DEC REQUEST DS 2016-032 STAFF ANALYSIS
ISSUE: DS 2016-032. Petitioner seeks a Declaratory Statement on an interpretation of Chapter4, Section 401.5, 404.1 of the Florida Building Code, Fuel Gas– 5th Edition (2014), Chapter 24, Section G2401.1, G2403, G2412.5, G2412.7 and G2415.1 of the Florida Building Code 5th Edition (2014) Residential.
Petitioner seeks clarification of the
following questions:
1. Is
an isolation valve required to be installed on a new gas piping system for each
intended appliance prior to final inspection and service start up?
2.
Is identification (labeling) required for a
future stub out when multiple pressures exist on the same piping system, and
the stub out for the future appliance is 2lbs. or more?
Situation:
David Gilson, representing the Development Services Department for the City of Tarpon Springs
Florida seeks clarification on
a new single family residence nearing final completion and certificate of
occupancy. The contractor for the natural gas portion of the project recently
scheduled a final inspection. Upon inspection, the location for the clothes
dryer had the steel pipe for the natural gas natural gas termination point with
a cap installed. It was noted that termination point did not have the isolation
valve installed at the time of inspection. This same residence has the natural
gas piping installed in a manner that provides two separate pressures to the
building. The regulator at the gas purveyors meter is reduced to 21bs. and the
contractor has provided piping to the opposite side of the house at 21bs . The contractor has also provided the side
closest to the gas meter with an additional regulator to reduce the pressure to
inches. During the final inspection, the gas termination for a future swimming
pool heater was also capped with no valve or regulator. This termination point
is located on the opposite side of the residence from the gas meter and
regulators. This condition was noted and the contractor was asked to identify
(label) this termination point to reflect the pressure that is supplied, in
this case, 21bs. . This condition has presented itself on prior occasions with
similarity.
The Development Services Department for the City of Tarpon Springs is
asking for clarification and
guidance as to the proper interpretation of the technical codes and
statutes related to this scenario.
Please see Mr. David Gilson’s response to the contractor on this topic
below.
FBC-Fuel Gas 5th
Edition does not cover future installations of gas appliances or how the need
for a shut
off valve would be
handled. The FBC-Residential 5th Edition does however cover this topic. In
Section
G2401.1 second
paragraph the definition of coverage reads in part "piping systems shall
extend from the
point of delivery to
the outlet of the appliance shut-off valves" this is also covered in the
definitions of
FBC-Fuel Gas and
FBC-Residential of "Piping System". Section 404 FBC-Fuel Gas is
titled "Piping System
Installation" as
well as Section G2415 FBC-Residential.
Regarding the
labeling of the connection point to the future swimming pool heater, in this
particular
installation, the
piping installation has two separate pressures. The regulator from lbs. to
inches is
installed on the
opposite side of the house and serving a system that does not supply the
swimming pool
heater. The FBC-Fuel
Gas 401.5 and FBC-Residential G2412.5 is very clear that steel piping does not
require labeling. In
this instance, due to our normal permitting procedure with swimming pool
contractors, we feel
that the installer of the swimming pool heater may expect the stub out for the
heater to be on an
inches system. Further we feel that the labeling of this connection point would
not be
considered
unreasonably stringent. After the initial construction of the residence is
completed and a
certificate of
occupancy is given, the new owner may choose anyone they wish to construct the
swimming pool. They
may also utilize their option to act as a contractor themselves. Generally
speaking,
the outlet for a
natural gas appliance in a residential setting is provided at a pressure
suitable to the
appliance that is
intended to be installed. The majority of residential natural gas appliances
are intended
to be installed on a
7"-14" system; therefore it would be a reasonable expectation to any
installer for a
suitable pressure to
exist at the connection. In addition the majority of residential natural gas
appliances
have inches-inches
regulators to further protect the appliance as the manufacturer has determined
to be
an adequate pressure
range.
Florida Building Code 5th Edition (2014) Fuel Gas
CHAPTER 4
SECTION 401
(IFGC) GENERAL
401.5
Identification.
For other than steel pipe, exposed piping shall be identified by a yellow label
marked “Gas” in black letters. The marking shall be spaced at intervals not
exceeding 5 feet (1524 mm). The marking shall not be required on pipe located
in the same room as the appliance served.
SECTION 404
(IFGC) PIPING SYSTEM INSTALLATION
404.1 Installation of materials.
All materials used shall be installed in strict
accordance with the standards under which the materials are accepted and
approved. In the absence of such installation procedures, the manufacturer’s
instructions shall be followed. Where the requirements of referenced standards
or manufacturer’s instructions do not conform to minimum provisions of this
code, the provisions of this code shall apply.
Florida Building Code 5th Edition (2014) Residential
CHAPTER 2
DEFINITIONS
LABEL. An identification applied on a product
by the manufacturer which contains the name of the manufacturer, the function
and performance characteristics of the product or material, and the name and
identification of an approved agency and that indicates that the
representative sample of the product or material has been tested and evaluated
by an approved agency. (See also “Manufacturer’s designation”
and “Mark.”)
LABELED. Equipment, materials or
products to which have been affixed a label, seal, symbol or other
identifying mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory,
inspection agency
or other organization concerned
with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of the production of
the above labeled items and whose labeling indicates either that the equipment,
material or product meets identified standards or has been tested and found
suitable for a specified purpose.
MANUFACTURER’S
DESIGNATION. An
identification applied on a product by the manufacturer indicating that a product
or material complies with a specified standard or set
of rules. (See also “Mark”
and “Label.”)
CHAPTER 24
SECTION G2401 (101) GENERAL
G2401.1 (101.2) Application.
This chapter covers those fuel gas piping systems,
fuel-gas appliances and related accessories, venting systems and combustion air configurations most commonly
encountered in the construction of one- and two-family dwellings and structures
regulated by this code.
Coverage of piping
systems shall extend from the point of delivery to the outlet of the appliance shutoff valves (see definition of “Point of delivery”). Piping systems requirements shall include design,
materials, components, fabrication, assembly, installation, testing,
inspection, operation and maintenance. Requirements for gas appliances and related accessories shall include
installation, combustion and ventilation air and venting and
connections to piping systems.
The omission from this chapter of any material
or method of installation provided for in the Florida
Building Code, Fuel Gas shall
not be construed as prohibiting the use of such material or method of installation. Fuel-gas piping systems,
fuel-gas appliances and related accessories, venting systems and combustion
air configurations not
specifically covered in these chapters shall comply with the applicable
provisions of the Florida
Building Code, Fuel Gas.
Gaseous hydrogen systems shall be regulated by
Chapter 7 of the Florida
Building Code, Fuel Gas.
This chapter shall not apply to the following:
1. Liquified natural gas (LNG) installations.
2. Temporary LP-gas piping for buildings under construction or
renovation that is not to become part of the permanent piping system.
3. Except as provided in Section G2412.1.1, gas piping, meters, gas pressure regulators, and other
appurtenances used by the serving gas supplier in the distribution of gas,
other than undiluted LP-gas.
4. Portable LP-gas appliances and equipment of all types that is not connected to
a fixed fuel piping system.
5. Portable fuel cell appliances that are neither connected to a fixed piping system nor interconnected to a power
grid.
6. Installation of hydrogen gas, LP-gas and
compressed natural gas (CNG) systems on vehicles.
SECTION G2403 (202) GENERAL DEFINITIONS
PIPING SYSTEM. All fuel piping, valves and fittings from the outlet of
the point of delivery to the outlets of the appliance shutoff valves.
Appliance
shutoff. A valve located
in the piping system, used to isolate individual appliances for
purposes such as
service or replacement.
SECTION G2412 (401) GENERAL
G2412.5 (401.5) Identification.
For other than steel pipe,
exposed piping shall be identified by a yellow label
marked “Gas” in black letters. The marking shall be spaced at intervals not
exceeding 5 feet (1524 mm). The marking shall not be required on pipe located in the same room
as the appliance served.
G2412.7 (401.7) Piping meter identification.
Piping from multiple meter installations shall be marked with an approved permanent identification by the
installer so that the piping
system supplied by each meter is readily identifiable.
G2412.9 (401.9)
Identification. Each
length of pipe and tubing and each pipe fitting, utilized in a fuel gas system,
shall bear the identification of the manufacturer.
Exception: The manufacturer
identification for fittings and pipe nipples shall be on each piece or shall be
printed on the fitting or nipple packaging or provided documentation.
SECTION G2415 (404) PIPING SYSTEM INSTALLATION
G2415.1 (404.1) Installation of materials.
All materials used shall be installed in strict
accordance with the standards under which the materials are accepted and
approved. In the absence of such installation procedures, the manufacturer’s
instructions shall be followed. Where the requirements of referenced standards
or manufacturer’s instructions do not conform to minimum provisions of this
code, the provisions of this code shall apply.
G2420.5 (409.5)
Appliance shutoff valve. Each appliance shall be provided with a
shutoff valve in accordance with Section G2420.5.1, G2420.5.2 or
G2420.5.3.
Question #1: Is an isolation valve required to be installed on a new gas piping
system for each intended appliance prior to final inspection and service start
up?
Answer:
Option #.1/Petitioner:
Yes, due to the definition of “Piping System” and the title of FBC- Fuel Gas
section 404 and FBC – Residential section G2415.
Option #.2/Staff:
Yes, as per section G2420.5 of the 5th Edition (2014) FBC,
Residential, a shutoff valve/isolation valve would be required for the level of
work in question.
Question #2: Is identification (labeling) required for a
future stub out when multiple pressures
exist on the same piping system, and the stub out for the future
appliance is 2lbs. or more?
Answer:
Option #.1/Petitioner: Yes, although there are no specific code references for the labeling or identification of a steel gas piping system with multiple pressures, we believe it is the intent of the code. Please see FBC-Residential G2412.7 “Piping Meters Identification” as anecdotal data for this scenario. While this scenario does not have multiple meters installed, the fact that more than one pressure is utilized effectively equates to more than one system (meter).
Option #2/Staff: Yes, as
per section G2412.9 of the 5th Edition (2014) FBC, Residential,
identification/labeling is required for the level of work in question.