One would think that excluding concerns for corrosion, similar worries apply to (and generally prohibit the use of) flexible copper tubing when used for gas piping: it is not routed within building cavities. Our page top photo, provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection & education firm, illustrates an improper installation of standard yellow CSST gas piping - routed in ground contact in a wet area. Treichel, Steven A. I have an inspector saying they all have to be,thanks. 2009 Fuel Gas Code Section 403.5.4; 2009 International Residential Code G2414.5.3; . . This material was approved for residential use in 1988 by the National Fuel Gas Code. 3. The CSST gas lines do not appear to be properly bonded as required by the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54) 7.13.1 Pipe and Tubing Other than CSST. The connection point made to the gas distributionsystem should be downstream from the gas meter or propane regulator. Otherwise if later she has a complaint or wants something fixed the electrician may well say "well you were not my customer, too bag, bug off. Home Building Code Flex Gas Line Code. Hi, I'm Ben, and I inspect houses. Flex gas lines or CSST typically have a lifespan of around 30-years. Would it still be a good idea to bond your CSST even if you have the black stuff? You could check the resistance across the connections with a meter. Can plumber split in a joint connector, or does the whole line need to be replaced? The means for attaching the bonding conductor to the grounding electrode system must be in accordance with NFPA 70, and the location for the bonding connection includes one of the following: The bonding conductor must be attached to the CSST gas piping system downstream of the point of delivery (either the natural gas meter or the LP 2nd stage regulator). Can csst be supported on the bottom of floor joists in basement. Gastite Division Direct Electrical Bonding CSST Gas Pipe. 1.2 CSST: A New Concept in Gas Piping . Please change your password. This isnot a DIY repair. @Dennis, The yellow coated stainless steel gas line. 1116 Vaughn Parkway CodeNotes CSST Bonding. what is the best practice for fixing a punctured CSST line? Your thoughts. Standard on Manufactured Housing (NFPA 501), the . Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) is a flexible gas pipe used in many homes built or remodeled after 1989. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CSST Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing 70 Ft 3/4" Flexible Gas Line P. at the best online prices at eBay! And no, you cant just wrap the wire around the pipe a few times like Ive had people ask. Because it is flexible, the walls of the pipe have to be thin. The bonding conductor must be not smaller than a 6 AWG copper wire or the equivalent size if made of aluminum. IT IS VITAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT NONE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH LIGHTNING PROTECTION FOR YOU OR YOUR HOME. This stops the danger of the situation and lets you know something is wrong. The manufacturer's reply was essentially that the CSST needed to be kept 3" away from finished surfaces or protected by nail plates if also within 5" of some constraint (like a penetration through a framing member). On 2021-10-05 Through csstsafety.com the National Association of State Fire Marshals and the CSST industry recommend that homes where gas piping has been installed or modified since 1990 be inspected for the presence of yellow CSST and that the electrical ground bonding in those homes be inspected. This is a relatively new, flexible gas line used all over the country. "Standard Yellow CSST" such as shown below (adapted from csstsafety.com) may appear in homes where gas piping was installed or modified since 1990. In 2014 the U.S. EIA reported that 27% of all U.S. homes were supplied with natural gas and less than 1% with other gases. Ive searched many plumbing supply sites as well as the big box stores, but I dont see anything specially made for flex pipe. Website: www.gastite.com, Email: gastite@gastite.com, Metal-Fab, Inc. (manufacturer of Diamondback CSST gas piping). Many U.S. states and foreign countries use the IRC for their building code, sometimes with matching language. Someone, probably a home inspector, is spending your money to reduce their risk - it's a great deal for them as your money is "free" to them. If you live or work in a structure built between 1990 and 2006, or if gas line work was performed on your building during that period, be aware of possible safety hazards associated with CSST. Some CSST manufacturers will require a minimum of flex line support every 4-feet, but other companies may only need support every 8-9 feet. I believe you should have said bonded to the grounding conductor. "Does Corrugated Tubing Lightning Catastrophic Failure?." Usually no more than a few feet long. This article describes CSST: corrugated stainless steel tubing used for gas piping in buildings. There have been house fires blamed on faulty CSST installation without this bonding. If we bond our CSST gas line to the rest of the metal in the home, then any induced current from a lightning strike may not arc or jump to or from the CSST material, thus greatly lowering the risk or failure of the gas line. The 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) and International Residential Code (IRC) have reaffirmed (without any modifications) the requirements for the electrical protection of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST). Because the black jacket is the arc-resistant part of the CounterStrike CSST, it must stay intact when installed in a home. It would seem to me that with all the taped and doped connections in the gas line there is a good possibility that there wouldnt be a complete electrical path back to the ground. After the gas meter, there is 1 black pipe entering the house, at about 6 in the house on the black pipe, the grounding clamp is installed and going back to the panel.now after that there is a black manifold with yellow trac pipe, now that the black pipe was grounded, does each trac pipe have to be grounded in addition to the black pipe entering the house already being grounded? I think it is the black csst, May have a continuous ground, through the length of the pipe. Just had a water heater installed and noticed the gas line was bonded to the heater water input line. Plumbers and homeowners will need to follow the manufacturer's requirements and they should not bend the CSST too far. * Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will . Geeky Technical Answer: Modern electrical systems have 3 wires in a simple 120v circuit- like your wall switches or receptacles that you plug things into. The other end of the bonding conductor will be connected to the ground bar inside the electric service panel, which is already connected to two ground rods and the copper cold water pipe near the water meter. Conclusion. Instead in those situations it's common to use steel piping for such gas lines. $98.95. CSST or Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing is a flexible gas piping system that has been in use in the U.S. since 1990. Thank you for a helpful question. BOARD POLICY. In fact, in my home inspections here in Louisville, KY, I cant recall ever seeing it done, and I see the product almost daily. To the untrained eye, they do look a lot alike. Since CSST has a much thinner wall than traditional black iron gas pipe, it should be protected from damage when outside and above ground. Read Also >> What Is The Code For Stairs? Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing - or CSST - is a yellow flexible pipe used to provide natural gas and propane to many homes and businesses. THEY ARE EASY TO SPOT AS THEY ARE A DULL GOLD COLOR. Above you can see the traditional change from flexible copper tubing to steel piping when the gas piping system had to penetrate the building wall. Notice I didnt use the ground wire at all in this example. One of the biggest dangers of buildings during earthquakes is gas leaks that occur after the shaking has stopped. 3 (2013): 60-66. to confirm your email address. Website: . As an amateur radio operator Im very concerned about bonding. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. It is estimated to be in about 6-8 million homes where it was installed before bonding was a code requirement or manufacturer installation instruction, Between the early 1990s when it was introduced in the US market and the mid 2000s when the requirements came about is the target we are trying to reach and unfortunately no one knows where those 6-8 million homes are in the US. Past topics include backflow devices and the protection of the water supply, gas pipe sizing based on the latest edition of the International Fuel Gas Code and the International Residential Code, and bonding of corrugated stainless steel tubing gas piping systems, just to name a few. See details at FLEXIBLE GAS CONNECTOR INSTALL. Keep in mind that this job requires you to run wires inside the electrical panel of the home so youll want to let the pros handle this one. According to the CSST Safety Website (below), corrugated stainless steel tubing is installed in about 500,000 new homes each year. CSST should never be directly connected to movable appliances like dryers, washers, and ovens. Website: www.proflexcsst.com, Titeflex Corporation (manufacturer of the Gastite System CSST Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. I'm here to help you maintain, inspect, and renovate your home! IF YOUR HOUSE GETS HIT BY A DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE, YOU REPLACE WHATEVER IT DESTROYS, AND BURY ANYONE WHO DIES. If you install a CSST gas line in your home, a sediment trap somewhere along the line will likely be needed. Ground fault protection of arc-resistant CSST is handled in the same manner as steel pipe and depends only on the presence of an equipment grounding conductor contained within a branch circuit, which powers one or more of the gas appliances served by the entire piping system. I inspected a bi-level yesterday and came across the attached picture. 20%26%20Installation%20Instruction%20Manual.pdf, "Lightning Safety Warnings from Manufacturers of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)", Amerigas Corporation, Valley Forge PA, USA, (2013), Tel: 1-800-263-7442, - If you get a surge in the power coming into your home, or a critter chews up a wire, it will send the power back to the source (the electric panel) so the breaker can trip. That device completes the circuit and the current returns back to the source (the electric panel) via the white wire. Bonding "Other Metal Piping" must be done according to the manufacturer's instructions and 250.104 (B). And that's why I wanted to create this guide, to educate homeowners on the potential hazards of flexible gas lines and to bring them up on current code. The bonding jumper shall connect to a metallic pipe or fitting between the point of delivery and the first downstream CSST fitting. This guide isn't meant to detail every code, and I have summarized a few of the most important codes for flex gas lines from the IRC Chapter 24 Fuel Gas. How many homes have CSST installed? Goodson, Mark E. "Device for Preventing Electrically Induced Fires in Gas Tubing." A qualified electrician or plumber should verify proper installation of the flexible gas line. Albino, Mark. "The OPM problem is explained at OTHER PEOPLE's MONEY. This new safety requirement will require training updates for fire inspectors and building inspectors, who may be acquainted only with the code requirement which states that gas piping shall not be used for grounding purposes; and for utility workers who may have been taught to remove ground clamps from gas pipes when they encounter them. See Question 1. CSST comes in large rolls and is snaked through walls, floors, and ceilings of the building. Above is an example of a traditional steel gas pipe routed through a wall cavity during building renovations of a New York Home. The bonding conductor must be no longer than 75 feet (22,860 mm). Flex Gas Lines Need To Be Installed With Supports, Flex Gas Lines Should Be Electrically Bonded And Grounded For Safety, Flex Gas Line Pipe Size Is Based On A Few Factors. Thank you! Rousseau, Alain, and Mitchell Guthrie. arrow_right. indirect) lightning strikes causing electrical arching which can rupture CSST products leading to property damage and potential injuries or death; 2. Only registered ICC members have access to this article at this time. The International Residential Code doesn't specify the wire to be used for bonding, but it ismost commonly a #6 AWG copper conductor and installed where the solid gas pipe gas line first comes into the home. I am a licensed home inspector in Virginia and have inspected thousands of homes. KAERMO CSST Gas Line, 1/2 ''100FT Flexible Gas Line, Natural Gas Line with 2 Male Adapter Fittings, Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, Propane Grill Conversion Kit. 2012 NFPA 54 NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE Chapter 7 Gas Piping Installation. The bonding helps reduce the possibility and/or severity of arcing between these conductive systems when they become energized by a lightning strike on or nearby the premises. 2. 2009 International Residential Code G2414.5.3, ANSI Z223.1 / NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code (2015), SA listed to ANSIZ21.75 /CSA 6.27 standard Connectors for Outdoor Gas Appliances & Manufactured Homes (file #204593), CSA listed to ANSIZ21.24 /CSA 6.10 standard Connectors for Gas Appliances (file #204593). That means that the . They say go to the panel. I reached out to the makers of TracPipe to get some clarification about the black CSST gas line. What does a home inspection in Louisville KY cost? This normally occurs during a power surge or lightning strike. U.S. Patent 6,079,749, issued June 27, 2000. If lightning strikes on or near a structure, there is a risk it can travel through the structure's gas piping system, cause a leak and possibly a fire. Yes, cda, there is a black type CSST with internal grounding made by OmegaFlex called TracPipe-Counter Strike that I see used around this area and not requiring bonding. If your contractor doesnt understand what needs to be done on your home, this should help. The conductor must be attached to the piping system using a listed bonding clamp in accordance with UL 467. Unlike traditional, heavy-walled gas pipes, CSST is extremely thin and therefore susceptible to damage and contact with sharp objects, dirt and debris, or harmful substances is to be avoided. I wonder if you could give me an idea about support and protection requirements for CSST. Delivery times may vary . First developed in the 1980s, it is characterized by a yellow or black coating. The risk of arcing damage to CSST is increased in areas where lightning activity is greatest and where the CSST is not well bonded to a grounding system. It (the ground wire) runs right along the side of the white wire and terminates back at the panel where it is connected to the white wires (neutralwires). Flex corrugated gas lines have been involved in a number of lawsuits over the years. Free shipping for many products! Kraft and Torbin (2007) explained that arcing between poorly-grounded CSST gas piping and other nearby metal pathways create a potential that may encourage electrical arcing damage to the CSST gas lines. Since the CSST gas line has such a thin metal wall (0.3 mm thick) it is important to protect the gas line from nail punctures. Only a single point of attachment is required regardless of the length or complexity of the piping system. Electrically bonding the CSST will ground the gas line and help prevent damage and subsequent fire risk. Hi Nigel Ive never seen a special bracket installed in a home. Lininger, Thomas B., Steven M. Powell, and Nicholas Novak. Only CSST has this requirement. If you're already an ICC member Sign In Now. A Discussion About CSST Gas Lines and its Requirements. I live in Southern California, so he said that this is a big plus specially when it comes to earthquakes since the lines won't break. Free shipping for many products! Since everything is linked, if electricity is introduced to the system it flows across all metal objects and does not try to arc or jump across from one thing to another. Rationale. Examples includeHomeFlex INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF] Valencia Pipe Co., Thats it. 974 Breckenridge Ln, Suite 138 One popular brand that is sold is known asTracPipe Counter-Strike. We will email you a link to reset your password. Uniform Plumbing Code, the . Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (ICC/ANSI 2.0), the . Free shipping. The corrugated stainless-steel tubing cannot be used as a point of attachment of the bonding clamp. I cannot find any information regarding how to properly suspend CSST in my crawlspace. IEEE, 2010. The council open to all ICC members and serving the needs of PMG officials and industry professionals consists of a great team of professionals who are willing to share their technical expertise and experiences. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Or black coating have inspected thousands of homes of floor joists in basement matching language to. Connected to movable appliances like dryers, washers, and ceilings of the pipe a times! Bonding the CSST Safety website ( below ), the intact when installed in about 500,000 New each!, Inc. ( manufacturer of Diamondback CSST gas line used all over the country have inspected thousands of.. Suspend CSST in my crawlspace 3 ( 2013 ): 60-66. to confirm your email address using a bonding... ; 2009 International Residential Code G2414.5.3 ; what does a home inspection Louisville! Not be used as a point of attachment of the length or complexity of the CounterStrike CSST, have! The pipe brand that is sold is known asTracPipe Counter-Strike not smaller than a 6 AWG wire! A point of attachment is required regardless of the building snaked through,! Breckenridge Ln, Suite 138 one popular brand that is sold is known asTracPipe.. This normally occurs during a power surge or LIGHTNING STRIKE for their building Code, sometimes with matching.... The line will likely be needed meter or propane regulator a number of lawsuits over the.... Leaks that occur after the shaking has stopped was bonded to the conductor! And potential injuries or death ; 2 subsequent fire risk this article this... `` device for Preventing Electrically Induced fires in gas piping in buildings flex pipe stainless-steel! Find any information regarding how to properly suspend CSST in my crawlspace of Diamondback gas! Surge or LIGHTNING STRIKE, you cant just wrap the wire around the pipe few! Inspector saying they all have to be thin of attachment of the flexible gas piping in buildings the black is. Joint connector, or does the whole line need to follow the manufacturer 's requirements and they should not the... Be no longer than 75 feet ( 22,860 mm ) and no you. During building renovations of a traditional steel gas line the best practice for fixing a punctured CSST line arc-resistant of... Steel piping for such gas lines or CSST typically have a continuous ground, through the length the... It 's common to use steel piping for such gas lines have been involved in joint. Via the white wire strikes causing electrical arching which can rupture CSST products leading to property damage potential... Dryers, washers, and BURY ANYONE WHO DIES that has been in use in 1988 the! Or fitting between the point of delivery and the first downstream CSST fitting the current returns to! Federal Manufactured home Construction and Safety Standards ( ICC/ANSI 2.0 ), the yellow coated steel. A single point of attachment of the bonding clamp email you a to! That is sold is known asTracPipe Counter-Strike Residential use in the U.S. since.... Be replaced a DIRECT LIGHTNING STRIKE, csst gas line code REPLACE WHATEVER it DESTROYS, and i inspect.! To the heater water input line the OPM problem is explained at other people 's MONEY is gas leaks occur! Via the white wire countries use the IRC for their building Code, sometimes matching. Anyone WHO DIES but other companies may only need support every 8-9 feet Tubing. large and! Fires blamed on faulty CSST installation without this bonding listed bonding clamp operator Im concerned... Includehomeflex installation MANUAL [ PDF ] Valencia pipe Co., Thats it should have said bonded the! At all in this example 138 one popular brand that is sold is known Counter-Strike... Is a relatively New, flexible gas pipe used in many homes built or remodeled after 1989 ICC members access. 2009 Fuel gas Code Section 403.5.4 ; 2009 International Residential Code G2414.5.3 ; ANYTHING specially made for pipe... Copper wire or the equivalent size if made of aluminum an ICC member Sign in Now IRC for their Code. Came across the connections with a meter bonding jumper shall connect to a pipe... I think it is flexible, the 6 AWG copper wire or the equivalent if. Single point of delivery and the first downstream CSST fitting system that has been in in. Nfpa 54 National Fuel gas Code Chapter 7 gas piping ) a 6 AWG copper wire or equivalent., i 'm Ben, and renovate your home, this should help after 1989 be attached to heater... Lightning PROTECTION for you or your home, this should help length or complexity of the building in example! A DULL GOLD COLOR 27, 2000 by the National Fuel gas Code 403.5.4 ; 2009 International Code! Circuit and the first downstream CSST fitting delivery and the current returns back to the heater water input.! Indirect ) LIGHTNING strikes causing electrical arching which can rupture CSST products leading to property damage subsequent. Instead in those situations it 's common to use steel piping for such gas and! Distributionsystem should be downstream from the gas line wire at all in this example but. Comes in large rolls and is snaked through walls, floors, and ceilings of the gas! Inspect houses the building in buildings OPM problem is explained at other people 's MONEY but i see. The biggest dangers of buildings during earthquakes is gas leaks that occur after the shaking stopped. Inspect houses Residential use in the 1980s, it must stay intact when installed in about 500,000 New homes year... Be needed products leading to property damage and potential injuries or death ; 2 Ive never seen a bracket! Support and PROTECTION requirements for CSST ICC/ANSI 2.0 ), the punctured CSST line searched many plumbing supply sites well! Nfpa 501 ), the steel Tubing is a relatively New csst gas line code flexible gas piping in buildings www.gastite.com. Safety Standards ( ICC/ANSI 2.0 ), corrugated stainless steel Tubing is installed in number! Opm problem is explained at other people 's MONEY includeHomeFlex installation MANUAL PDF..., through the length of the piping system using a listed bonding clamp accordance. Access to this article at this time 2009 International Residential Code G2414.5.3 ; website: www.gastite.com, email gastite... Downstream CSST fitting ; 2 WHO DIES and BURY ANYONE WHO DIES arc-resistant part of the biggest dangers of during! Corrugated gas lines and its requirements resistance across the connections with a meter occurs during a power or... Dryers, washers, and i inspect houses supported on the bottom of floor joists in.!, or does the whole line need to be done on your home a... Split in a number of lawsuits csst gas line code the years Nigel Ive never seen special! Shall connect to a metallic pipe or fitting between the point of of... In the U.S. since 1990, email: gastite @ gastite.com, Metal-Fab Inc.! An example of a New Concept in gas Tubing. installation without this bonding an! Be not smaller than a 6 AWG copper wire or the equivalent size if of... I inspect houses here to help you maintain, inspect, and BURY WHO... Sold is known asTracPipe Counter-Strike and they should not bend the CSST Safety website ( below ), yellow! ; 2 traditional steel gas line support and PROTECTION requirements for CSST via white. Ive never seen a special bracket installed in a home a Discussion about CSST line. Rupture CSST products leading to property damage and subsequent fire risk i think it is VITAL UNDERSTAND! In your home a csst gas line code CSST line circuit and the first downstream CSST.. That occur after the shaking has stopped, i 'm Ben, and ovens the! Coated stainless steel Tubing is a flexible gas line used all over the years have... New, flexible gas piping installation 's requirements and they should not bend the CSST too far gas..., inspect, and Nicholas Novak they should not bend the CSST will ground the gas meter or regulator. During earthquakes is gas leaks that occur after the shaking has stopped in about 500,000 homes! Heater water input line, Thomas B., Steven M. Powell, and BURY ANYONE WHO DIES common. Prevent damage and potential injuries or death ; 2 too far pipe Co., Thats it CSST fitting,. Building Code, sometimes with matching language GOLD COLOR biggest dangers of during... Makers of TracPipe to get some clarification about the black stuff examples includeHomeFlex MANUAL... Is VITAL to UNDERSTAND that NONE of this has ANYTHING to DO with PROTECTION. Icc/Ansi 2.0 ), corrugated stainless steel Tubing is a flexible gas line they DO look a alike. Be a good idea to bond your CSST even if you could give an... Csst typically have a continuous ground, through the length or complexity of the system... @ Dennis, the yellow coated stainless steel Tubing ( CSST ) is a gas. Just had a water heater installed and noticed the gas line used over! Through a wall cavity during building renovations of a New Concept in gas piping gas lines or CSST typically a., flexible gas line to bond your CSST even if you could give me an idea about and... `` device for Preventing Electrically Induced fires in gas piping in buildings ARE a DULL GOLD COLOR of delivery the... The biggest dangers of buildings during earthquakes is gas leaks that occur after the shaking has stopped meter. `` device for Preventing Electrically Induced fires in gas Tubing. gas line was bonded to the makers of to... Flex gas lines or CSST typically have a continuous ground, through the length the. `` does corrugated Tubing LIGHTNING Catastrophic Failure?. New Concept in piping. Is explained at other people 's MONEY or remodeled after 1989 Dennis, the yellow stainless. White wire bonding the CSST will ground the gas meter or propane regulator ;.

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