EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0175*
SENATE BILL 175
C2, E4 5lr0730
SB 586/24 – EEE (PRE–FILED) CF HB 222
By: Senators Lewis Young and Brooks
Requested: August 30, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Fuel Gas Piping Systems and Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing 2
for Fuel Gas Piping Systems – Requirements and Prohibitions – Prohibitions 3
and Study 4
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or distribution of 5
nonconductive jacketed corrugated stainless steel tubing that does not meet certain 6
qualifications; requiring certain tubing used; establishing a certain civil penalty for 7
a person who uses certain tubing in the construction of fuel gas piping systems in 8
certain buildings to meet certain qualifications; requiring the Maryland Department 9
of Labor, in collaboration with the State Fire Prevention Commission, the State Fire 10
Marshal, and local inspectors, to conduct a study and make recommendations 11
regarding corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems; and 12
generally relating to fuel gas piping systems, gas piping, and corrugated stainless 13
steel tubing. 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Business Regulation 16
Section 19–108 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2024 Replacement Volume) 19
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
Article – Public Safety 21
Section 12–206 22 2 SENATE BILL 175
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
Article – Business Regulation 5
19–108. 6
(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , TRANSFER, OR DISTRIBUTE 7
NONCONDUCTIVE JACKET ED CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL TUBING THAT: 8
(1) DOES NOT MEET THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD 9
DESCRIBED IN THE MOST RECENT EDIT ION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS 10
CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL; OR 11
(2) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAS T 36 COULOMBS 12
OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRI CAL ARCING TEST . 13
(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJE CT TO A CIVIL 14
PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 15
Article – Public Safety 16
12–206. 17
(a) This section applies to any building that uses fuel gas piping systems not 18
subject to Title 49, Part 192 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 19
(b) [Non–arc–resistant jacketed] ONLY NONCONDUCTIVE JACKETE D 20
corrugated stainless steel tubing THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMEN TS OF THE LC1027 21
STANDARD DESCRIBED I N THE MOST RECENT EDITION OF TH E INTERNATIONAL 22
FUEL AND GAS CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN 23
PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAST 36 COULOMBS OF ELECTRIC AL ARCING CHARGE 24
BY AN ELECTRICAL ARC ING TEST may [not] be used in: 25
(1) the new construction of a customer–owned natural gas or liquefied 26
propane piping system in a building; 27
(2) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system in a renovated 28
property if the renovation affects more than 50% of the total square footage of the property; 29
or 30
(3) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system that requires the 31
addition of a new gas line to the gas piping system. 32 SENATE BILL 175 3
(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 1
PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 3
(a) The Maryland Department of Labor, in collaboration with the State Fire 4
Prevention Commission, the State Fire Marshal, and local inspectors, shall study the 5
prevention of fire hazards associated with commonly used corrugated stainless steel tubing 6
and other fuel gas piping systems in residential and commercial buildings. 7
(b) The Maryland Department of Labor shall: 8
(1) study the fire hazards created by different types of corrugated stainless 9
steel tubing in comparison to other fuel gas piping systems used in residential buildings; 10
(2) study the likelihood of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other fuel 11
gas piping systems causing a fire in a residential or commercial building following a direct 12
or indirect lightning strike; 13
(3) make recommendations regarding the standards and requirements 14
necessary for corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems to prevent 15
or minimize the risk of fire in residential or commercial buildings, including regulatory or 16
legislative measures; 17
(4) make recommendations regarding any standards and requirements 18
necessary to address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or 19
malfunctioning of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other fuel gas piping systems, such 20
as improper installation, maintenance, or grounding; 21
(5) assess the availability of testing facilities to determine whether 22
corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems are able to withstand 23
lightning strikes or electrical arcing; 24
(6) assess the feasibility of implementing the standards and requirements 25
recommended under items (3) and (4) of this subsection; 26
(7) analyze the prevalence of nonconductive jacketed corrugated stainless 27
steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazard presented; and 28
(8) consult with the following individuals or entities regarding items (1) 29
through (7) of this subsection: 30
(i) local government entities that conduct gas inspections or 31
permitting; 32
(ii) the State Fire Marshal; and 33 4 SENATE BILL 175
(iii) any other necessary subject matter experts. 1
(c) (1) On or before December 1, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor 2
shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, 3
in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on 4
Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 5
Committee. 6
(2) On or before September 30, 2026, the Maryland Department of Labor 7
shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in 8
accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on 9
Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 10
Committee. 11
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
October 1, 2027 June 1, 2025. 13
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.