5 Simple Steps to Bond Gas Pipe

Bonding is a safety technique that protects you, your home or your business, from unexpected and dangerous electrical faults.

In simple terms, it connects metal parts and piping to a grounded conductor. Why is this important? Well, if electricity is introduced into a circuit,  for example, during a lightning strike, this can then spread evenly across all components nearby. It can then jump sporadically jump as an arc and cause a fire.

The results of an improper gas pipe can be costly and, in some cases, fatal. For that reason alone, bonding is a requirement by law. You must get up to speed on bonding techniques and inspect and monitor the condition of the bond for future years. This applies to both new and existing systems.

In this article, we’re going to examine how exactly you can bond a gas pipe. We’ll also cite relevant regulations that keep you updated on the requirements expected of you and also share expert tips to help you in your endeavor.

A note on regulations

Although every country and justification may differ in terminology and specifics, bonding gas pipes is almost always a mandatory exercise that needs to pass the satisfaction of a qualified electrician.

Step-by-step on how to bond gas pipes:

The below steps focus primarily on installing and bonding CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing). Tips on working with copper and lead metal piping can be found towards the end.

Equipment you will need:

Below are the tools, fittings, and parts you will need to bond a gas pipe:

  •     CSST piping
  •     Tubing cutter
  •     Deburring blade or utility knife
  •     Bonding clamps
  •     Pipe bushings
  •     Bonding conductor (stranded copper or aluminum)
  •     Pipe straps, bands, or hangers for securing pipes

1. Safety precautions

First, you must ensure you are working in a safe environment. Turn off the gas in your home, and examine all fixtures of your appliance and pipes for any breaks, damage, tears, or signs of weakness.

Ensure all tubings and fittings are clean and dry before any installation. Furthermore, you must ensure harsh chemicals are strictly kept away from the workspace, as these can corrode fittings and the internal structure of the pipe.

2. Plan accordingly

Regulations state that bonding on gas pipes “must be accessible,” so if you are installing a bond in a new building, or rerouting an existing system, make sure you can reach this point of the pipe easily in the future.

Because CSST gas pipes can bond inside and outside your home, this gives you a lot of breathing space on where you can put this accessibility point.

That said, we recommend that you always try to take the most direct route from your gas appliance or existing pipeline to the gas meter or grounding electrode system. This keeps complications to a minimum and protects the pipeline’s structural integrity.

Although somewhat flexible, you should avoid putting unnecessary stress on CSST piping, especially from bending, twisting, and stretching. Gas pipes should have a bend radius of  8” or more, which helps reduce potential arcs from jumping to other conductive surfaces, improving the bond’s effectiveness.

3. Cutting pipe to exact measurements

Many people wish to replace old piping as part of their maintenance. CSST offers many benefits over old tubing, and it is pretty easy to install new parts as you apply your bonding.

Cut the CSST pipe to the desired length on a straight section with your tubing cutter. Generally, it would be best to leave at least 25mm so that you can fit the attachments. Ideally, it would be best to center the cut between the pipe grooves.

Be careful when handling, as the cut-end will no doubt be sharp. Use can use a deburring blade to soften the edges. Place the cut end into the stripping tool, apply gentle pressure, and rotate until the blade cuts through all jacket layers.

4. Threading directly into the gas appliance

Place the pipe into the appliance connection, and slide the nut on. Insert bushing onto the fitting body; this helps connect the tube to the appliance if the diameters do not match. If you feel resistance, this shows a tight connection formed.

Next, using a wrench, slide the nut over the bushing. Only rotate the nut and not the fitting to create a secure seal. Again, feeling some resistance is expected. Many people tape any exposed metal gas piping with a self-bonding silicone tap to protect it from abrasive materials and chemical residue.

5. Insert bonding clamp

Although the below video is designed explicitly for a branded yellow CSST, the same principles may apply, and you can use the technique on other pipe types, sizes, and positions.

  • Attach the bonding clamp to the first fitting of the pipe
  • Next, grab your bonding conductor. This can be either solid or stranded copper or aluminum  – so long as it is not smaller than or equivalent to a six AWG copper wire.
  • Run this through the bonding clamp.
  • This wire is then attached to the grounding network via the busbar box.

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