 New CSST Gas Tubing-No Bonding Required?Although Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing for gas service in residential construction has been around for several years now, in recent years, there has been some controversy with regards to its safety if it should become "charged", such as during a lightning strike. So What's The Big Deal Originally, homes were supplied with gas via installation of black iron piping which has a thicker wall and is very rigid, making it less susceptible to mechanical damage and possible leaks. Being rigid, however, also made it more difficult to install, requiring the skills of a licensed plumber and significant amounts of time to measure, thread, and install the pipe. CSST on the other hand is generally installed as a single run from a central manifold to each supplied appliance. Having a thinner flexible wall makes it ideal for bending around corners and aligning with the connection to the appliance. This makes the installation in most instances faster and easier. It also makes it more susceptible to mechanical damage and leaks.  As a result, the manufacturers of CSST set stringent guidelines for installation of their product to insure safety. However, in some instances, these guidelines were either not fully understood, or were ignored resulting in the potential for lightning strikes resulting in a "blow out" of the CSST gas line in looking for a less resistant path to ground. This resulted not only in a gas leak, but in some instances, a fire. As a result, CSST was required to be "bonded" with a #6 AWG wire at the meter or before the first connection of CSST to the black iron gas line. Recently, manufacturer's have produced a "new" CSST gas line with a heavier/thicker sleeving material that most are touting as not needing "manufacturer" required bonding. (See the video below for what the new tubing looks like).
Be aware, however, that current code does not differentiate the "old" CSST from the "new" CSST, and most still require bonding, even if it is the "new" type. So even if the seller argues against requiring bonding, remember, code does not currently make the distinction. When in doubt, it is my opinion as a Professional Licensed Home Inspector, that you should bond and ere to the side of caution. |
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