How do I earth an outside gas pipe?

Hi, Briani,
It's quite a simple job. The pipe can be earthed straight to the ground if you have soil nearby. Go to a builders merchants and buy a copper earthing rod....they're about 1 metre long and not very dear. They have a fixing on top for a cable. The rod needs to be simply hammered into the ground somewhere near the gas pipe leaving about 6 inches above ground. Then buy if you can a stainless steel jubilee clip possibly from the same place. Ask for one which has a cable fixing (explain what you're going to use it for). Screw this around the gas pipe and run a length of green/yellow earth cable (buy it from B&Q or similar) from this clip to the top of the earth rod you've banged into the ground and that's all there is to it. It's very straightforward and won't cost more than I suppose a tenner. That's all an earth is....literally running to the earth. The electricity substations you see dotted around the town have large copper plates which are hammered into the ground as an earth. Very simple. Even the big power stations are all earthed much the same way. Don't be misled by electricians trying to tell you it's expensive. You don't need an electrician for this job or a certificate at the end of it.
Take the plunge and have a go. Best of luck!!

Denis (General builder)

Denis Langley
November 2007