CSST grounding..part deux

mtfallsmikey

I got on Tuesday during a 2005 NEC code change class...All grounding electrodes are sized by what is the largest ungrounded conductor used in a building; Example would be a 200 amp residential service fed with 4/0 wire. Per Article 250.66 in NEC, the correct wire size for a grounding conductor woud be #4 copper, or #2 aluminum.Of course the proper clamp needs to be used. Some electricians I polled there had run into this before, but AHJ's locally here in Va. will allow the ground to go to the black pipe. Question is, do any of the CSST mfr's. have a UL approved ground clamp/strap to fit their products? Might behoove someone to encourage them to do so and/or petition NEC to add/change Section 250 for this for addition to the 2011 code.

Bryan_16

clamp

My csst supplier is also an elecrical supplier. They provided me with a clamp that fits around the fitting. Never looked for a UL sign. Bryan

John_162

We wouldn't expect any different. If it fits it must be approved.

We don't need no stinken codes

lchmb

I'm confused

You say they allow the grounding clamp to go back to the black iron? What pipe are you talking? The manufacturer call's for the csst to be grounded to the electrical panel and with some maker's allow the grounding to occure through the electrical connection on the unit (depend's on manufacturer). I do believe that trac pipe has a clamp made specific for their brand pipe.

Glenn Sossin_2

Counterstike

We sold the original Trac-Pipe product - returned it all for credit, and brought in their new product Counterstrike. Basically its a black sleeve over the stainless instead of yellow, which is more effective in dissapating/absorbing an electrical charge such as that caused by lightning. The fittings are the same.

As far as I can tell, they added to their price list what appears to be a standard grounding clamp - I don't think it was specially made. In the brochure, they make repeated references to the various electrical codes for grounding. See attachment

mtfallsmikey

Very good info

Looks like the Counterstrike is going in the right direction as far as the bonding question is concerned. But the clamp they sell is no different than a conventional grounding/bonding clamp, and I personally believe the braid would give more surface area as they say, but the wire size table in NEC Article 250 does not include braid. That would be a good question for your AHJ.

Pipemaster

Counterstrike Strikes out in NY

No good anything other than steel pipe has to be YELLOW