Earthing & Bonding
Many homes have electrical systems of 25-35 years of age which can still perform adequately with a spot of upgrading to bring them up to modern safety standards. This typically involves fitting ‘earth bonding’. Electricity will always head for earth the quickest way possible, including via any human body that happens to be in the vicinity. So in order to prevent possibly fatal electric shocks it makes sense to provide an alternative route. ‘Earth bonding’ protects occupants by connecting the metal components in the house with an earth wire (green and yellow sleeved). The requirement is to bond metal items such as incoming service pipes ( water, gas, oil and so on) as well as central heating pipes at the boiler, the hot and cold water pipes, and metal baths. New copper piping for heating and water needs to be earth bonded to the electrical system (but not where pipework is run in plastic).