Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

[binney]

Here's what i got.

Duplex; Main disconnect outside, our main panels become subs.

Plastic pipe coming in, the entire house plumbed in plastic except, copper to the H2O meter, t's off into each unit where there's a copper manifold. Also they convert over to copper under the sinks and the outside spichots Approx. 1' of copper.

I ran a bond wire from one of the subs to the first available copper line. DONE!

Co-worker wanted to know why i didn't run a second bond wire from the other panbel. I told him the copper was already bonded in the other unit, and by bonding it again we would create a parallel path.

Can you have a parallel path with your bonding wire, what harm would it cause?

At what point are we required to bond the copper?
It's not practical to bond under every sink, toilet, and faucet in the house. How big does the manifold need to be, before we bond it?

A friend was in a a similar situiation and was required to run a solid #8 to each faucet, sink, toilet etc. That's rediculous!!!!!!
How likely is it for a 12" piece of pipe, to become energized under a toilet. You might as well bond the shower curtain rod.

 

[hbiss]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

You are not required to bond each fixture. Unless the copper manifolds were anything substantial I probably wouldn't bond those either. That leaves the water meter. If it's just hung there between two pieces of plastic pipe what's the purpose of bonding it?

 

[binney]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

My description may be misleading; the copper runs from the meter and includes the copper manifolds. Approx. 10'total copper.

Where do u draw the line? 1' 10' 30'? Does the Nec put a # on it?

 

[bennie]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

Bonding short pieces and faucets create a hazard.

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

The NEC does not address length, but more importantly, the phrase "likely to become energized" is NOT in the section that requires the pipe to be bonded. (250.104(A)? don't have book here).

Bennie: Please teach me

 

[binney]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

It looks like u don't need your book.

240.104(A)Metal water piping. The metal water piping system shall be bonded...............

what constitutes a water piping system?

What excludeds the short stubs of pipe from the water piping system?

 

[ryan_618]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

Oh, beleive me I need it

It's to subjective for me to answer. I would say it is your AHJ's call. In my opinion, I think a ten foot length should be bonded. I don't think 12" lengths at fixtures need to be bonded.

 

[binney]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

bennie,

What hazards?

 

[bennie]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

My new bathroom is all non conductive material. There is no way that holding a hot wire and touching any surface will trip a GFCI.

I have a plastic pipe, both water and drain pipes are plastic, fibreglass tub, porcelain toilet, and acrylic lavatory, I have metal faucets. I would be introducing a lethal conductor by running a ground wire to the faucet.

There has to be a current path of less than 30 K Ohms to produce 4 ma of current.

The high resistance will last forever, the GFCI will fail.

 

[tonyi]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

What does a water bond have to do with a GFCI?

 

[earlydean]

Re: Bonding with platic water pipe coming in

I would be introducing a lethal conductor by running a ground wire to the faucet.

Gimme a break. :roll: It may be impractical to bond all the faucets, and the benefit may be questionable, but in no way is it lethal. The faucet is bonded to the GEC if it were all copper, no way is it a hazard to bond each and every faucet in your house. Only if you bonded the hot to your pipes would you be introducing a lethal conductor.