Gas bonds should be on the consumer's side - otherwise you risk defeating the gas supplier's deliberate insulating joint (if fitted). If you're worried about the incoming pipe being extraneous and touchable it can be covered with insulating material (at least up to the supply side of the valve where the IJ is likely to be, if fitted),

   - Andy.

But the incoming pipe IS the e-c-p whether there is an IJ or not.

Is insulating material an alternative to bonding in any other situation?

Both vertical iron pipes disappear into the concrete garage floor. 

Z.

Both vertical iron pipes disappear into the concrete garage floor. 

Z.