Are British Standards stifling innovation? 
(14/12/2006)
BS7671 provides for the use of new material and inventions which depart from the requirements of the Regulations, provided the safety of the installation is not less than that obtained by compliance with the Regulations. The departure from the Regulations must be noted in the Electrical Installation Certificate.
BS951, the British Standard for earth clamps used to connect equipotential bonding conductors to gas, water and central heating pipes, “stifles innovation by referring only to metallic earth clamps” according to Frank Sayers, Eatons Product Manager.
Eaton's EZYBOND earth clamp passes all the electrical tests defined in BS951 and cuts installation time by at least 60% but it is not made of metallic material as required by the standard. This means that, to date, it has not been adopted as widely as would otherwise be the case.
EZYBOND is a one-piece C-shaped, UV-stabilised nylon moulding. It is clamped round the pipe and holds the bonding conductor firmly in direct metal-to-metal contact.
Contractors report that it is safer than traditional earth clamps because there are no sharp edges and no screwdrivers to slip and cause injury; consequently it can be regarded as 'insignificant risk' for risk assessment documentation relating to the use of tools. There are no small components (screws, washers etc.) to be lost. Installation in confined spaces, for example under sinks and baths, is easier.
EZYBOND has been rigorously tested in an independent ASTA-accredited laboratory and shown to comply with all the electrical testing requirements of BS951. It has also undergone additional tests for electrical short-circuit and overload, ageing, thermal cycling, heat resistance (glow wire and ball pressure tests), humidity and conductor retention.
Eaton states that “EZYBOND earth clamps offer the same degree of safety as defined in BS951:1999.” The company offers a Certificate of Conformity to all designers, enabling EZYBOND to be used in accordance with BS7671: Requirements for Electrical Installations (The IEE Wiring Regulations).
EZYBOND is suitable for single pipe bonding or cross-bonding of a number of pipes. It is available for pipe diameters 15mm and 22mm with conductor sizes A-C (2.5-6sq.mm) and a separate model accommodates size D (10sq.mm) for both pipe sizes.
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