Limitations Of Black Iron Pipe

Florida’s high humidity and frequent rain is not kind to unprotected metal pipe like black iron. So the Residential Edition of the Florida Building Code and the International Residential Code do not allow gas pipe that is subject to corrosion to be installed at an exterior location where it is exposed to moisture, except if it is protected in an “approved” manner.Coating Must Be Approved

    An approved manner does not mean a couple of coats of house paint. It requires a coating and application method approved by the local jurisdiction. So most professionals just don’t use black iron outdoors. The photos above and below, of black iron gas pipe installed only a few years ago and unprotected on the outside wall of a home, shows how rapidly the pipe can corrode.

Gas Appliance Connectors

    The last part of connecting a gas appliance is the flexible tubing called an appliance connector. For installation standards, see our blog post What are the requirements for installing a gas appliance connector? 

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about PLUMBING PIPES:

• How can I tell the difference between Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) and a Flexible Appliance Connector (FAC)?

• Is it normal to smell gas near a natural gas meter? 

• What is a sediment trap or dirt leg?

• How can I protect my pipes to keep them from bursting during a hard winter freeze in North Florida?

• Can galvanized steel pipe still be used for new water lines in a house? 

• How can I tell if I have cast iron pipes in my house? 

• Why can't a sanitary tee be used for a horizontal-to-horizontal drain pipe connection? 

• What is the difference between green and white sewer drain pipes?

• Is a washing machine drain hose required to be secured at the standpipe?

• What are the abandoned pipes sticking out of the wall in my house?  

• What are the code requirements for plumbing vent terminations?

• What are the code requirements for layout of drain piping under sinks?

• What causes a gurgling sound when a bathtub or sink drains? 

• What is a "combination waste and vent" in a plumbing system? 

• What is a building trap?  

• What is a dielectric union? 

• What's that powdery crust on the pipe connections at the water heater? 

• If all the plumbing drains have water in them and you can still smell sewer gas, what's causing the problem?  

• How can I tell what type of plumbing pipe I have?

• What is a P-trap?

• Why is old galvanized steel water pipe a problem for homebuyers?

• What does polybutylene pipe look like? Why is it a problem? 

• Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable?

• Can you connect CPVC pipe directly to a gas water heater?  

     Visit our PLUMBING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.