Grounding gas pipe
#1
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Grounding gas pipe
During my electrical inspection for my partial house rewire project, the inspector suggested that I ground the gas pipe. He said use some #6 bare copper and a clamp to the pipe.
My gas line comes out of the dirt and then goes to the meter. It is a thick steel black pipe and supplies gas to my water heater, clothes dryer, furnance, and fireplace.
1. Where do I attach the pipe clamp? Near the panel or anywhere on the pipe?
2. Should I wirebrush the pipe before applying the clamp?
3. Should I put clamps on the both sides of the gas meter and then connect the clamps with bare #6 too?
My gas line comes out of the dirt and then goes to the meter. It is a thick steel black pipe and supplies gas to my water heater, clothes dryer, furnance, and fireplace.
1. Where do I attach the pipe clamp? Near the panel or anywhere on the pipe?
2. Should I wirebrush the pipe before applying the clamp?
3. Should I put clamps on the both sides of the gas meter and then connect the clamps with bare #6 too?
#2
Do none of the above.
Did he suggest it, or demand it?
The way you suggest would make this pipe an electrode. This is expressly prohibited by the NEC. Most often gas piping is bonded (NOT grounded!!) by the grounding conductor of the branch circuit the appliance it is serving, such as a furnace. I guess the only exception to this is if the gas pipe is only feeding a water heater with no electric.
Here is the code section regarding this:
(B) Other Metal Piping
Where installed in or attached to a building or structure, metal piping system(s), including gas piping, that is likely to become energized shall be bonded to the service equipment enclosure, the grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode conductor where of sufficient size, or to the one or more grounding electrodes used. The bonding jumper(s) shall be sized in accordance with 250.122, using the rating of the circuit that is likely to energize the piping system(s). The equipment grounding conductor for the circuit that is likely to energize the piping shall be permitted to serve as the bonding means. The points of attachment of the bonding jumper(s) shall be accessible.
Did he suggest it, or demand it?
The way you suggest would make this pipe an electrode. This is expressly prohibited by the NEC. Most often gas piping is bonded (NOT grounded!!) by the grounding conductor of the branch circuit the appliance it is serving, such as a furnace. I guess the only exception to this is if the gas pipe is only feeding a water heater with no electric.
Here is the code section regarding this:
(B) Other Metal Piping
Where installed in or attached to a building or structure, metal piping system(s), including gas piping, that is likely to become energized shall be bonded to the service equipment enclosure, the grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode conductor where of sufficient size, or to the one or more grounding electrodes used. The bonding jumper(s) shall be sized in accordance with 250.122, using the rating of the circuit that is likely to energize the piping system(s). The equipment grounding conductor for the circuit that is likely to energize the piping shall be permitted to serve as the bonding means. The points of attachment of the bonding jumper(s) shall be accessible.
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Thanks
Thanks Speedy for the detailed reply, especially the code reference. I won't jump the meter.
The inspector suggested grounding the gas pipe. He said it would make it safer and he did it on his home. He said anything that might conduct should be grounded.
I agree that the furnance is grounded but I think the inspector knows about my furnance since it is very common here. Would it hurt to put a clamp with a ground wired to the panel on the gas pipe, or just be overkill?
The inspector suggested grounding the gas pipe. He said it would make it safer and he did it on his home. He said anything that might conduct should be grounded.
I agree that the furnance is grounded but I think the inspector knows about my furnance since it is very common here. Would it hurt to put a clamp with a ground wired to the panel on the gas pipe, or just be overkill?
#4
There is no code violation in bonding the gas pipe with a larger than required wire.
The gas pipe cannot be the grounding electrode. If you have a water pipe ground and/or two ground rods already then they will become the Grounding Electrode System.
Normally the gas pipe is bonded by the Equipment Grounding conductor, that runs with the circuit to the appliance that is using both the gas and the electric. (stove, dryer etc)
Adding an extra wire between the panel and the gas pipe is not required by national code, but will not hurt either. The key is that the Grounding Electrode System is already in place.
The gas pipe cannot be the grounding electrode. If you have a water pipe ground and/or two ground rods already then they will become the Grounding Electrode System.
Normally the gas pipe is bonded by the Equipment Grounding conductor, that runs with the circuit to the appliance that is using both the gas and the electric. (stove, dryer etc)
Adding an extra wire between the panel and the gas pipe is not required by national code, but will not hurt either. The key is that the Grounding Electrode System is already in place.