Water bonding refers to a critical safety measure in electrical systems, specifically involving plumbing.
Based on the provided reference, water bonding involves connecting the metal water pipes in your home to the main electrical earth. This process is crucial for electrical safety.
The Purpose of Water Bonding
The primary function of water bonding, as described in the reference, is to enhance safety by managing electrical voltage that might build up in metal pipework.
- Reducing Voltage: By connecting the metal water pipes to the earth, any voltage present in these pipes is significantly reduced.
- Discharging Faults: This connection ensures that in the event of an electrical fault where the pipes might become live, the electrical current has a safe path to discharge directly into the ground (earth).
Why is Water Bonding Important?
Metal pipes are good conductors of electricity. Without proper bonding, a fault could make the pipes live, creating a serious shock hazard to anyone touching them and potentially causing damage to appliances or the electrical system. Water bonding is a fundamental part of protective earthing, creating an equipotential zone where different conductive parts are at the same electrical potential, minimizing the risk of electric shock.
Proper water bonding, alongside bonding for other metal services like gas, is a standard requirement in electrical installations to ensure a safe environment.
