Thread: wire for bonding csst

Does it matter if the #6 wire for csst bonding is bare solid or stranded?

If not is there a preference and why?

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From the 2008 NEC: (underlining and bold are mine)
- 250.104 Bonding of Piping Systems and Exposed Structural Steel.
- - (B) Other Metal Piping. Where installed in or attached to a building or structure, a 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 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.
- - - FPN: Bonding all piping and metal air ducts within the premises will provide additional safety.

- 110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use of Equipment.
- - (B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.

From the Gastite TracPipe installation guide (which is what 110.3(B) above refers us to):
- 4.10 Electrical Bonding of Gastite®/FlashShield™ CSST
- - b) Direct bonding of Gastite® CSST is required for all gas-piping systems incorporating Gastite® CSST whether or not the connected gas equipment is electrically powered. This requirement is provided as part of the manufacturer's instruction for single-family and multi-family buildings. A person knowledgeable in electrical system design, the local electrical code and these requirements should specify the bonding for commercial applications.
- - - Gastite® CSST installed inside or attached to a building or structure shall be electrically continuous and direct bonded to the electrical ground system of the premise in which it is installed. The gas piping system shall be considered to be direct bonded when installed in accordance with the following:
- - - - The piping is permanently and directly connected to the electrical service equipment enclosure, the grounded conductor at the electrical service, the grounding electrode conductor (where of sufficient size) or to one or more of the grounding electrodes used.
- - - - For single and multi-family structures, a single bond connection shall be made downstream of the individual gas meter for each housing unit and upstream of any CSST connection. The bonding conductor shall be no smaller than a 6 AWG copper wire or equivalent. The bonding jumper shall be attached in an approved manner in accordance with NEC Article 250.70 and the point of attachment for the bonding jumper shall be accessible. Bonding/grounding clamps shall be installed in accordance with its listing per UL 467 and shall make metal-to-metal contact with the piping. This bond is in addition to any other bonding requirements as specified by local codes.
- - - - (this section continues, but the above addresses the bonding requirement size)

Okay, so now we are at the #6 AWG for the bond (I wanted to post the above so all knew how we got there), and to answer your questions:
- a) Does it matter if the #6 wire for csst bonding is bare solid or stranded?
- b) If not is there a preference and why?

The answer to a) is that any of the choices are allowed: solid or stranded, bare or insulated.

My answer to b) is insulated stranded, because insulated wire has a layer of protection around it to protect the conductor and stranded because stranded conductors carry more current than solid conductors as a matter of actual ampacity, not related to code limitations on ampacity.

In 4.10 of the installation instruction you may have noticed this (red is mine): 4.10 Electrical Bonding of Gastite®/FlashShield™ CSST, and the bonding requirements for FlashShield is as follows:
- 4.10 Electrical Bonding of Gastite®/FlashShield™ CSST
- - a) Unlike Gastite®, there are no additional bonding requirements for FlashShield™ imposed by the manufacturer’s installation instructions. FlashShield™ is to be bonded in accordance with the National Electrical Code NFPA 70 Article 250.104 in the same manner as the minimum requirements for rigid metal piping. However, installers must always adhere to any local requirements that may conflict with these instructions.

FlashShield still must be bonded, but only in accordance with the NEC, in which case the #6 AWG likely gets smaller, much smaller.

JP,
Many thanks.