To the untrained eye, they do look a lot alike. BUT in both cases the CSST product selected must be the right one for the installation and you must follow the manufacturer's instructions. If CSST is installed along drywall or in some area where nails may be used, it needs to be protected with metal plating. Your email address will not be published. CSST remains popular because of its flexibility, easy installation, and reduced leakage risk. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. Every manufacturer of CSST says that their product should be bonded to the homes electrical ground system for safety. "Effectiveness of Direct Bonding of Gas Piping in Mitigating Damage from an Indirect Lightning Flash." Mark I don't know what that is. Website: www.gastite.com, Email: gastite@gastite.com, Metal-Fab, Inc. (manufacturer of Diamondback CSST gas piping). That means that the . 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. The history and field experience of CSST use in North America led to concerns about possible pitting, corrosion or perforation of the original yellow CSST gas piping in areas where lightning strikes were common. Notice I didnt use the ground wire at all in this example. "Preassembled fitting for use with corrugated tubing." You also need to make sure the clamp is not placed on the actual CSST tubing itself like the photo below. This code is updated every 3 years and it is known as a model code. A flexible gas line is an ingenious method of supplying natural gas to fireplaces . Thanks. Most FACs are painted yellow from the factory. 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. "Lightning dangers on corrugated tubing carrying hydrocarbons." U.S. Patent Application 12/064,539, filed August 22, 2006. In the event there is no equipment grounding conductor on any appliance in the gas piping system or if the system contains any segment of yellow CSST, the arc-resistant CSST shall be bonded in the same manner as yellow (non-arc-resistant) CSST as detailed in IFGC Section 310.2/IRC Section G2411.2. Hi, Im Ben, and I inspect houses. Gas piping codes and industry sources of CSST are included. Bonding "Other Metal Piping" must be done according to the manufacturer's instructions and 250.104 (B). For an isolated leak replace just the leaky section. 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. Or if we look at the February housing start data that means that almost 100% of new homes are using CSST gas piping - which sounds a bit dubious. The idea is fairly simple. U.S. Patent 5,799,989, issued September 1, 1998. You run the risk of crushing or damaging the CSST tubing when you place the clamp on it and that is a bad thing. He's talking about CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) gasline. 800-818-3201 Free Shipping on orders over $99 ship free Ship To: 11234 If the plumber strips the jacket back more than 2 inches from the fitting, TracPipe requires the installation to be wrapped in self-bonding silicone tapeandhave the additional bonding like the old yellow CSST. I am also aware of the FACs on the market today, although it is not a product I typically use. :thumbsup: As far as the NEC goes, the EGC bonds it, but CSST manufacturers specify at least a #6. They are similar in the fact that both are made from flexible stainless steel, and both are typically yellow in color. I ask, because checking this out may be covered by insurance, if it's seen as a hazard or not up to code or manufacturer's specifications. Email ABI Home Inspections The bonding helps achieve an equipotential state between the CSST and other similarly bonded metallic systems (such as the water piping, structural steel, electrical raceways and coax cable). 2012 NFPA 54 NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE Chapter 7 Gas Piping Installation. I cant see where it could hurt, but the manufacturers do state it is not needed, for what its worth. You can also see the pipe sizing chart for the manufacturer Gastite here. Can US code flexible stainless steel tubing be used in canada. When certain conditionsof an electrical storm are present around/in the home, the CSST can fail, create a gas leak, and start a fire. The maximum allowed bending radius is usually 3-inches for 3/4" CSST and up to 5-inches for 1" or larger CSST. According to Jim Narva, executive director of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, that association is focusing on informing homeowners of the need for retrofit ground bonding of older CSST installations. Home Building Code Flex Gas Line Code. Please change your password. Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like. Want to learn all about flex line gas code and proper installation? The single-layer black jacket is designed to absorb arcing energy caused by a lightning strike preventing perforation of the tubing wall. Some local jurisdictions further detail CSST gas piping installation specifications such as where and how it can be routed. GAS PIPING, FLEXIBLE CSST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. They are similar in the fact that both are made from flexible stainless steel, and both are typically yellow in color. Bottom line: CSST flexible gas piping is indeed sold in versions that are rated for outdoor use. Flexible gas line or CSST is easy to install. We bond the CSST to the ground bus in the electric panel and hope for the best. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHTNING PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME, YOULL WANT TO RESEARCH THE NFPA 780 STANDARDS. Thanks J. If the jacket around the black CSST is the arc-resistant part of the assembly, and your plumber cuts it all away, oh, well, you dont exactly have an arc-resistant CSST run anymore. Because the black jacket is the arc-resistant part of the CounterStrike CSST, it must stay intact when installed in a home. Sediment traps are short pieces of pipe that capture 'sediment' and other particles that are in gas. If you are concerned with your install I would have an electrician check the bonding of the system to make sure things are done correctly. The current Fuel Gas Code requires CSST to be bonded anywhere along the electrical service grounding electrode system . What you really need to pay attentionto is the keyword may. The truth is you cant know what will happen, as lightning does what it wants. Submitted by Ray Thornburg on Tue, 02/12/2013 - 12:37 Ray Thornburg's blog; Flexible gas line code is a set of government regulations that controls flex gas line installations. The bonding jumper shall connect to a metallic pipe or fitting between the point of delivery and the first downstream CSST fitting. Yellow is the universal color for anything gas related in a home. CSST run underground must be in conduit with the conduit vented under normal conditions. A separate grounding electrode and grounding system cannot be established just for the fuel gas piping system. CSST is typically yellow-clad and sold in 75 ft. coils with an inside diameter of inch. CSST that is not arc-resistant is only allowed to use method (4) or (5) of section 250.104(B) of the NEC per section 310.1.1 of the NC Fuel and Gas Code. It is used frequently in construction in lieu of black iron pipe today, which is the traditional material used for gas distribution (both natural gas and propane). This flexible gas piping has a very thin metal wall, only about 0.3-mm thick, and it can become a fire hazard if improperly installed. CSST comes in rolls as long as a few hundred feet. Please enter your e-mail address below. This movement of electrons cancause arcing between the building materials that can carry electrical current. 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. GasTite, Inc., (manufacturer of FlashShield system Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST). Flex gas lines or CSST typically have a lifespan of around 30-years. As the documented history of these incidents developed, tests were conducted which proved that lightning could damage CSST gas piping, and which suggested a way to reduce the possibility of lightning damage. Can csst be supported on the bottom of floor joists in basement. 4. This did not prevent the leak I described, as the CSST looped up and was hit by a pneumatically-driven flooring nail 2. meets code. The yellow coated stainless steel gas line. When the restoration contractor removed one section of drywall, the smell of gas poured out. FACs will come with a data tag hanging on them, unless the installer tears it off. Rising Tide Consulting, L. L. C., and L. L. C. Cutting Edge Solutions. Thank you! Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, better known as CSST, is a flexible stainless steel tubing used to supply natural gas or propane in a home. Its worth noting that there is a newer versionof CSST that has ablack jacketon it that has been available for the past few years. I am concerned that it may be a safety issue. - original source: http://homeflex.com/downloads/HOME-FLEX_Installation_Manual.pdfTracPipe, CANADIAN FLEXIBLE GAS PIPING DESIGN GUIDE & INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS [PDF] this is no longer required by the national fuel gas code. hU]k;+xbHFrK(bf49:K)8+ZA;]8[0_V`5QE%8!g_p>[Xf&B xwxV4YxMUz" N%r:3Tl*@S3D@X$>H@3H'EeKkOuAz. In addition, manufacturers require protective plating to prevent nails from damaging the flexible gas lines. Photo 1 shows a natural gas service entering a building, with a field-assembled manifold for connecting CSST to serve three gas appliances, plus a run of black pipe serving another manifold on the other side of the building. Can i bond Csst at my furnace to a copper water line ? Each aboveground portion of a gas piping system other than CSST that is likely to become energized shall be electrically continuous and bonded to an effective ground-fault current path. Can csst be supported on the bottom of floor joists in basement. Your article is very comprehensive and thorough. CSST needs to be supported at certain intervals with clips or straps. U.S. Patent 8,251,085, issued August 28, 2012. Read Also >> What Is The Code For Stairs? The reason for the development of CSST was to improve the safety of gas line systems in buildings during earthquakes. If it were water piping, it would be PEX. CodeNotes CSST Bonding. Inspectors should note the presence of this marking when inspecting for compliance with IFGC Section 310.3/IRC Section G2411.3. Explore all the benefits that ICC Membership has to offer and become a member today to gain access to this exciting content. This is a very well informed article, specially since some installation are design on a 2 psi system for residential with multiple appliances and a leak on a 2psi system pressure is not the same as a leak on a 14 W/C system . The manufacturer will specify where and when shutoff valves will need to be required. Only a single point of attachment is required regardless of the length or complexity of the piping system. . FLEXIBLE APPLIANCE CONNECTORS WERE ONCE MADE FROM UNCOATED BRASS AS YOU SEE IN THE IMAGE BELOW. So. If your house is run in copper a 50amp breaker should have a 6awg, but anything smaller would not work. Website: www.parker.com, Pro-Flex, LLC (manufacturer of ProFlex CSST Flexible Gas Piping) If it were electrical wiring, it would be Romex. This normally occurs during a power surge or lightning strike. I'm here to help you maintain, inspect, and renovate your home! Uniform Plumbing Code, the . Most model and enacted building codes require that just about any building component, equipment or device should be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. arrow_right. 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. U.S. Patent 6,276,728, issued August 21, 2001. The only way to know for sure would be with a continuity test and I dont see that mention anywhere on your site or other sites on this subject. Be sure to read those and the applicable standards that are given in the article above on this page as well as manufacturers own installation instructions. TracPipeCounterStrikehas been shown to be up to 400 times more resistant to the damaging effects of electrical energy than conventional CSST. CSST is short forCorrugated Stainless Steel Tubing. A Discussion About CSST Gas Lines and its Requirements. These supports basically hold the flex gas line in place and help prevent unwanted movement of the gas line. Does this mean the black stuff doesnt have the same problems as the yellow? [No additional manufacturer bonding requirements]. "Secondary contained csst pipe and fitting assembly." Corrugated Stainless Steel Gas Line Tubing. ", 2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ILCP), Vienna, Austria. It was invented in the 1980's in Japan. 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. CSST has the same style body, but you can barely make this out because of the thickheat-shrink style jacket that is covering the tubing. Many U.S. states around 2006 enacted a CSST gas line code that requires electrical bonding of CSST such as this example in Virginia. The CodesNotes collection has recently been expanded to include a selection of notes offered in Spanish. Goodson, Mark E. "Method of preventing electrically induced fires in gas tubing." Im installing a propane gas stove and will tap off the 220v stove receptical for a 110v for the stove power. Protective plates need to be installed to protect flex gas lines from punctures. See details at FLEXIBLE GAS CONNECTOR INSTALL. 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. Goodson in a patent application (2009) also reported on the effectiveness of direct bonding of both yellow and black CSST gas piping to reduce the risk of damage from indirect lightning flashing. Old homes with flexible gas lines were up to code when the home was built. CSSTis a flexible gas line material that has been used in millions of homes across the United States and the world. 0 U.S. Patent 7,562,448, issued July 21, 2009. However, I dont think the ground wire of that circuit will meet the minimum requirements of a 6awg wire. 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. 'm not aware of any cast iron gas piping in modern use. The code requirements from latest model codes, 2018 National Fuel Gas Code and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code will be presented. by InspectApedia (Editor) (mod) - Can csst be used outside. 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. CSST x 25 ft. We had trouble relating industry estimates with US Census data and U.S. Energy Information Agency data, but there is no doubt that the piping has been installed in many homes in Canada, the United States, and Japan. What Is The Code For Water Heater Installations? I talked to a very nice guy named Joe (sorry I did not get his last name.). Plumbers and homeowners will need to follow the manufacturer's requirements and they should not bend the CSST too far. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CSST Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing 37 Ft 3/4" Flexible Natural Gas Line Pipe at the best online prices at eBay! Tubing ) gasline system corrugated stainless steel tubing be used in millions of across... 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