As we rely on electricity generated using wind, water, solar energy, or fossil fuels, electricity is one of the home's most significant safety hazards. An effective way to minimize this risk is to "Earth and bond" your electrical system. How do you accomplish this? The team at V&R Electrical Services, a local electrical company from Failsworth, is more than happy to assist you.
You may have some experience as a homeowner with electrical work since you have needed an electrician once or twice to repair or inspect something. Nevertheless, have you ever heard of "Earth bonding"?" Earthing and bonding are a big part of electrical safety and are needed to keep the system running safely.
Earthing and bonding are two less-known aspects of an electrician's work in your home.
Earthing and bonding work is installed in your home to ensure the electrical installation is earthed and bonded correctly. When a fault occurs with the electrical installation or appliance, metal surfaces, such as the metal cases of cookers, washing machines, fridge freezers, etc., may become live. In this case, the electrical current will flow down the earth connection, thereby minimising the risk of electric shock.
An electrician qualified to perform Part P work will always ensure that earthing and bonding work is conducted on your electrical installation; however, an unqualified individual is almost always unable to carry out this significant work.
What is Earthing?
An earthed electrical system prevents excess energy from damaging appliances or electronics by safely dispersing it. By using proper wiring, earthing lowers your risks. It is easier to prevent injury or property damage when an electrical system is earthed. An earthed cable acts as a surge protector during a storm. Using them prevents electrical shock by discharging current safely and efficiently. This is because earthed cables are designed to absorb and divert excess energy away from the electrical system by diffusing it in the ground. In this way, a potential electrical current is prevented from building up, which could result in a fire or electric shock.
An earthed electrical system prevents excess energy from damaging appliances or electronics by safely dispersing it. By using proper wiring, earthing lowers your risks. It is easier to prevent injury or property damage when an electrical system is earthed. An earthed cable acts as a surge protector during a storm. Using them prevents electrical shock by discharging current in a safer and more efficient manner.
And what is bonding?
It is important not to confuse bonding with earthing. As you may know that, earth bonding is a meaningless term, as earth and bonding are two separate connections. Bonding is the process of connecting metallic parts using a protective bonding conductor. An example of a protective bonding conductor is a connection between the water pipe, e.g. sink tap and cooker, at the same time. If the bonding conductor is absent, a faulty oven is live, and you then touch a faucet, you will become electrocuted. You would then become the earth which means you would receive a potentially fatal electric shock.
So why do we bond gas and water?
Now that we understand the importance of earthing and bonding, why does an electrician also bond to gas and water?
The risk of these pipes becoming live, which would be the pipework within your home, is significantly increased without bonding to the gas and water installation pipes on the consumer side of meters. This also happens during the heating season when live cables laid on water pipes are melted. One of the most important electrical regulations is clear about it as well, and any electrical installation cannot be certified without it.
How to find out if your home has the correct earth bonding
You can check your main gas meter to see if your electrician has performed earthing and bonding correctly. A green and yellow 6mm diameter (10mm2) cable should be attached to it. Additionally, if you look at your main water stopcock, you should see a similar connection. As far as colour identification is concerned, earthing and bonding are green and yellow. Remember that adequate earthing and bonding must be performed within 600mm of the meter or stopcock for an electrical installation to be considered safe.
CONTACT V&R ELECTRICAL SERVICES
Are you looking for a professional and reliable electrician in Failsworth, Manchester or in surrounding areas to install, help or service your electrical issues? V&R Electrical Services is your top choice, as we can provide emergency call-outs within 2 hours from an initial phone call. Contact V&R Electrical Services today for an assessment.
