CSST: What is the required testing pressure and time?

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

(From an e-mail question.)

Codeman,

I had a new gas line branch added to the gas system in my house for a new gas appliance and have had several leaks since it was installed recently. Some of the new gas line is CSST and the connections do not look very professionally made up.

What are the minimum requirements for the installers?

Is it supposed to be tested? If so, at what pressure and for how long?

Ralph S.

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

Ralph S.,

First, regarding the CSST:

The following is from the TracPipe by OmegaFlex Design and Installation guide - the very first thing in the guide. TracPipe/OmegaFlex is one of the large manufacturers of CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) used for gas lines.

(bold and underlining are mine)
- Chapter 1
- - Introduction
- - - WARNINGS
- - - - SECTION 1.0 — USER WARNINGS
- - - - - The TracPipe® gas piping material (CSST Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing ) must only be installed by a qualified person who has been trained or otherwise qualified through the TracPipe Gas Piping Installation Program. Any installer must also meet qualifications in accordance with state and/or local requirements as established by the administrative authority which enforces the plumbing or mechanical code where the gas piping is installed.

Most manufacturers of CSST have similar wording regarding training and being qualified to install their CSST gas piping. Being a licensed gas or plumbing contractor does not negate the fact that they must meet the training or qualification through the TracPipe Gas Piping Installation Program, their licensing simply meets the "must also meet" part.

Workers or employees of the licensed and 'trained and certified installer' *must also be trained and certified* in the installation of the CSST - otherwise they do not even meet the very first step of the installation requirements.

Second, regarding testing time and pressure:

The following is from the 2006 IRC.
- SECTION G2417 (406)
- - INSPECTION, TESTING AND PURGING
- - - G2417.1 (406.1) General. Prior to acceptance and initial operation, all piping installations shall be inspected and pressure tested to determine that the materials, design, fabrication, and installation practices comply with the requirements of this code.
- - - - G2417.1.1 (406.1.1) Inspections. Inspection shall consist of visual examination, during or after manufacture, fabrication, assembly or pressure tests as appropriate.
- - - - G2417.1.2 (406.1.2) Repairs and additions. In the event repairs or additions are made after the pressure test, the affected piping shall be tested.
- - - - - Minor repairs and additions are not required to be pressure tested provided that the work is inspected and connections are tested with a noncorrosive leak-detecting fluid or other approved leak-detecting methods.
- - - - G2417.1.3 (406.1.3) New branches. Where new branches are installed to new appliances, only the newly installed branches shall be required to be pressure tested. Connections between the new piping and the existing piping shall be tested with a noncorrosive leak-detecting fluid or other approved leak-detecting methods.

- - - - G2417.4.1 (406.4.1) Test pressure. The test pressure to be used shall be not less than one and one-half times the proposed maximum working pressure, but not less than 3 psig (20 kPa gauge), irrespective of design pressure. Where the test pressure exceeds 125 psig (862 kPa gauge), the test pressure shall not exceed a value that produces a hoop stress in the piping greater than 50 percent of the specified minimum yield strength of the pipe.
- - - - G2417.4.2 (406.4.2) Test duration. The test duration shall be not less than 10 minutes.

Codeman