Residential gas connectors are cheap! They are also dangerous in commercial applications where equipment tends to be moved much more often than your home kitchen stove. Residential gas connectors are not built to stand the strain of constant movement as the cleaning crew repeatedly attempts to clean your commercial facility. The light gauge metal residential corrugated tubes develop cracks over a period of time and can become a potential fire and explosion hazard.

National codes are now catching up with this hazard. ANSI has published Standard Z21.69/CSA 6.16 for moveable gas connectors. The following national model codes have been amended to reflect the ANSI Standard:

• National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI Z223.1/NFPA 54)
• International Fuel Gas Code
• Uniform Plumbing Code
• Canadian B149 Natural Gas Installation Code  

Restaurant owners should notify all operators and maintenance personnel to inspect for these residential style corrugated metal connectors. Health inspectors and fire safety inspectors should add this item to their check lists when doing their annual or semi-annual inspections. Building inspectors must make sure that these residential style corrugated flexible connectors are not being installed by plumbers in a new installation. They are no longer allowed in commercial kitchen applications.

If leaks are found, immediately turn off the valve servicing the individual piece of equipment. Notify your gas supplier. Replace with a commercially rated, listed connector.

Corrugated residential connectors also present a health hazard as they are not readily cleanable. They lack a smooth or wipe clean surface and tend to attract and harbor bacteria in an area that is often difficult to reach. This condition can lead to a build-up of dangerous bacteria and create the possibility of food contamination.

Flexible stainless steel gas connectors along with quick disconnect devices developed and built to commercial standards have been designed to provide the protection necessary in these circumstances. They also provide an answer to fixed pipe connections which do not allow the appliances to be moved for cleaning purposes.

Since many more cooking appliances are being designed to be both flexible and movable, these commercial grade flexible connectors and quick disconnects afford the owner and operator a practical and safe method to clean in, around and behind their gas cooking equipment.

The following two links will take you to the largest providers of these flexible connectors. http://www.dormont.com and http://tsbrass.com/index.cfm?page=product&ID=122   Further information can be obtained from your local foodservice equipment dealer.