Legislation to ban certain potentially dangerous building materials, a topic for multiple years, seems poised to advance in a limited form this session.
For years, corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) has been a key component of the infrastructure in buildings across Maryland and the nation. The Public Service Commission defines CSST as “a flexible, stainless steel piping system used to supply natural gas and propane in residential, commercial, and industrial structures.”
While this material is flexible and cost-effective, there have been multiple incidents where structure fires were exacerbated by malfunctions in the CSST tubing, including the tragic line-of-duty deaths of Frederick County firefighter Joshua Laird and Howard County firefighter Nathan Flynn.
HB 222 / SB 175 – Public Safety – Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing for Fuel Gas Piping Systems – Requirements and Prohibitions aims to address these risks head-on by ensuring that CSST meets certain safety standards before it is sold or installed.
The third reader version of the House bill, recently passed on the House floor, would create a ban on using “non arc-resistant jacketed” piping, and would call for a related study by the State Fire Marshal.
MACo has long supported stronger CSST standards to promote safety and protect first responders. This Session, Executive Director Michael Sanderson testified in support of HB 222 on January 28 in the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified in support of HB 222’s cross-file, SB 175, in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee on February 6.
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