Expository Essay Final

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Feb 20, 2024

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1 The Banning of Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing and Why Daniel McMahon Columbia Southern University EH-1010 English Composition Julie Hirschboek October 24, 2022

2 The Banning of Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing and Why Corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) is a common product used in today’s construction industry (Taylor et al., 2017). Originally intended to prevent gas leaks in Japan in the 1980’s, CSST has been plagued with failures after lightning strikes since it started being installed in the United States in the early 1990’s (Taylor et al., 2017). CSST’s know failure rate because of lightning strikes, has led to testing which may result in the ban of all non-arc resistant CSST lines. In the construction industry, CCST’s ease of installation and flexibility enabled its use to skyrocket through the industry. According to Haslam and Eagar (2020), it is estimated that approximately one billion feet of yellow-jacketed CSST has been installed in structures of all types throughout the United States. The reason for the attraction, is since 1991, the material proved much easier to install when using black iron pipe, with its ease to maneuver through tight spaces and lack of fittings. Since then, CSST, particularly the yellow-jacketed version has become widely known to be susceptible to perforations after lightning strikes (Haslam & Eagar 2020). This susceptibility regarding the materials durability has grabbed the attention of multiple agencies, to include multiple Fire Marshal offices, the National Fire Protection Agency, and the United States Senate (Dalton et al., 2010). In 2005, an attempt to fix the inconsistences with the yellow-jacketed CSST, two proposed fixes to the problem were introduced. The first of these was a new style of CSST with a black-jacketed cover that was less susceptible to perforations. The second was the requirement to ground all remaining yellow-jacketed CSST remaining. The NFPA then adopted this requirement in 2009 (Haslam & Eagar, 2020). However, Haslam and Eagar, (2020) state, “Grounding of CSST will not prevent fires when assaulted by lightning with any reasonable

3 degree of certainty” (p. 425). Taylor et al. (2017) states that due to CSST being a thickness of 0.25mm the amount of discharge that is needed to create a perforation is 500 to 1000 less than is needed to perforate black iron pipe, as black iron pipe is more than 2.5mm thick. If CSST was installed prior to 2005, the likelihood of it being grounded is unlikely. Being that CSST overtook the industry in such a rapid pace a multitude of homeowners are at the mercy of mother nature. Product testing is a crucial part of product introduction into society. As is being shown with testing involving CSST, the lack of testing that occurred with this product is proving to have adverse effects all over the country. With CSST being proven to be so susceptible to perforations as stated in Haslam & Eagar, (2020) problems with this product will continue to be an issue in regards to lightning. In nearly all plumbing, and electrical installations, void spaces are a common place where CSST can be found. Having a product such a CSST being in these spaces provides an even greater risk for unsee fires after failures. This can result in fires going undetected for multiple minutes. Fires that can free burn in void spaces very big concern for firefighters in this day. Modern day construction products are known as lightweight construction, these materials have proven to fail at a much more rapid rate with the use of gusset plates and manufactured wooden materials. Free burning fires and lightweight construction are a deadly combination for firefighters. They potential of a sudden structural collapse, especially in new residential homes is greatly increased. Dalton et al. (2010) shows that testing completed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) determined that traditional construction was able to sustain structural integrity for an average of 15 minutes longer the new age, lightweight construction. Comparing this information with the free burning that CSST can potentially cause after a

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4 lightning strike, has begun measures by some states to ensure the safety of all new construction and any renovation construction projects in the future. Whether it be the United States Government, or individual states themselves, laws are being to be passed to protect the citizens from faulty products that can be potentially life threatening. In the state of Maryland in 2022, named after two firefighter fatalities involving fires where CSST was a contributing factor, the Flynn and Laird Act was passed into Maryland Law. This law states that any non-arc resistant CSST may not be used in new construction, renovations of 50% of the square footage of a structure, or the addition of any new gas lines (Maryland House Bill 1052, 2022). While this law may not eliminate CSST previously installed into buildings throughout the state, it is a preventive measure to ensure that a subpar product does not continue to affect the lives of the citizens in the state of Maryland. This is a law that could potentially be reviewed by all states and the Federal Government to be enacted throughout the country. Over the last 30 years, the research of CSST will continue until the deficiencies that are being shown diminish. While government agencies have done their research to prove that this product is unreliable, there is a pause in government response to remove the product from consumer shelves. The combination of CSST and newer lightweight construction will continue to be a danger to all fire departments around the nation due to both products lacking in stability. As more issues with CSST are most likely to arise, laws such as the Flynn and Laird Act are bound be enacted by other states to ensure the safety of firefighters and citizens all over the country.

5 References Dalton, J. M., Van Dorpe, P., Backstorm, R. G., & Kerber, S. (2010). RESIDENTIAL FIRES: The Most Dangerous Fires You Will Face. Firehouse , 35 (8), 102–109 Haslam, B., & Eagar, T. W. (2020). Variation in Lightning Simulations to Assess Grounding Safety of Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing (CSST). Fire Technology , 56 (2), 425–444. https://doi-org.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/10.1007/s10694-019-00885-x Taylor, R., Larson, H., & Eagar, T. (2017). Electric Arc Holes in Corrugated Stainless-Steel Tubing. Fire Technology , 53 (5), 1919–1932. https://doi-org.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/10.1007/s10694-017-0663-1 Maryland General Assembly (2022) House Bill 1052

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