CSST bond wires or clamps shall ALWAYS be connected to:
- Customer piping — as close to the natural gas meter as practical.
- A CSST brass fitting, a steel manifold or rigid pipe component connected to a CSST fitting.
- The electrical service grounding system. This connection may be made at either: the ground rod, the ground-wire running to the rod, or in the electric service-panel (also known as Circuit-Breaker Box or Panel).
Where do I bond CSST?
single and multi-family structures a single bond connection shall be made on an accessible rigid piping component or CSST fitting located downstream of the utility gas meter or second-stage LP regulator. The bonding clamp attachment point may be at any location within the gas piping system. However, the shortest practical bonding wire
How to install CSST fittings?
Installation Instructions
- Thread and tighten the NPT end of the fitting into the fixed connection. ...
- Using a utility knife or scissorstyle pipe cutter, cut through the coating of the tubing just behind the fourth valley and remove the jacket form the tubing.
- Slide the nut over the CSST tubing and jacket.
What is CSST grounding?
CSST (Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing) bonding is a technique in which a conductor is electrically connected to CSST metallic gas piping and then connected to the grounding electrode system to provide a low impedance path to the ground. CSST Bonding is used to reduce the possibility and severity of arcing between conductive systems when energized by a lightning strike on a CSST gas pipe or nearby.
Does CSST gas piping need to be grounded?
What we are learning now is that installations of CSST gas pipe need an additional bonding point to the home’s system grounding for fire safety. There have been house fires blamed on faulty CSST installation without this bonding. CSST is flexible so it can be snaked through the structure.
Does CSST need to be bonded?
The CSST must be permanently bonded directly to the grounding electrode system of the electrical service of the home in which the CSST is installed.
What size wire is required for bonding CSST?
The bonding conductor shall be no smaller than a 6 AWG copper wire or equivalent. The bonding jumper shall be attached in an approved manner in accordance with NEC Article 250.70 and the point of attachment for the bonding jumper shall be accessible.
Can you bond Csst to ground rod?
That means that the bonding conductor for CSST can be connected to the metallic water piping coming into the home, a ground rod at the exterior, or anywhere else on the service grounding electrode system.
How much does it cost to bond CSST?
How much does it cost to ground a gas line? To ground a gas line will typically cost between $100 – $300, depending on the individual circumstances of how it was originally installed. For a more accurate price estimate, contact Dawson's Electric today and we will be happy to assist you.
Does black flexible gas line need to be bonded?
CSST flexible gas piping must be bonded to reduce the risk of damage due to a lightning strike on the home. The most common issue that home inspectors find is the CSST system is not being properly bonded. You can see that the bonding clamp is over the yellow sheathing which will not enable a proper bond.
How far can you run CSST gas line?
6 feetThree- or six-foot long and accessible: The flexible connectors can't go through walls, floors or ceilings, nor can they be concealed. The flexible connector length usually is limited to 3 feet except for gas ranges and clothes dryers. For these appliances, 6 feet generally is allowed.
What is the difference between black and yellow CSST?
The black conductive jacket of CounterStrike® has been shown to be up to 400 times more resistant to the damaging effects of electrical energy than yellow CSST. It also lays straighter and pulls easier than yellow CSST.
Can you connect CSST to black pipe?
0:060:31How to Properly Transition from Black Iron Pipe to HOME-FLEX CSSTYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTransitioning from black iron pipes a home flex CSS T is fast and easy simply attach a female CSS TMoreTransitioning from black iron pipes a home flex CSS T is fast and easy simply attach a female CSS T fitting to the black iron pipe then attach the nut and retainer ring to the CSS T. See.
Can CSST gas line be exposed?
This article describes CSST: corrugated stainless steel tubing used for gas piping in buildings. Since 1990 CSST has been used within many buildings in both exposed and enclosed areas to install new gas system piping.
Can CSST be used in walls?
So, my reading is that CSST is included in 404.7. 2, and would need to be protected for the entire length and width that is within 1 1/2" of the exterior siding or the drywall, it would need to be protected. So, pretty much any time it's installed in a wall, it would need protected from both sides.
Can I bond Csst to water pipe?
That means that the bonding conductor for CSST can be connected to the metallic water piping coming into the home, a ground rod at the exterior, or anywhere else on the service grounding electrode system. This change makes it much easier to properly bond CSST.
What is black flexible gas line called?
Corrugated Stainless Steel TubingCorrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) is a flexible, stainless steel pipe used to supply natural gas in residential, commercial and industrial structures. CSST is often coated with a yellow, or in some cases, a black exterior plastic coating.
What is the difference between black and yellow CSST?
The black conductive jacket of CounterStrike® has been shown to be up to 400 times more resistant to the damaging effects of electrical energy than yellow CSST. It also lays straighter and pulls easier than yellow CSST.
Can I bond Csst to water pipe?
That means that the bonding conductor for CSST can be connected to the metallic water piping coming into the home, a ground rod at the exterior, or anywhere else on the service grounding electrode system. This change makes it much easier to properly bond CSST.
Can you connect CSST to black pipe?
0:060:31How to Properly Transition from Black Iron Pipe to HOME-FLEX CSSTYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTransitioning from black iron pipes a home flex CSS T is fast and easy simply attach a female CSS TMoreTransitioning from black iron pipes a home flex CSS T is fast and easy simply attach a female CSS T fitting to the black iron pipe then attach the nut and retainer ring to the CSS T. See.
Can you run CSST through floor joists?
Besides providing greater durability, CSST is flexible, allowing it to be routed beneath, through and alongside floor joists in your basement, inside interior wall cavities and on top of ceiling joists in attic spaces or connected to fixed appliances such as water heaters.
What is CSST gas line?
CSST is a flexible gas line material that has been used in millions of homes across the United States and the world. CSST is short for Corrugated S...
Are appliance connectors and CSST the same thing?
No. Lots of folks (especially new home inspectors and real estate agents) get confused when they look at a flexible appliance connector or FAC and...
Does CSST need to be grounded?
Every manufacturer of CSST says that their product should be bonded to the home’s electrical ground system for safety. The idea is fairly simple. I...
What size wire should be used when bonding CSST?
The wire used to create the bond between your CSST gas line and the electrical system must be a heavy gauge 6-AWG copper minimum size. You can go b...
Where is the bonding connection made on CSST?
The connection point made to the gas distribution system should be downstream from the gas meter or propane regulator. Ideally, you want to put the...
What is CSST gas line?
This is a relatively new, flexible gas line used all over the country. If it were water piping, it would be PEX. If it were electrical wiring, it would be Romex®. It’s easier to install than other stuff before it, and old-school home inspectors and contractors are super-suspicious and don’t trust it. The building code doesn’t have a ton of rules for CSST; they mostly say to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Each manufacturer has a huge document telling you about all of the dos and don’ts, and I’ve found them to all be pretty similar, as they should be.
Where to bond CSST?
The current Fuel Gas Code requires CSST to be bonded anywhere along the electrical service grounding electrode system. That means that the bonding conductor for CSST can be connected to the metallic water piping coming into the home, a ground rod at the exterior, or anywhere else on the service grounding electrode system. This change makes it much easier to properly bond CSST. To view the current requirement, click the following link to view Section 310.2 of the 2020 Minnesota Fuel Gas Code.
What happens if you don't bond CSST?
Bonding the CSST means that you’re making sure it’s at the same electrical potential as everything else. If CSST is installed without being properly bonded to current standards, you have an increased risk for damage to the material from a nearby lightning strike. If CSST is damaged, it can leak gas and cause an explosion and/or a fire. To the best of my knowledge, all manufacturers of CSST began implementing specific bonding requirements around 2006. Click the image below to see a large version of the installation tag from Gastite dated August 9, 2006.
How to tell if you have CSST?
How can you know if you have CSST in your home? Look for flexible tubing with a yellow or black jacket that covers the ridges. CSST either has a yellow jacket or a black jacket. This material is not to be confused with an appliance connector, which might have a yellow coating that follows the contours of the ridges. The photo below shows the two different materials.
Where does CSST need to be bonded?
Where does CSST need to be bonded, inside or outside of the house? It’s safe to have CSST bonded either inside or outside the house. There has been some confusion on this topic because early editions of the fuel gas code were picky about this, but the current version of the code doesn’t specify. You can bond CSST inside or outside.
Where is the intersystem bonding terminal?
One place that isn’t a proper bonding location is the intersystem bonding terminal, which can be found at the exterior of homes that have been built in accordance with the 2008 NEC or later. That version of the NEC was the first to require an intersystem bonding terminal for low-voltage communication equipment such as television cables, satellites, and phones.
What is grandfathering in building codes?
What about existing installations? Building codes have something called ‘grandfathering’. This means that if something was installed to code, it’s still a code-compliant installation today, even if the codes have changed significantly. The nice thing about being a home inspector is that I don’t need to get hung up on code requirements. If something is deemed unsafe due to a change in accepted residential construction standards, my Standard of Practice requires me to report on it, whether it met code at the time it was installed or not.
What is direct bonding for CSST?
Bonding of CSST is to be considered an electrification work and it should be installed and inspected by a qualified electrical contractor and electrical inspector.
What is CSST Bonding?
CSST (Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing) bonding is a technique in which a conductor is electrically connected to CSST metallic gas piping and then connected to the grounding electrode system to provide a low impedance path to the ground. CSST Bonding is used to reduce the possibility and severity of arcing between conductive systems when energized by a lightning strike on a CSST gas pipe or nearby.
What is a grounding electrode?
The grounding electrode system comprising of grounding electrodes and a grounding electrode conductor. The installation and inspection of the grounding electrodes and grounding systems must be performed by a qualified electrical contractor and electrical inspector.
Why is CSST bonding necessary?
Therefore, CSST Bonding is necessary to reduce the risk of fire or explosion resulting from damaged gas lines in the event of power surges and lightning strikes.
What happens when CSST is installed without being properly bonded?
When CSST is installed without being properly bonded then there is an increased risk of fire or damage to the gas lines when a lightning strike or power surges happens nearby.
What size conductor is needed for a bonding conductor?
The below figure shows an example of a bonding conductor. Example of Bonding Conductor. The bonding conductor must not be longer than 75 feet (22860 MM) ...
How long is a bonding conductor?
The bonding conductor must not be longer than 75 feet (22860 MM) in accordance with the National Fuel Gas Code, the International Fuel Gas Code, and the Uniform Plumbing Code.
What is bonded gas line?
The risk is tremendously reduced when CSST flexible gas lines are “bonded “ (BONDED DEFINED: Connected with wiring to take electrical current away from CSST flexible gas lines in the event of a lightening-strike on or near the home). Lightning-strikes have a documented history of creating holes in CSST gas lines, allowing the gas to escape and dramatically increasing the risk of gas-fueled fires in the home. Confined gas fumes that are in a closed room or an unoccupied home can lead to an explosion.
Why do you need to bond CSST gas piping?
CSST flexible gas piping must be bonded to reduce the risk of damage due to a lightning strike on the home. The most common issue that home inspectors find is the CSST system is not being properly bonded.
What is the difference between natural gas and propane lines?
Underground natural gas lines are primarily polyethylene. Propane lines coming to the home are either copper or polyethylene. Polyethylene flexible gas piping is engineered and certified for underground installations. These lines are made in many sizes, from quite large to residential-service lines going to individual homes or a home’s exterior equipment like pool heaters or backup generators.
What to do if you feel gas fumes?
WARNING: IF YOU SMELL What you feel is a GAS or propane fume — LEAVE YOUR HOME & LAWN. THEN CALL 911 & YOUR LOCAL GAS SUPPLIER.
Do homes have gas lines?
Many homes have gas lines in their attic and buried in walls. If your concerned, the home needs to be inspected, and (if not present) proper bonding must be installed to CSST gas lines, to help protect the home in the event of a lightning strike.
Can gas lines be damaged by lightning?
Most homes have gas lines in their attic, walls & basements. CSST flexible gas lines in the attic are a prime candidate for damage from lightning strikes. Especially if they are not protected with Bonding to ensure electrical energy is carried away from the pipe (versus carried by the pipe).
Is CSST gas line safe?
Homes built with CSST flexible gas Lines before the Building Code required bonding were built correctly to the Building Code at the time they were built. BUT that does not mean they are safe. These homes may, or may not have bonded gas lines.
Where is the CSST bonded?
The csst must be bonded at the point where the pipe enters the house. It can be bonded to the black iron pipe that generally enters the building. It does not have to be connected to the csst itself.
What happens to the bond wire in case of lightning strike?
The logic is, in case of a lightning strike, the bond wire will take the hit instead of the CSST taking it back to the GES.
Where is the first CSST fitting?
The first CSST fitting is usually outside at the gas meter.
Can CSST be used in retrofitting?
There a a lot of scenarios where CSST is used in retrofitting an existing system where only one appliance is relocated or replaced. The gas a appliance could be set next to the electric panel in the basement or garage and the gas meter 100 feet away. The design criteria also would like the bonding conductor run as straight as possible without bends for best performance.
Can you tap a GEC?
You can tap the GEC anywhere as long as the connection to the CSST is made outside. It is a bond, not a GEC so you could just use a split bolt or any other connection that works.
Does a bond need to be at the meter?
It can be bonded as he has done. It does not need to be at the meter. the shortest distance is the preference. The home inspector is incorrect.
Does CSST carry voltage?
I believe the logic is in case of a lightning strike, the CSST itself would carry less of the voltage if the bond was made outside. There is less resistance in a #6 CU bond wire than the CSST has so theoretically the voltage should follow the bond wire.
What is the bonding requirement for gas piping?
Modern bonding for gas piping. Today’s bonding requirement for gas piping comes from section 250.104 (B) of the 2017 National Electric Code (NEC), which says the following: If installed in or attached to a building or structure, a metal piping system (s), including gas piping, that is likely to become energized shall be bonded to any ...
What happens when metal is bonded?
Oftentimes, there will be so much current that it trips a circuit breaker.
Is CSST a NEC?
Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, or CSST, is a different animal. The basic requirements of the NEC still apply, but CSST manufacturers have their own requirements, as does the National Fuel Gas Code (NFGC). Check out my blog post from last year for more info on that topic: CSST Bonding
