CSST Tubing: Standards, Testing & Certification Presented by: Valerie Madarasz, CSA Group June 23, 2016
CSA Group •One of the largest independent, not-for-profit membership- based Standards Development Organizations in North America. •In business since 1919. • Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory providing Third Party Certification & Testing, Field Evaluation, and Product Evaluation services • Global - 37 offices and laboratories in 14 countries. • U.S. – 10 offices and laboratories in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. 8,200 3,000+ 1,800 Standards Committee Members Standards and Codes Highly Dedicated Staff 35,000 1 Billion customers using CSA services products bear CSA mark worldwide 2
CSA Group in the U.S. 1918: American Gas Association (AGA) formed. • • 1925-1930: Laboratories & research facilities established in Ohio and California . • 1993: AGA sold laboratories & research facilities and International Approval Services (IAS) was formed with Canadian Gas Association (CGA) to manage standards development and testing & certification of gas appliances. • 1997: Canadian Standards Association (CSA) acquired IAS and the testing & certification business became CSA International . • 2003: U.S. laboratories expanded to include testing of electric and plumbing products. • 2011: “One CSA” – expanded certification and testing services under name of CSA Group. For more information: www.csagroup.org 3
What is CSST? • Flexible, stainless steel pipe used to supply fuel gas in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. • Developed in Japan in 1980’s as a safety improvement over rigid black iron gas pipes that often failed & started fires during earthquakes. • Not to be confused with flexible connectors that connect moveable gas appliances to gas supply line. • Typically found beneath, through & alongside floor joists, inside interior wall cavities, on top of ceiling joists in attics, or connected to appliances such as water heaters. • As of 2012, over one billion feet of CSST has been installed in approx. seven million buildings in the U.S.* * Source: National Association of State Fire Marshals http://csstsafety.com/ 4
Rigid Pipe vs. CSST Rigid Pipe • Susceptible to breaking during earthquakes & other natural disasters. • Has multiple joints that can often leak. • Most rigid pipe is imported. • Cheaper than CSST, but requires special equipment and tools. • Rigid pipe joints and fittings are a recognized cause of gas leakages, gas fires and explosions*. • Pipe dope deteriorates over time and can leak when exposed to lightning strikes. * NFPA Guide to Fire and Explosion Investigations (NFPA 921) Chapter 9 5
Rigid Pipe vs. CSST CSST • Durable and flexible – ability to be “snaked” around walls. • Easier and faster to install using typical hand tools. • Eliminates need for: – precise on-site measuring, cutting & threading of piping sections – Additional fittings, i.e. joints, elbows, tees & couplings • Most CSST installed in U.S. is manufactured in the U.S. to a nationally recognized standard. • More expensive than rigid pipe. • Direct bonding required to reduce impact of lightning strikes on piping systems. 6
Manufacturers of CSST 7
Standard Development Timeline • 1983 – Gas Research Institute (GRI) identified CSST as viable alternative to rigid black iron gas pipe. • 1986 - American Gas Association (AGA) asked to develop construction & performance criteria as basis for 3 rd party certification. • 1987- “ AGA Requirements for Natural Gas Piping Systems Using Corrugated Stainless Steel Conduit ”, No.1-87 published. Referenced in 4 th edition of National Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 54/ANSI • Z223.1 as recognized document for testing & listing CSST systems. • Reluctance by local code authorities to accept systems not covered by a nationally recognized safety standard. • 1989 – AGA applied to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for recognition. 8
Standard Development Timeline • AGA 1-87 retitled as proposed “ American National Standard for Fuel Gas Piping Using Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing, AGA LC1 ”. • 1991 – First edition approved by ANSI. • 1994 – Harmonized draft standard for US and Canada processed as proposed ANSI standard. 1997 – First edition of ANSI/IAS LC 1 ● CGA 6.26 harmonized • standard. 2004 – Second edition - ANSI LC 1 ● CSA 6.26. • ANSI LC 1 ● CSA 6.26-2014 • 2014 – Third edition - 2016 – Fourth edition - ANSI LC 1 ● CSA 6.26-2016 • 9
Scope of Standard • Applies to fuel gas piping systems using CSST. • Intended for installation in residential, commercial or industrial buildings. • Includes following components: – Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) – Fittings for connection to CSST – Striker plates to protect from threat of puncture – Other components – gas manifolds, gas pressure regulators, manual gas valves, quick disconnect devices, etc. • Applies to CSST systems in which portions of piping are exposed to outdoors to make connections to outdoor gas meters or gas appliances, on or located in close proximity to building structure. • Applies to piping systems not exceeding 2 inches based on nominal inside diameter of tubing. 10
Scope of Standard /continued….. • Applies to piping systems rated at either 5 psi and intended for exposure to maximum operating pressures not exceeding 6.5 psi, or rated at 25 psi and intended for exposure to maximum operating pressures not exceeding 30 psi . • Manufacturer has option to certify system to either pressure rating. • Does not apply to gas connectors for appliances – covered by separate standards. • Does not apply to systems intended for use with propane in liquid state. • Does not apply to CSST, coated or uncoated, intended for direct burial underground (only when encased inside an approved conduit or as part of approved engineered system, in accordance with local codes & manufacturer's instructions). Note: CSST is not intended for supply. 11
Construction Construction requirements in the Standard include the following: – Materials – Gas Pressure Regulators – Manually Operated Gas Valves – Quick Connect Devices & Gas Convenience Outlets – Striker Plates – Instructions – Marking – Installer Training 12
Construction - Materials • New and unused parts and materials only. • 300 series stainless steel alloy. • Evidence of: – composition of materials used in components & piping system and suitability for intended use. – evaluation for resistance to moisture, corrosion, chemicals, sulfur compounds, etc. • For CSST that includes non-metallic coating or covering: – coating shall comply with international color designation – yellow . – evidence of testing for flame spread & smoke density as specified in ASTM E84 • Jacket or covering applied to CSST shall be either yellow or black and marked in a contrasting color. 13
Construction - Gas Pressure Regulators • Piping system for use at gas pressures exceeding 0.5 psi , but intended for equipment rated for 0.5 psi , shall include gas pressure regulator to limit downstream supply pressure to 0.5 psi. • Installation instructions must specify that such a regulator is installed. • Regulators supplied by manufacturer for use with CSST systems shall comply with nationally recognized standard for pressure regulators. • For system pressures up to 5 psi , regulator shall either incorporate construction that will “lock up” under no-flow conditions to prevent downstream pressure in excess of 5 psi or regulator must be installed with an overpressure protection device. 14
Construction - Gas Valves & Quick Disconnect Devices • Manually operated gas valve supplied as part of gas piping system shall comply with recognized standards & have pressure rating of not less than 5 psi. • Or comply with recognized standard for pressures less than 0.5 psi. • Quick-disconnect device or gas convenience outlet supplied as part of gas piping system shall comply with recognized standards. 15
Construction - Striker Plates • Striker plates shall be provided by manufacturer to protect installed CSST from penetration by nails, screws etc., in areas where CSST will be concealed. • Shall be designed to protect CSST at points of penetration through a stud, joist, plate, etc. • Shall include a means for securely mounting/attaching the striker plate to a permanent part of the structure. 16
Construction - Instructions • Complete, detailed instructions for proper sizing, installation, inspection & repair of the CSST system shall be provided by the manufacturer. • Instructions shall be included in a design & installation manual to be provided with the piping system. • The manual shall include instructions on all topics in exact prescribed format shown in Annex A - Minimum design & installation manual requirements. • Instructions shall include warning to installer than installation instructions shall be followed as prescribed by the manufacturer. 17
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