The Inspector's Journal Forums
Username:
Password:
Save Password


Join TIJ Forums
Lost Password?
Subscribe to TIJ's Newsletter

All Forums > Technical Forums > Plumbing Forum >

Gas Line Material?

Previous Topic: Old Fangled Water Heater - Topic - Next Topic: goofy trap New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Posted By  
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2784
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Thread Start First Page
[#1] Posted: 09/16/2009 - 9:37:52 PM
Reply with Quote
This gas line runs to an exterior gas powered light. Anyone familiar with this material?
It's some type of semi- rigid rubbery plastic material on a new construction home.
Is it allowed to be exposed on the exterior where it can be easily damaged?

Click to View

32.12 KB

Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2784
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#2] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 12:25:34 AM
Reply with Quote
Man, I don't think I've ever had a post go unanswered. Looks like I may have to contact the builder on this one.

Has anyone seen anything like this used for gas before?

Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
View Profile
Samantha, AL
Posts: 1569
Joined: Sep, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#3] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 06:58:39 AM
Reply with Quote
Check with the AHJ.

It looks like a large auto rubber gas line.

Have a good day inspecting.
Phillip R. Smith Sr.
Samantha (Tuscaloosa) AL
www.homesweethomeinspectionsal.com
"When you inspect crap, you find crap." Phillip 2010
"Always desire to learn something useful."
- Sophocles
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2784
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#4] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 12:07:59 PM
Reply with Quote
Thaks for the reply Phillip.
Any ideas what the little blue thing is at the fitting? (left end of fitting)

Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
View Profile
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Posts: 176
Joined: Sep, 2009
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#5] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 12:40:40 PM
Reply with Quote
The City Department of Gas here in Tahlequah Oklahoma uses a flexible hose for new gas lines underground, and even use them to stub up into a regulator going to natural gas meters. Most times if there is a problem they will dig up before the leak (relevance to gas flow) cut the line and run it inside the old black iron pipes. They use it for high pressure and low pressure lines, although im unsure of the material its somewhat flexible, almost like aluminum core flex pex. I beleive this is sunlight resistant similar to above/underground pvc conduit. I think the hose should be yellow though, I beleive thats code just about everywhere.
John Hancock
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2784
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#6] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 12:54:29 PM
Reply with Quote
The only black plastic I have found for gas so far is HDPE, and it definitely was not that. I haven't found anything that allows for plastic gas line above grade..........

Quote: They use it for high pressure and low pressure lines, although im unsure of the material its somewhat flexible, almost like aluminum core flex pex


Something similar to CSST?

Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
View Profile
State: PA & NJ
Posts: 3208
Joined: Jan, 2004
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#7] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 12:55:47 PM
Reply with Quote
There's polyethylene gas tubing, but it's yellow.

There's aluminum gas tubing that's coated on the interior and exterior with polyethylene (GasFlex). It's also yellow.

There's copper gas tubing coated with polyethylene (Gas-Tec). It's yellow, but there's also an outer sleeve of HDPE available (Gas-Tec Plus), that's black. It's fairly rigid though and clearly marked.

I think what's pictured is some type of flexible tubing with some unknown, field-applied protective sleeve.

Bill Kibbel, Historic & Commercial Building Inspections - Old House Resources
View Profile
Jefferson Twp., NJ
Posts: 417
Joined: Apr, 2005
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#8] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 5:55:38 PM
Reply with Quote
Oh come on Brandon, it's obviously some type of semi- rigid rubbery plastic gas line material .

Ok, so I have no friggin idea. But that sure is one interesting electrical assembly next to it... I really like the little liquidtite nipple and the lamp holder is an especially nice touch.

Kyle Kubs
Benchmark Home Inspection Services
New Jersey NJ
View Profile
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Posts: 176
Joined: Sep, 2009
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#9] Posted: 09/19/2009 - 7:49:43 PM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Brandon Whitmore

The only black plastic I have found for gas so far is HDPE, and it definitely was not that. I haven't found anything that allows for plastic gas line above grade..........

Quote: They use it for high pressure and low pressure lines, although im unsure of the material its somewhat flexible, almost like aluminum core flex pex


Something similar to CSST?


Not sure what CSST is, but I will go google it =), but I think its either polyethylene or something very similar.

Maybe they doped the pipe for corrosion resistance the same way you dope the outsde of black iron pipes below grade. Except that stuff is abotu as messy as oil tack, and thats awful smooth... Maybe they take great pride in that work, or somebody needed extra hours and took a buffing pad to it =)

Matt the typo king (my new call name -_- )

John Hancock
View Profile
Newberg, OR
Posts: 2784
Joined: Mar, 2007
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#10] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 12:25:28 AM
Reply with Quote
Bill,

Thanks for taking the time to explain difference gas pipe options. Google didn't turn up much for me, maybe I'm losing my touch.

Quote: Ok, so I have no friggin idea. But that sure is one interesting electrical assembly next to it... I really like the little liquidtite nipple and the lamp holder is an especially nice touch.


I've never seen anything like this entire set up before. Maybe it's more common elsewhere. The light at the front of the driveway was a gas light, and the wiring (in the goofy conduit set up) was the low voltage wiring run to the light. It's not often I find a transformer in a crawlspace.

Quote: Not sure what CSST is, but I will go google it =), but I think its either polyethylene or something very similar.

Maybe they doped the pipe for corrosion resistance the same way you dope the outsde of black iron pipes below grade. Except that stuff is abotu as messy as oil tack, and thats awful smooth... Maybe they take great pride in that work, or somebody needed extra hours and took a buffing pad to it =)


Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing. It's the flexible gas lines run inside of homes that has the yellow jacket.

The pipe is definitely not doped. It's hard to tell in the photo, but there's a different colored stripe running down the pipe. It's a manufactured material, I just don't know for what purpose it was manufactured.




Brandon

Portland Home Inspector
View Profile
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Posts: 176
Joined: Sep, 2009
Currently offline offline
  
Gas Line Material?
[#11] Posted: 09/20/2009 - 07:17:08 AM
Reply with Quote
Quote: Originally posted by Brandon Whitmore



The pipe is definitely not doped. It's hard to tell in the photo, but there's a different colored stripe running down the pipe. It's a manufactured material, I just don't know for what purpose it was manufactured.






A stripe? Nlack? It's not a high density irrigation hose is it?

John Hancock
   
Previous Topic: Old Fangled Water Heater - Topic - Next Topic: goofy trap New TopicReply to TopicShare Topic
Jump To:
The Inspector's Journal Forums © 2002-2013 all topics or replies that are posted on The Inspector's Journal
are copyrighted material of the original author that posted the topic or reply.
Go To Top Of Page 
 
Pick an RSS Feed

The views expressed on this website are the views of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the sponsors.
© 2002-2013 Copyright DevWave Software Inc.
Find a Home Inspector

Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000