National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own
 
Menu

NECA Online Help Desk
Please leave a message
Submit your Code Question | Subscribe to CQD | Un-Subscribe To CQD | Print | Share This | RSS
?
Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Question:

Greetings CQD,

Does the natural gas (NG) external piping, regulator, meter and all the threaded connections require electrical grounding per the national or any other codes pertaining to NG? I am being told by the Gas Company no because they have a plastic fitting (elbow) between the ground being provided on the house side which is proving a ground for my gas appliances. This seems strange to me that they are not grounding their equipment. How does this act if lighting hits their equipment? 

David Chianese

A

Answer:

Hello David,

Thanks for participating. The response is based on the information in your question. Your question mentions grounding twice. The NEC requires that other metal piping, including gas piping be bonded based on Section 250.104(B). NFPA 54 the National Fuel Gas Code also requires metal gas piping to be bonded. Underground gas piping is not permitted to be used as a grounding electrode, based on Section 250.52(B)(1), which explains why many gas companies include a dielectric insulator for isolating the underground metal gas piping from the building electrical system. It is best to contact the local authority having jurisdiction in this situation based on our understanding of differing interpretations of these requirements.  Hope this is helpful.

ABOUT CQD: The Code Question of the Day (CQD) is NECA and ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine’s flagship National Electrical Code (NEC®) public forum for the industry, sponsored by EATON. The daily distribution of Q&A generates a lively dialogue and shares relative Code-based practical responses.

SUBMIT YOUR CODE QUESTION: Click here to submit a question to for inclusion in an upcoming edition of the Code Question of the Day, or email codequestion@necanet.org. 

CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

NECA STANDARDS: NECA publishes the National Electrical Installation Standards™ (NEIS™), a series of ANSI-approved performance and quality standards for electrical construction. NEIS can be purchased in the NECA Store in three formats: a printed or  PDF download of a standard or, as an  annual subscription service.

NECA SAFETY PRODUCTS & PUBLICATIONS: NECA produces electrical safety publications and products for the industry including jobsite safety guides, handbooks and resource kits. View a full listing of available resources and products »

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Unless the question requests a response based on a specific edition, all answers are based on the latest edition of NFPA 70® National Electrical Code®.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 

UPDATE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION PREFERENCES: Subscribe or Unsubscribe from this list.

Submit your Code Question | Subscribe to CQD | Un-Subscribe To CQD | Print | Share This | RSS

© 1999 – 2014 National Electrical Installation Standards. All rights reserved.
Brought to you by NECA. NECA is the voice of the electrical contracting industry NATIONAL ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION STANDARDS, NEIS and the NEIS logo are registered trademarks of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Created by Matrix Group International, Inc.

Follow Us on: