Insurance Trade Joins Important Lightning Safety Campaign
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – We are now entering the hot summer months where pop-up thunderstorms and lightning are very common, especially in the southeast. However, in many homes and businesses across the country there is a little known risk of fire that can by triggered by lightning strikes.
It’s important homeowners know about the dangers present if lightning strikes a home with corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) which is used to supply natural gas. The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) and the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) are working together on the nationwide Yellow Safety campaign to warn homeowners about the real danger if yellow CSST is not installed properly.
According to the NASFM if yellow CSST, often used in construction since the early 1990s, is not properly bonded and lightning strikes – even nearby – arcing may occur and can perforate the yellow CSST, possibly leading to a fire.
“PCI and our member companies are supportive of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) Yellow Safety campaign and believe it’s important for all homeowners, business owners, and renters to protect their families and their property by simply checking to make sure the yellow CSST is properly installed,” said Chris Hackett, PCI’s director of personal lines policy. “The standard homeowners policy covers home fires and insurers will be there in the aftermath to help you rebuild. But preventing a fire by taking the time to have a licensed electrician double check for proper bonding and grounding could mean the difference between peace of mind and a tragedy.”
What Should I do if I Find CSST?
Inspect
If work has been performed on the gas piping system in hour house or business since 1990, it’s possible that yellow CSST was installed but not to current installation requirements.
Mitigate
If you find yellow CSST, it is strongly recommended that you contact a licenses electrician. The licensed electrician can make sure that your system is properly bonded.
PCI promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. PCI is composed of nearly 1,000 member companies, representing the broadest cross section of insurers of any national trade association. PCI members write more than $183 billion in annual premium, 35 percent of the nation’s property casualty insurance. Member companies write 42 percent of the U.S. automobile insurance market, 27 percent of the homeowners market, 32 percent of the commercial property and liability market and 34 percent of the private workers compensation market.
Brooke Kelley-Hunt
847-553-3671
