[hlmccarter]

I had a natural gas system installed in my home and bonding the pipe entering the home has been a problem with the inspector (VA - Fairfax County). Anyway my HVAC contractor grounded the black pipe to the cold water copper with #6 AWG; however, the inspector is telling us the pipe needs to be bonded all the way back to the main panel (opposite side of the house) with #6 AWG because the grounded copper could be replaced with CPVC at some point in the future and the ground lost... whatever. Anyway I looked in the VA Fuel Gas Code and NEC and they don't say that, just that th piping must be bonded to a grounding electrode. I asked about just ramming another ground rod in near the pipe or bonding it to a sub-panel I have near the piping on a #6 AWG feeder wire (60 amp panel). I'm just trying to prevent my contractor from having to run copper all the way around the house. Am I missing something or is this inspector just difficult?

[stanfortyman]

Where did you read that it must be "bonded" to an electrode?? This will do absolutely nothing.
Bonding means mechanically and electrically connected together. It has NOTHING to do with the earth.

If there is an electrical appliance connected to this gas piping then you pipe is already bonded.
Tell your inspector to see NEC 250.104(B)

(B) Other Metal Piping Where installed in or attached to
a building or structure, metal piping system(s), including gas piping, that is likely to become energized shall be bonded to the service equipment enclosure, the grounded conductor at the service, the grounding electrode conductor where of sufficient size, or to the one or more grounding electrodes used. The bonding jumper(s) shall be sized in accordance 250.122, using the rating of the circuit that is likely to energize the piping system(s). The equipment grounding conductor for the circuit that is likely to energize the piping shall be permitted to serve as the bonding means. The points of attachment of the bonding jumper(s) shall be accessible.

[hlmccarter]

Sorry I just mistyped when I said electrode! I'm not the electrician here :)... OK I read that part too. Ok I'm going to call them. Just wanted to make sure I had someone backup what I read.

[stanfortyman]

I have to ask. You are talking about hard gas piping, right? Not CSST. Or are you?

[hlmccarter]

Nope hard black pipe. There is a CSST connection to the heater and to a grill out back, but that won't change anything right?

[stanfortyman]

No, not if it is not an electrical appliance.

Now your area may have a specific requirement to externally bond the pipe. If your inspector demands this I would ask him exactly where it says this and how it reads. If it reads like the NEC there is NO requirement to bring it all the way back to the panel