Static Control in PE Fuel Gas Pipe

Why address this issue? As of 2002, 525,959 miles (or about 46%) of gas distribution mains in the US were plastic and PE is the material of choice for distributors. It doesn’t corrode, doesn’t need cathodic protection and has a life of at least 100 years. It is a remarkable fuel gas distribution material. During a Plastic Pipe Fuel Gas Symposium I attended, a southern California gas distributor told me about a damage assessment he conducted after an earthquake. In open gaps in the ground he saw PE pipe which had stretched to the diameter of a drinking straw but had not broken! There are distributors who use plastic and know there is static in their system and in some way believe that this is caused either by the defective manufacturing of the pipe or fittings or improper operation of their distribution systems. In winter, when you reach for the door handle of your car and get a shock, you don’t blame it on the car manufacturer. Generation of static by friction caused by motion is normal physics. Static in your plastic gas distribution system is not due to defective materials or improper operation of your system. It is just natural physics. Conversely, if distributors don’t respect the fact that static is present in their system, they run the risk of catastrophic accidents and damage. GTI (formerly GRI) was repeatedly called upon by the distribution industry to develop methods and products to eliminate static because it is a widespread problem. Gas Research Institute report 920460 notes static electricity is a problem for every gas distributor: