Could the New Yellow Plastic Jacketed Natural Gas Line
Being Used be the Next Big Item to be Banned?

By Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator

I do not do many residential installs but lately one of my business customers requested I do the Security/Fire system and computer and data wiring on his son’s new home. He also asked if I could keep an eye on the construction to make sure it is being done correctly. I was impressed with the builder who was doing a reasonably god job on the framing, but I am not happy with the plumber because he is using the recently AGA (American Gas Assoc.) approved flexible aluminum yellow plastic jacketed gas line all through the house.

Originally designed to allow gas lines to be run safely in existing structures the piping system is now being used almost entirely in new construction instead of traditional steel piping because it is cheap, and saves on labor cost. I think it is a dangerous practice and so do many professional plumbers who will not use it as well as AHJ’s who wisely prohibit its use.

It became very clear to me just how dangerous this piping can be when I accidentally drilled through one while installing the structured wiring in my friend’s house. Normally my bit would have been stopped and caused no damage or had been broken off, but with the yellow stuff I went through it like cutting butter.

Luckily the line was not hooked up but what if it had been? My hot drill bit or drill motor sparking may have caused an ignition. Worse yet as flimsy as this stuff is when it is being run inside an interior wall what is to stop an accidental puncture when hanging a picture? You would never know as this stuff does not show up when using conventional stud finders which look for ferrous metals. Aluminum is non ferrous, you would puncture the pipe, the gas would leak into the wall void, and it would only be a matter of plugging in something or flipping a switch and kaboom.

So far this material cannot be found in hardware stores, but it will only be a matter of time. Then to make matters more interesting, the lines for the dryer are run 2” from the wall, poking out through the floor with the compression fitting and valve on it. How long will it take till some appliance installer smashes this pipe and causes problems?

Yes I can see the trial lawyers lining up now. So why is this material allowed on the market despite all the dangers it can pose. Because crybaby plumbers do not have to invest in all the expensive tools and stock conventional steel takes to install. It is also easier to install and some manufacturer shoved it down the AGA throat the same way so many bad electrical products and practices get into the code or get on the market after getting UL approved. Because of big money interests demanding it. They say technology drives the market I say this time it was wrong to do so.

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