Pennsylvania Lt. Governor, Fire Commissioner Announce Safety Awareness Program

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lt. Governor Jim Cawley and State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann today announced the start of a new safety awareness program for yellow corrugated stainless steel tubing.

The yellow flexible metal tubing is used to supply natural gas or propane to appliances and there has been an upgrade to installation requirements due to the risk of fire from a potential arc when lightning strikes.

"Gov. Corbett and I believe that public safety is a prime function of government.

When it comes to protecting the public, we cannot be passive," Cawley said.  "Gov. Corbett always challenges us to be prepared."

The Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner, in cooperation with the National Association of Fire Marshals, urges all property owners with buildings and homes constructed after 1989 with yellow corrugated stainless steel tubing installed, to have the tubing checked for proper bonding and grounding. All are encouraged to have these systems checked by a licensed electrician.

Lightning strikes on or near a building have been shown to cause an electrical surge to travel into the structure and, in some cases, have caused a perforation in the sidewall of the tubing. The gas leaking from the perforation can ignite and may cause a significant fire.

Property owners who have yellow CSST installed in their homes should contact a licensed electrical contractor to determine proper bonding of the system. As always, consumers should consider qualifications of the contractor before selecting them to perform a safety check.

Although yellow CSST installations may have met code requirements at the time of installation, safety building codes have changed and it is recommended these systems be checked. Yellow CSST installed in homes and buildings built or renovated between after 1989 may not have been bonded and grounded to the current building code requirements.

Media contact: Cory Angell, 717-651-2169

Editor's Note: For additional information, visit www.CSSTSafety.com

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner