Gas Pipe Bonding

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triplex15

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In Northern VA we have an issue with gas pipe bonding. The electrical inspector says don't bond it but the mechanical inspector with fail the plumber if the gas pipe is not bonded. The electrical inspector won't let us take it to the panel we have to tap the ground rod wire. They say the yellow gas flex line needs bonded and not the hard threaded steel gas pipe. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Gas tite flexible CSST - aka the yellow stuff-- does need bonding according to the manufacturers specs. In most cases you must use a wire sized to 250.66 and run it back to the panel. All gas piping must be bonded in a building. The black iron pipe is bonded thru the EGC but the CSST (yellow stuff) requires special bonding.

Also- omegaflex -- maker of some types of CSST makes a version of CSST - aka- the black stuff-- that does not require special bonding.

Check out omegaflex site and look at counter strike and trac piping
 
I would also make sure the inspector reads the specs. There has been a multimillion dollar class action suit against these CSST companies. It must be bonded and the ground rod is not sufficient in most cases.
 
C3PO said:
Dennis, I did not know that. I wonder what their reasoning is behind that requirement?
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The lawsuit arose because in a few instance the CSST piping split during a lightning storm and burned the house to the ground. The bonding is suppose to deal with that issue.
 
stickboy1375 said:
Simple, its a junk product and the lawyers came up with the solution.
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Hopefully that solution will solve the problem. We had an omegaflex rep at one of our local meetings and he says that their company never had an problem. I told him he was lucky his product wasn't in the houses that got hit. Apparently it has only happened a few times but one time is too many.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Hopefully that solution will solve the problem. We had an omegaflex rep at one of our local meetings and he says that their company never had an problem. I told him he was lucky his product wasn't in the houses that got hit. Apparently it has only happened a few times but one time is too many.
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The whole thing just seems like bad luck if you ask me, but the insurance company did there job and pointed the blame onto someone else, so they didnt have to pay.
 
stickboy1375 said:
The whole thing just seems like bad luck if you ask me, but the insurance company did there job and pointed the blame onto someone else, so they didnt have to pay.
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They did pay-- how much I don't know-- they were suppose to reimburse anyone who paid for an ec to come in and bond their CSST if it was installed before a certain date.

Of course, there was a time limit on how long they would do it and it has expired. I bet they got off cheap.
 
C3PO said:
I must be missing something here. What happened?
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Lightning damaged the flex pipe and burned down a few homes. In one case I know of lightning split the gas pipe and gas flames were shooting out and burned the house down.

Summary​
A nationwide class action has been filed on behalf of any and all persons and/or entities who own structures in the United States in which CSST manufactured by Titeflex, Ward, OmegaFlex or Parker Hannifin was installed as of September 5, 2006. Plaintiffs allege that CSST poses an unreasonable risk of fire due to lightning strikes. The Settling Defendants deny these allegations and assert that their CSST is safe if properly installed in accordance with local codes and the manufacturers’ instructions. The Proposed Settlement is a compromise of disputed claims and does not mean the Settling Defendants are liable.
If you wish to claim the benefits of the Settlement, you must submit a fully executed Claim Form by September 5, 2007. You may complete and submit a Claim Form online or request that a Claim Form be mailed to you at the Submit a Claim Form page.
For more information regarding the Settlement, on submitting a Claim Form, or opting out of the Settlement, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
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Dennis Alwon said:
The lawsuit arose because in a few instance the CSST piping split during a lightning storm and burned the house to the ground. The bonding is suppose to deal with that issue.
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Sounds like the tubing should be bypassed like flex with an external EGC, connector to connector.
 
Thanks for the info guys. All of the jobs I have worked on for the past 3-4 years with gas have been black pipe(not flex). I had not even heard about this.
 
I believe it was Charlie or one of the other mods that had seen the effects of the lightning on the CSST, after the fact, of course. He had no doubt that the bonding would have helped.
 
Some pics of the aftermath...


lightning5.jpg


lightning4.jpg


Here is one example of how this happens...

Lightning will often strike the metal chimney caps and run down the metal flue system to the fabricated steel fireplace box. CSST is connected to either a gas log or log starter in the fireplace. The lightning discharges from the attached CSST to the first place it crosses a grounded metal object, including: metal furnace ducts, copper water lines, and Romex house wiring or conduit. Lightning penetrates into the CSST to form an arcing discharge, the ignition of the gas fuel, and/or a large flame that ignites adjacent combustibles.
 
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Does any one have pics of an installation of bonding the CSST?....Do you only have to bond the pipe at on one fitting and that would bond the whole installation or do you have to bond it at every fitting?
 
splinetto said:
Does any one have pics of an installation of bonding the CSST?....Do you only have to bond the pipe at on one fitting and that would bond the whole installation or do you have to bond it at every fitting?
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http://www.ci.owatonna.mn.us/services/buildings/Gastite_TB2007.pdf


But remember this is not an NEC issue, so somebody should be hiring you to make another trades install legal.
 
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