Bonding Piping 101....Good To Know !

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yes, Mike that is the exception that allows the equipment ground of the actual "UNIT" for a lack of better term to be the actual bonding...Yeppers.....however in open crawl spaces and such that have plain gas piping it SHOULD be bonded......and this COULD mean in multiple places....

[Paul W. Abernathy]

ahhh...Educational Information at it's best....

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Ahh..it lives again.....for the Newbies

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

(4) Bonding Conductive Materials to an Effective Ground-Fault Current Path. To remove dangerous voltage from ground faults, electrically conductive metal water piping systems, metal sprinkler piping, metal gas piping, and other metal-piping systems, as well as exposed structural steel members that are likely to become energized, must be bonded to an effective ground-fault current path. Figure Above

Author’s Comment: The phrase “likely to become energized” is subject to interpretation by the authority having jurisdiction.

(5) Effective Ground-Fault Current Path. Metal raceways, cables, enclosures, and equipment, as well as other electrically conductive materials that are likely to become energized, must be installed in a manner that creates a permanent, low-impedance fault-current path that facilitates the operation of the circuit overcurrent device. Figure 250–22

Author’s Comment: To assure a low-impedance ground-fault current path, all circuit conductors must be grouped together in the same raceway, cable, or trench [300.3(B), 300.5(I), and 300.20(A)]. Figure 250–23

The earth is not considered an effective ground-fault current path.

Ok...now from my portions of this educational moment on grounding the gas piping as shown above.

Lets examine Art 250.104(B)- Other Metal Piping

Ok I will try to break this down because I have had alot of e-mails on this question....Q: Do you bond the gas piping within the dwelling to the GEC and so on......ok...I will answer this under the eyes of the 2002 NEC.

Other Metal Piping Systems- Metal piping systems , such as gas or air piping which may become energized, SHALL BE bonded to the service equipment enclosure, the grounded ( neutral ) service conductor, or the grounding electrode or grounding electrode conductor where the grounding electrode is of sufficient size. The bonding jumper SHALL BE sized in accordance with Table 250.122 using the rating of the circuit that may be energize the piping. The equipment grounding ( bonding ) conductor for the circuit that may be energized the piping can serve as the bonding means.

Ok...translation- The equipment grounding ( bonding ) conductor for the circuit that may energize the piping can serve as the bonding means.

Practicle Translation.....If you have a Gas cook top that has a 15A ignitor to the applicance...Do you have to BOND the gas line to it because it is likely to be energized...well YES in theory..but this is taken care of for you in the appliance itself......and completes the requirement....

Now...with that said......Remember this is looked differently at in many AHJ's but the NEC is clear on it's wishes....any piping even GAS lines that may become energized need to be bonded to.....now here is the question....Who determines which is likely to become energized... Ponder that and hope you enjoyed this Bonding Minute.....

If you learn anything from this....remember the EGC of the equipment the piping is run to....can function as the bond.......

BUMP

[Joe Farsetta]

Just dont do it in NY City or Westchester County, NY or Consolidated Edison will turn the gas off!

They are the actual AHJ. Here in Rockland, O&R also has the final say. I NEVER see the gas line bonded...

[Paul W. Abernathy]

lol.......so I should not post it because of (1) county..or state...lol...I can't help it if your state is HALF ASSED backwards....

Hell nothing in NY City gets inspected anyway right away....so go figure.

[Speedy Petey]

I have to say, I agree with Joe AND Paul.

Thing is the gas piping IS bonded, by the circuit conductors. No additional bond is required by code.
The codes reference is right in that image as was stated before. 250.104(B)

NY just does not want an unnecessary additional external bond. I assume this is because if all else fails, the gas pipe does not become a current carrying electrode.

[Pierre Belarge]

There are changes coming in NYS. The national law suit brought about because of CSST installations has brought this topic to the forefront in NY. Many other states have already made changes to deal with this situation. NY is just slower than some

I am curious to see what the end result will be. It will definitely have an impact on the installation of gas pipe bonding. Lets just wait and see.