I was speaking with a inspector and he said that if I bond a gas pipe system with smaller than a number 10 copper, the wire must be protected (in the wall and accessible with a mud ring). If it was bonded outside of the wall then it must be bonded with a 10 gauge wire or bigger. I have looked high and low for this code and could not find it anywhere. Neither could he for that matter. Has anyone heard of this and can point me in the correct direction in the code?
Small conductors and gas pipe bond
- Thread starter crtemp
- Start date
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ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
The only thing I can think of is that a #6 GEC may be run along the surface of a building without protection if securely fastened. Connections to grounding electrodes if made in a wall are supposed to be accessible and the mud ring is one way, but so is a hole of any kind. Cover is optional. IDK where he comes up with 10 gauge.
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
250.104 says that an EGC for the circuit that powers the gas appliance is a good enough bond for gas pipe and 250.52 tells us a gas pipe is not to be used as a grounding electrode so I don't understand what the 10AWG wire is for.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Why are you bonding it?
The EGC supplying the equipment that could energize it can serve as the bonding means.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
One of the gas utilities in this area will not turn on the gas if it is not bonded as it comes into the building. Seems to be a fairly recent decision, but I do very few new homes or buildings with NG. My guys took a piece of 10 over to it from the A/C disconnect. Meant nothing to the EI.
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