Maryland State Fire Marshal
Media Advisory Martin O’Malley Governor
William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal
FLEXIBLE CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL GAS PIPE FOUND TO BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) PIKESVILLE, MD (October 28, 2011) – State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard urges all Marylanders with buildings and homes constructed between 1989 – 2009 that have CSST installed, to have the tubing checked for proper bonding/grounding. Marylanders are encouraged to have these systems checked by a qualified and licensed electrician, plumber and/or gasfitter. CSST is a flexible metal gas tubing used in many homes and buildings since 1989. It typically has a yellow outer covering and is used to supply natural gas or propane to furnaces, water heaters and/or other gas appliances. (See attached photos). Lightning strikes on or around a structure have been shown to cause an electrical current to travel into the structure and upon reaching the CSST tubing, when not properly bonded/grounded, has in some cases caused a perforation in the sidewall of the tubing as it arcs outward seeking for a ground. This arcing can ignite the pressurized gas leaking from the perforation and in some cases has caused a significant fire. Costs associated with performance of these services vary between service companies. It is suggested to compare prices for this service before selecting a company to perform a safety check of your system.
This photo depicts a hole created from excessive electrical current after a lightning strike.
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Since 2009, new or modified installations of CSST have been required to meet the specifications for bonding and grounding as stated in the 2009 NFPA- 54 (7.13.2) National Fuel Gas Code; 2008 NFPA-70 National Electrical Code; and the latest manufacturer’s installation requirements.
The following link may be used as a guide: • http://thecuttingedgellc.com/downloads/CES_ Bonding_Guidelines.pdf The following links may be consulted in order to determine the manufacturer’s installation requirements: • www.wardmfg.com • www.gastite.com • www.tracpipe.com • www.parker.com/literature/Parflex/4660PGP2T_September_2007_web.pdf • www.tru-flex.com • www.metalfab.com
“Although previous installations of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing prior to 2009 were installed to code requirements at the time of their installation, It is recommended these systems be checked for proper grounding to meet the latest manufacturer’s requirements and safety standards found in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes,” stated Fire Marshal Barnard. ### The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124 or log onto our website at: www.firemarshal.state.md.us.
Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876
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