copper tubing for gas lines

[Aram Sargisian]

i had an inspection last week where a copper pipe was connected to the water heater and the heater, both next to each other in the garage any one ever have trouble with there local or state utility companies, that will not turn on there gas until it is fixed with black pipe.. but now in the NACHI lic state exam there is a question about tieing down copper tubing for a gas pipe does any one ever had this situation. i wrote in the report that it must be changed only because our utility company states u have to have proper piping. shall i notify NACHI to let them change that question around. i can use some help on this one guys and gals
thanks

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

Maybe it's just me, but I can't make any sense of your post. Spelling and grammer go a long way in conveying a clear message. I sure hope your reports don't read this way. . .

Copper piping can be used for NG supply if your utility company allows it.

[Doug Edwards, CMI]

Depends on the local controlling authority. Where I live you never see black iron pipes and most of the time copper tubing is precisely what you will see. Occasionally, there will be flex tubing, CSST. Check with the local authorities on what is allowed, required. This goes for all areas of construction, not just gas piping. In Florida it can vary from county to county.

[rborders]

I was just in St. Louis over the holiday, at my sister's house. I am in the Chicago area and black pipe is all I see. The house is 5 years old and all gas is in copper. Her husband works for the gas company doing turn-ons and repairs. He said copper is acceptable as long as they paint yellow to tell it from the water pipes. He did say that he has had a few calls where someone tried to install a saddle valve on the gas line. Sounds scary to me.

[Charley L. Bottger]

In My area gas company does not allow copper whips on any appliance we pretty well have the general public educated to this fact. I am starting to see less copper. When they first made the rule change here copper is just
about all you would see. Now stainless whips. Different strokes for different folks.

[Barry Adair]

http://www.copper.org/applications/f.../homepage.html

[Robert E. Elliott]

In the past I have heard arguments that it was not allowed due to chemicals which deteriorate the copper.
I understand they have eliminated this chemical in most all areas but whether or not it is allowed I would not trust such a soft metal to carry a flammable gas in my house.
As far as the saddle valve story goes it is true.
When I was working for Sears doing installs for Chicagoland sold appliances, one of the guy's actualy attached a saddle valve to what he thought was a water pipe (for an ice maker).
Around Chicago, black pipe is cheap and used for gas .

[sparksnmore]

In my area no copper is allowed for natural gas, except for tin lined copper.
The chemical that they ad so that the gas will have an odor attacks the coper and can cause a run away water heater or furnace when the copper flakes hold the gas valve open.

[Michael Larson]

Mercaptan does not corrode copper gas lines.

What is mercaptan? Natural gas in its native state is colorless and odorless. Mercaptan is the harmless, non-toxic chemical that is added to natural gas to make it easier to detect in case of a leak. The most important thing to know about mercaptan is that it stinks. Some people compare it to the smell of rotten eggs.

If you don't know what mercaptain smells like, we can send you this free brochure.

In a concentrated form, the smell is almost unbearable. And it takes only a few parts per million of mercaptan to give natural gas a smell. That is precisely why we add it to natural gas. If we did not add mercaptan, it would be hard for you to know that unlit natural gas was coming from your stove after you left the valve turned on. And leaks from furnaces and hot water heaters would be nearly impossible to detect without expensive equipment. So mercaptan's smell is a very valuable safety feature.
Mercaptans contain sulfur. That's what makes them smell. The kind we use blends well with natural gas and, in a gaseous state, has much the same properties as natural gas, so it will also rise and dissipate with natural gas.
There are other uses for mercaptans in industry, including jet fuel, pharmaceuticals and livestock feed additives. They are used in many chemical plants. Mercaptans are less corrosive and less toxic than similar sulfur compounds found naturally in rotten eggs, onions, garlic, skunks, and, of course, bad breath. In other words, forms of mercaptan can be found in things that smell.