Flex gas connector required on heater in California

[Chango]

I read somewhere that flex connectors on heaters were advised on the west coast for seismic reasons. Is this required by code and is it normal to use a flex connector between the building pipe and the drip leg/black pipe nipples at heater? I would like to go black pipe all the way but i am trying to determine what is required and/or customary.

Thanks!

 

[Terry]

You're in earthquake country. We use gas flex for water heaters. The drip leg is good.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Chango]

You're in earthquake country. We use gas flex for water heaters. The drip leg is good.

thanks. I have currently gone pipe all the way to a tankless and to the furnace. See attached images. Would you suggest modifying these and putting flex connectors in on both?

 

[TheOverThinker]

thanks. I have currently gone pipe all the way to a tankless and to the furnace. See attached images. Would you suggest modifying these and putting flex connectors in on both?

No.
The issue with the water heater is mass. Your smaller appliances will roll and shake with the house.
Pay lots of attention to the required strapping for the tank water heater.

See Chapter 5 of the CPC
https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2016/chapter/5/water-heaters#5

You want as little flex as practical, and be sure to use a quality flex line with more than one layer,
not any sort of singlewall:
http://www.ienga.com/articles/204-risk-of-lightning-based-fires-with-csst-gas-lines-continued
To cut down lightning risk.
Bond everything properly.

 

[MACPLUMB]

All that pipe work looks real nice, The only problem is when there is a slight SHAKE
nothing Big but just enough to LOOSEN that union just a tad ! and then the gas start leaking and the WHOLE HOUSE GOES BANG !

Sorry did not see how old this post stated out, but still holds true for any other DIY'S