Why you need gas and water bonding for an EV charge point installation
Your questions answered
Gas and water bonding is a crucial safety measure that needs to be in place before installing an electric vehicle (EV) charge point in the UK.
What is gas and water bonding?
Gas and water bonding is a process of connecting the metal gas and water pipes in your home to the main electrical earth. Connecting bonding wires to metal pipes reduces the voltage that may have been there. This is to ensure that any electrical faults in your home are safely discharged to the ground, preventing electric shocks and electrical fires.
Why is it mandatory for an EV charge point installation?
When installing an EV charger, it is essential that gas and water bonding is in place. This is because the EV charger is connected to the electrical system of your home, and any faults in this can cause fatal electric shocks and electrical fires. Gas and water bonding provides an additional layer of protection for you and your home, by ensuring that any electrical faults are safely discharged to the ground.
When is gas and water bonding required?
Gas and water bonding is required when the pipes that feed the gas or water supply are made of metal. The only exception where bonding does not need to be present is if the pipes that feed the gas or water supply are plastic.
How do I know if I have gas and water bonding?
To check if you have gas bonding, look in or around your gas meter box for a yellow and green earth cable (will add examples below), which is the bonding cable. In many cases, the bonding cable can be found near the gas meter, clamped to a copper pipe. It can also be located inside the gas meter box itself or where the copper pipe enters the house.
To check if you have water bonding, you need to look for the water stop cock in your property. This is the tap where you’d turn the water supply off for your house, and is usually found under the sink. Similarly to gas bonding, you need to look for a yellow and green cable that is often attached to a copper pipe within a meter of the water stop cock.
If you’ve had a look at home and are still not sure if you have gas and water bonding, we’ll be more than happy to check for you when you complete one of our remote surveys.
What happens if gas and water bonding is not in place?
For the electrician’s and your own safety, we cannot proceed with your charge point installation if you do not have gas and water bonding at the time of your appointment. Before your charge point is fitted, we will ask for photographic evidence that the water and gas bonding is in place through a remote survey. If you do not have bonding, this will have to be fitted before your installation date. If the bonding is not present at the time of your appointment, the installer will have to abort the job for safety reasons, and the customer may be charged a fee.
In conclusion, gas and water bonding is an important safety measure that needs to be in place before installing an EV charger to protect you and your home from electrical faults. To ensure a safe and smooth installation process, ensure your bonding is fitted by a qualified electrician before your appointment.
