ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues gas pipe used as grounding electrode

I have updated the service,150 amps,breaker panel,and installed a new grounding system in a single family house with basement in Upstate New York.The inspector said all was done well except that I had to clamp the grounding electrode conductor to the gas pipe in the basement.
Is this a violation of NEC 2002 250.52 B 1?
Chris

That is not the ground electrode, it is bonding the gas pipe (250.104(B))
He also could have said you bond to the circuit EGC "likely to energize" the pipe. That will usually be the largest piece of electrical equipment connected to the gas pipe. (range electric igniter, furnace blower etc)
He might even say that was the A/C compressor via the freon line set to the A coil in the furnace. The safest alternative is the GEC, then all bases are covered.

That sounds good to me because I had the GEC attached to the water pipe and a 8 ft ground rod that I had driven

Chris

Chris
One reason to bond the pipe is in case it gets hit by lightning and brings the energy into the house. Here the gas pipes in the ground are plastic but some places are metal. The gas meters usually have a dielectric fitting to isolate the interior piping from the exterior. We always want the bonding connection on the house side of the meter and the gas company wants it there too. the dielectric fitting is to control galvanic corrosion on the underground gas pipes.