To bond or not to bond?

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silverbk

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Here it is: some copper in the utility room, the rest of the house PEX. as seen in the photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/silverbk/Bonding/photo#5196998163835495010
http://picasaweb.google.com/silverbk/Bonding/photo#5196998241144906354

Does this constitute a metal piping system? Is it likely to be energized? Does it need to be bonded?

I'm inclined to say yes, yes, and yes, but there is an argument that unless the entire house is copper, there is no need for bonding, and that this amount of pipe is not a system.


Comments?
 
I would say that it is not a system either. But why not bond it anyway. Is that black pipe pex? Around here it is a clear/white color.
 
The code does not say at what point the copper must be bonded. Around here they would say that if 50% of the system was copper then you need to bond. I would say no in your install although it can only hurt in the pocket.
 
That pipework, as pictured, is already bonded. The water heater and the pressure switch both have an EGC connected to them. If you felt the need to "bond around" the water heater, that's already done too, since I see they have a water heater bypass valve installed from hot to cold.
 
This is not my work. I did not check the well casing.

I would estimate that the copper is about 1/3 of the water system.

There is no hot cold bypass, it is a bypass for the water softener which sits to the right just outside the photo.
 
I run into this quite often. Installers will "bond" that little bit of metallic piping, even though it's already bonded. A ground-fault will travel on the equipment grounding conductor(s) of the branch circuit(s), get to the bonding strap or bolt in the service equipment, travel to the transformer and have sufficient ampacity to operate the ocpd in the panelboard. Bonding to create an electrically continuous metallic path when one is already there seems redundant. Not necessary.
 
Bond

Bond

I would agree that you do not need a bond because it already is bonded. Also there should be some protection for that #10 romex cable from the wall to the tank.
 
abe72487 said:
...Also there should be some protection for that #10 romex cable from the wall to the tank.
Click to expand...
Uh... why? Got a code section in mind? I think it's ridiculous to expect that this will be exposed to physical damage.
 
Here it is a box and flex to the water heater as long as you are with in site of the panel other wise it is to a disconnect and then flex to heater..

Is there any type of electrical operated device connected tot he water piping like solenoid valves..Like to an under ground sprinkler system or a stuff like that..
 
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