of abrasive edges RCD protection of cable in metal stud walls. Other trades need educating of where not to insert fixings. When I used to do house bashing we used to mark the floors (and on both sides of stud ) where the cable runs were.

Totally agree, what is the argument against earthing the metal stud frame during first fix?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The main problem here was not that the Painter and Decorator who conducted the I&T was not qualified, was not the fact that QS passed the certification, was not the fact that the NICEIC registered company allowed the situation to save money.
It was simply the fact that the dry liners were not aware of or ignored the prescribed cable routes.

 

[westward10]

Totally agree, what is the argument against earthing the metal stud frame during first fix?

Are these not supposed to be accessible for inspection purposes?

 

[Leesparkykent]

bonding or earthing metal stud walls is this the 15th edition?

 

[Andy-1960]

Going back to the article where the girl died, how could this have been prevented?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Going back to the article where the girl died, how could this have been prevented?

Mechanical protection, earthed sheath or RCD protection.
Perhaps even by educating the dry liners as to where prescribed routes are?
The Coroner in the case did suggest that drawings showing cable routes be provided by the electrical contractors for other trades.
He also indicated he was not happy with the NICEIC QS system, stating something along the lines of: it is flawed and open for misuse.