On Saturday, May 25, 2013 the Urbandale Fire Department responded to a possible lightning strike at a home in western Urbandale during thunderstorms that moved through the Central Iowa area. Upon the arrival of the fire department firefighters found a house that encountered a direct lightning strike. While this home sustained physical and electrical damage from the lightning, firefighters encountered a natural gas fed fire at the house next door that was caused by a failure of the Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) gas pipe in the lower level of the home. The fire caused significant damage to more than one of the lightweight engineered I-beams that supported the 1st floor of the home. This is the sixth documented fire involving CSST piping in Urbandale since 2007. All fires were the result of a direct or indirect lightning strike to the home. The Urbandale Fire Department would like to remind residents of the potential dangers of CSST gas pipe and lightning. One way that may reduce the risk of a CSST failure is to assure that any CSST gas pipe in your home is properly installed and bonded according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. The only way to remove the risk of a CSST failure is to replace any existing CSST piping in your home with black iron pipe. Most homes built since the late 1990s in Urbandale utilize CSST piping. The Urbandale Fire Department would also like to remind people building a new home that they have a choice as to what type of gas piping is installed in their new home, just as they have the choice to install affordable and effective life safety devices such as a home fire sprinkler system. Unfortunately, discussions on important safety items like fire sprinklers and CSST are overlooked during the process of building a new home. The buyers have many options and should fully understand the risk and benefits of all of the features available in today’s new homes. To learn more about CSST gas pipe and important life safety devices for your home please visit the fire department page at urbandale.org or contact the fire department at 515-278-3970.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:23:40 +0000
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