Bonding gas line

[ericmccurley]

I have a home that doesn't have the main gas line bonded to the grounding electrode system. The service is located on the other side of the 3,000sq. foot home and the attic is not accessible. So here is my question. To save some money can I by NEC code drive a ground rod by the gas meter and bond the gas meter to it and not electrical connect it to the existing grounding electrode system?

 

[LarryFine]

No, for two reasons:
1. The gas pipe is already buried in the ground, so adding a local rod wouldn't change anything.
2. The reason for the bonding (not grounding) is to prevent lightning-induced voltage gradients.

The appliances are already bonded by their circuits. Bonding the incoming gas makes sure the other end of any CSST is always at the same potential, so no current is forced through the CSST.

The connection doesn't have to be at the gas meter, but can be at the point of solid pipe from the gas meter nearest the panel or convenient point along an adequately-sized GEC.

 

[augie47]

Gas bonding requirements vary depending on the system being "hard pipe" or CSST.
There are are varying requirements depending on the type CSST.
Can you elaborate on the type piping ?

 

[infinity]

There are are varying requirements depending on the type CSST.

Augie nailed it, what kind of pipe is involved here?

 

[ericmccurley]

Gas bonding requirements vary depending on the system being "hard pipe" or CSST.
There are are varying requirements depending on the type CSST.
Can you elaborate on the type piping ?

Hard gas line from meter to furnace. CSST?

 

[ericmccurley]

Thank you for your help

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Hard gas line from meter to furnace. CSST?

"Hard" piping does not need any bonding connection other than that provided by the connection between the gas pipe and the metal parts of the gas appliance. The EGC for the electrical power is bonded to the metal parts, and those metal parts, in turn, bond the gas pipe. No additional bonding requried
CSST = Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing. It is a flexible type of gas piping that looks a lot like the flexible gas appliance connector used for dryers and stoves, but the wall thickness of the CSST is much thinner.

 

[LarryFine]

Hard gas line from meter to furnace.

Then the piping is already bonded by the furnace circuit.

CSST?

Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing.

Flex made for gas. The bad ones have no covering or a yellow jacket.

 

[Canton]

I have a home that doesn't have the main gas line bonded to the grounding electrode system. The service is located on the other side of the 3,000sq. foot home and the attic is not accessible. So here is my question. To save some money can I by NEC code drive a ground rod by the gas meter and bond the gas meter to it and not electrical connect it to the existing grounding electrode system?

Depends…on Building Code or NEC and what material…..black iron/steel no additional bonding needed, black Arc Strike/resistant CSST no additional bonding needed, the branch circuit EGC bonds it for you.

Yellow CSST you need to bond. Bond has a limit of 75’ max to a Grounding Electrode.

Yes, I believe the Building code permits an additional GE to be installed to meet the footage. I also believe you would have to bond that electrode to the premises GES.

I don’t like the Building Code, it muddies everything up

 

[tortuga]

Is there not typically a short piece of flexible gasline between a furnace and the 'hard pipe', i wonder if those are listed for grounding?

 

[Canton]

Is there not typically a short piece of flexible gasline between a furnace and the 'hard pipe', i wonder if those are listed for grounding?
View attachment 2562936

I have brought that up in the past, that is an “appliance “ adapter. Never looked into the listing, but it’s very identical to the run of the mill yellow CSST

 

[SceneryDriver]

Is there not typically a short piece of flexible gasline between a furnace and the 'hard pipe', i wonder if those are listed for grounding?
View attachment 2562936

Not on the furnace at my house, or any I've seen, though I can certainly imagine someone using one since its easier than figuring out iron pipe connections. I think they're typically reserved for appliances that need to be moved - mostly stoves or dryers.


SceneryDriver

 

[retirede]

Not on the furnace at my house, or any I've seen, though I can certainly imagine someone using one since its easier than figuring out iron pipe connections. I think they're typically reserved for appliances that need to be moved - mostly stoves or dryers.


SceneryDriver

Agree. If I saw flex connecting a furnace, I’d suspect DYI.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I have brought that up in the past, that is an “appliance “ adapter. Never looked into the listing, but it’s very identical to the run of the mill yellow CSST

Actually the wall thickness of the appliance connector is at least twice that of CSST.

 

[Canton]

Not on the furnace at my house, or any I've seen, though I can certainly imagine someone using one since its easier than figuring out iron pipe connections. I think they're typically reserved for appliances that need to be moved - mostly stoves or dryers.


SceneryDriver

Furnace manufacturers usually require a hard pipe connection. Appliance connectors for gas water heater, gas dryer, gas stove, etc. see them all day ever day

 

[FionaZuppa]

Doesn't the pipe aft of the meter (dwelling side) have a bonding wire clamped to it?
Aft of the meter (your pipe), clamp a piece of #8 bare to panel EGC bus bar (if possible).
If it makes you feel better, gnd rod near entrance ("near") then bond it.

And I not sure what some folks here mean the gas company pipe in the ground is an "electrode". Most buried gas pipe is PEX with just metal fittings at the end.

If the gas appliance thingy can move (dryer, hanging furnace, etc etc), the final connection is usually (almost always) a flex pipe.

 

[tortuga]

Doesn't the pipe aft of the meter (dwelling side) have a bonding wire clamped to it?

I think were discussing a scenario where that's not the case and what the code requires.

 

[FionaZuppa]

I think were discussing a scenario where that's not the case and what the code requires.

If it's existing gas line and the dwelling got a CO from the AHJ, then there is nothing more needed.

If the bonding is for peace of mind, then just bond it to any GEC (add one if needed). Done.

 

[LarryFine]

If the bonding is for peace of mind, then just bond it to any GEC (add one if needed). Done.

Not an isolated one!

 

[FionaZuppa]

Not an isolated one!

How do you mean?