Page 12 - UGI_Fall_2019

naturalFit

Flexible delivery

CSST offers safety and efficiency in natural gas connections.

By Tonya McMurray
C orrugated stainless steel tubing, or CSST, is becoming the PeaCe oF miNd

standard for natural gas delivery within homes throughout
“CSST is a great, time-saving alternative to black iron pipe or copper
the United States.
to run a natural gas or propane line,” said John Hannan, vice president,
Developed in Japan in the 1980s to reduce the risk of
numerous fittings, cuttings and threading pipe.”
leaking gas and related fires following earthquakes, CSST was an im- sales, Pro-Flex CSST. “Because it’s flexible, it eliminates the need for
provement over the rigid black iron pipe that frequently failed during Due to its flexibility, CSST can be snaked through walls or around
seismic activity. obstacles, making installation easier and quicker.
CSST is a flexible, stainless steel pipe covered in yellow or black plas- Installation time is reduced often as much as 70 percent compared
tic coating. It’s typically routed through, under or along floor joists in to standard piping and can be accomplished with a tube cutter and
the basement, inside interior walls or over ceiling joists in attic spaces. wrench, Hannan said. While CSST is more expensive than traditional
U.S. contractors began using CSST in 1990, and it quickly grew in pipe, the reduced labor and installation costs often result in a lower
popularity because of its convenience. More than 1 billion feet of CSST overall cost.
gas piping has been installed in 8 million U.S. homes since 1990, accord- “CSST has become a common product for gas piping,” said Hoss
ing to CSST Safety, a coalition of CSST manufacturers. Budde, president, Burnaby Manufacturing Ltd. “A lot of consumers will
find that contractors have gotten rid of the threading machine and will
Photo courtesy of Pro-flex csst connections, which makes it more resistant to leaks.
only offer hookups using this product.”
In addition to convenience and easier installation, CSST has fewer

“CSST leaves a job with virtually only two joints, one at the connection
of the service and one at the appliances,” Budde said. “It gives peace of
mind knowing there are no joints in the walls or ceilings.”
The yellow or black PVC cover makes CSST easily identified during
any renovation work, so contractors and homeowners know exactly
where the gas piping is, Budde said.
Installation should be performed by a qualified professional who can
ensure the CSST is properly connected. Building codes require CSST
to be bonded to prevent electric shock in case of failure in a branching
circuit and grounded to prevent damage or fire from an electrical surge
caused by lightning.
Building codes before 2009 did not require bonding or grounding of
CSST, so homeowners with CSST installed in older homes should have
it inspected by a qualified electrician to make sure it complies with
current codes, according to CSST Safety.
When installing CSST, it’s important to accurately identify the
British thermal unit, or BTU, requirements of a given appliance
since that will determine the appropriate tube size for the machine
to operate effectively, Hannan said. Consumers should also know
that it is prohibited to mix and match fittings from different CSST
manufacturers.
Corrugated stainless steel tubing, or CSST, has replaced iron and copper pipes “Not all CSST brands are the same,” he said. “Be sure to read the
as a way of delivering natural gas and propane to residential and commercial reviews that sellers of CSST will provide.” n
facilities due to its greater safety and ease of installation.

12 naturalLiving ❙ Fall - Winter 2019