New CSST

[Dennis Alwon]

I am not sure about all the manufacturers but Omegaflex (Trac Pipe) has come out with a new product called "counterstrike" . This product looks like the yellow CSST but it has a black thick rubber coating on it. It does not need to be bonded other than thru the EGC of the circuit that supplies the appliances. Yeahhhh

I also learned thru my conversation with a tech guy at Omegaflex that ground clamps that are UL approved have only been tested by UL for use on galvinized water pipe not copper. Apparently this came up after they were questioned about using ground clamps on their brass fittings. They were told they were not listed for the brass fitting but soon found out that the clamps were not listed for copper piping.

Anyway know anything about this???

 

[wbalsam1]

I am not sure about all the manufacturers but Omegaflex (Trac Pipe) has come out with a new product called "counterstrike" . This product looks like the yellow CSST but it has a black thick rubber coating on it. It does not need to be bonded other than thru the EGC of the circuit that supplies the appliances. Yeahhhh

I also learned thru my conversation with a tech guy at Omegaflex that ground clamps that are UL approved have only been tested by UL for use on galvinized water pipe not copper. Apparently this came up after they were questioned about using ground clamps on their brass fittings. They were told they were not listed for the brass fitting but soon found out that the clamps were not listed for copper piping.

Anyway know anything about this???

The bonding clamps are good for schedule 40 metal pipe.

 

[iwire]

The bonding clamps are good for schedule 40 metal pipe.

That puts copper pipe out of the loop, as far as I know copper uses letters as in 'type L' or 'type' M etc.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

That puts copper pipe out of the loop, as far as I know copper uses letters as in 'type L' or 'type' M etc.

I find it quite amusing if this is really the case. Here we have guys worried about toggle bolts in sheetrock because it is not listed to hang anything on and we may ground clamps that have not been tested for copper pipes.

 

[mpd]

most all the ground clamps i see say copper water tubing stamped on them, but I had a contractor show me a ground clamp that was listed for gas pipe and the only difference i saw was no copper water tubing stamp, looked exactly the same, except he told me it was 2 dollars more

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Omegaflex is coming out with a ground clamp that they are having tested for use with there brass fitting and black iron pipe.

 

[wbalsam1]

Omegaflex is coming out with a ground clamp that they are having tested for use with there brass fitting and black iron pipe.

That'll be good. "Counterstrike" tubing and a listed grounding/bonding clamp. Maybe the rest of CSST manufacturers will follow suit. :smile:

 

[Dennis Alwon]

That'll be good. "Counterstrike" tubing and a listed grounding/bonding clamp. Maybe the rest of CSST manufacturers will follow suit. :smile:

I went ahead and bonded the counterstrike just as a precautionary measure. Somehow I don't trust these companies.....

 

[wbalsam1]

I went ahead and bonded the counterstrike just as a precautionary measure. Somehow I don't trust these companies.....

Your precaution is well founded. :smile:

 

[sandsnow]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was found that clamps were never tested for coper pipe. Remember the big flap on raintight EMT connectors? The guide info does not make any distinction between pipe material.

from UL guide info category KDER:

Ground clamps are intended for use with ground rods and/or pipe electrodes in accordance with the NEC and are marked with the size of electrode and electrode grounding conductor with which the clamp is intended to be used. Clamps suitable for use on copper water tubing are marked "Copper Water Tubing," or the equivalent, preceded or followed by the size of tubing. Ground rods, pipe electrodes and water tubing trade sizes are stated in fractions, such as 1/2, 5/8, etc.

Ground clamps intended for use with re-bar are marked with the size of re-bar with which the clamp is intended. Re-bar sizes may be specified in fractions, such as 1/2, 5/8, etc., or a number, such as 3, 4, 5, etc., where the number represents the numerator of the fraction when stated in eighth-inch increments, e.g., 4 = 4/8.

 

[petersonra]

most all the ground clamps i see say copper water tubing stamped on them, but I had a contractor show me a ground clamp that was listed for gas pipe and the only difference i saw was no copper water tubing stamp, looked exactly the same, except he told me it was 2 dollars more

Perhaps it reflects the additional liability insurance costs.