The long narratives are fine but they should also clearly state the need for grounding and include a recommendation for proper grounding by someone familiar with the issue. Many clients will not do the research and could think the issue is about a gas leak.
Valid point. I think I will change mine to reflect that.
Thanks!
What I’m looking for is who to recommend to inspect this pipe for proper grounding if it is not obvious as to weather it is properly grounded/bonded. I’ve had a plumber tell me that all individual runs should be grounded?
John Volk
1st Inspection Services
Heath, OH 43056
Do you have a continuity tester?
Although only four of the six CSST manufacturers were parties to the Class Action suit,
all six have informally agreed to upgrade their bonding requirements for the CSST
system. Generally speaking, the new bonding method requires the attachment of a
bonding clamp to either the CSST fitting or to a piece of steel pipe located near the
service entrance to the building. The bonding jumper shall be no smaller than a 6 AWG
copper wire (for residential applications)
Here are some great links including very detailed training for gastite.
http://www.toolbase.org/pdf/techinv/csst_lightningconcerns.pdf
http://www.gastite.com/bonding.php
Everyone needs to understand why its referred to as “additional bonding”.
A continuity tester will not do anything to check for additional CSST bonding.
It will show continuity to ground even without the additional bond.
The gas pipe already has a ground connection via the pipe’s connection to the furnace valve and through the furnace valves connection to the cabinet enclosure and the cabinets enclosures connection to the green wire at the branch circuit splice where the green is spliced to the copper equipment ground conductor.
Some areas of the country try to keep the gas piping ungrounded via local codes to prevent current flow on it but they may not have considered the gas valve being mounted to metal that is bonded to ground.
Trac Pipe has gone through a redesign and is now know as counter strike no bonding is required.
Bonding is required in most areas for all gas piping.
**Additional bonding **is not required for counterstrike.
Some elecricians are adding the **additional bond **anyway during construction. They are smart to do this.
The counterstrike is not new, its been around for at least 5 years.
No longer relevant as a Federal Judge has declared the product Defective…
pg. 52-53 states otherwise
all AHJ are not the same
http://www.tracpipe.com/Technical/CSST_Installation_Instructions/
Unfortunately,
Deposition (in the case I posted) revealed the Manufacturer’s never properly tested.
*Omegaflex also argued that a properly bonded CSST system could withstand the energy produced from an indirect lightning strike. **Omegaflex’s failure to ever test TracPipe’s ability to withstand such energy, when properly bonded, proved fatal to its defense. ***
*The National Electric and Fuel Gas Codes both contain bonding requirements for household gas and electric systems. However, these codes are intended to address life safety issues arising from stray electric current, as opposed to the dissipation of the energy created by an indirect lightning strike. Despite this, CSST manufacturers, as an industry, argue that compliance with these code requirements demonstrates their products to be safe. ** However, the National Fire Protection Association is currently evaluating the effectiveness of bonding as it relates to CSST and has considered recommending a complete ban on the sale of CSST, ***
I am sure additional litigation will follow.
Jury is still out…
So Joe, when you encounter CSST what do you recommend reporting?
Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)
- CSST is noted as installed for the fuel gas gas lines.
- Law Suits have been filed against the manufacturers of CSST where preliminary Court findings / decisions have declared the product Defective. Additional litigation is pending. Anticipate fuel gas supply / distribution replacement needs.
Short and sweet. TY. 
Home owners insurance and lawyers are teaming to subrogate inspectors insurance years after the inspection. Reference http://www.cozen.com/task-forces/csst-task-force I’ll leave it to all to suggest ways to verify all aspects of the home meet the most current code.