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IFGC SEDIMENT TRAP?

I know I am getting into the personal opinion realm here, and that gas quality varies tremendously across the nation... but are sediment traps really necessary anymore? If there is sediment in the line, it most likely originates from the installation. Bulk materials can get dropped in the dirt/mud/dust, and have dust or other particulate trapped within the installed lines. Would it be therefore more practical to require that they blow-out the line prior to connecting appliances?

Sediment traps do work, but at what frequency are they necessary? Who has ever opened a sediment trap and found even the cap full, let alone the nipple?
 
Oh, and the sediment trap is supposed to be between the appliance and the shut off valve. That way you can "empty" the trap without shutting down the whole gas distribution system.

G2419.4 (408.4) Sediment Trap​
Where a sediment trap is not incorporated as part of the appliance, a sediment trap shall be installed downstream of the appliance shutoff valve as close to the inlet of the appliance as practical. The sediment trap shall be either a tee fitting having a capped nipple of any length installed vertically in the bottommost opening of the tee as illustrated in Figure G2419.4 or other device approved as an effective sediment trap. Illuminating appliances, ranges, clothes dryers, decorative vented appliances for installation in vented fireplaces, gas fireplaces and outdoor grills need not be so equipped.​
 
classicT said:
I know I am getting into the personal opinion realm here, and that gas quality varies tremendously across the nation... but are sediment traps really necessary anymore? If there is sediment in the line, it most likely originates from the installation. Bulk materials can get dropped in the dirt/mud/dust, and have dust or other particulate trapped within the installed lines. Would it be therefore more practical to require that they blow-out the line prior to connecting appliances?

Sediment traps do work, but at what frequency are they necessary? Who has ever opened a sediment trap and found even the cap full, let alone the nipple?
Click to expand...

I’d have doubts on all installers blowing out the line prior to service. Don’t misunderstand good installers will take the time to perform that step but others ughhhhh we know will and do not.

Is a sediment trap really needed, I think it’s like paying insurance. Useful when the unknown occurs but hopefully never needed.
 
% = % = %

** classicT ** has listed the correct Code section.
"Shall be installed vertically !"

All they would have to do is to turn the
galvanized tee 90 degrees, and use the middle
opening and voila !

% = % = %
 
I stopped requiring them (but will still allow them) - discussed with the Gas company and they reported not seeing anything in the traps they took apart.
Very rare to see galvanized gas piping does that indicate that the gas is deemed corrosive? What is the blue pipe thread sealant?
 
linnrg said:
I stopped requiring them (but will still allow them) - discussed with the Gas company and they reported not seeing anything in the traps they took apart.
Very rare to see galvanized gas piping does that indicate that the gas is deemed corrosive? What is the blue pipe thread sealant?
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So you don't have a code that you follow or the code that you legally adopted does not require them?
 
jar546 said:
So you don't have a code that you follow or the code that you legally adopted does not require them?
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You catch on quick. I am with linnrg. Never had any report of an issue. The gas company claims that there isn't a need. The majority of the installs are on an existing system that didn't have one or if it was there, it was useless.

This is from today:

IMG_20210406_171159.jpg
 
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linnrg said:
UPC 1210.8 "For other than dry gas conditions, a drip shall be provided....
GTas company says dry
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A drip tee and a sediment trap are two different things. 2018 UPC 1210.6 for drips, see 1212.9 for sediment traps which does not have the dry gas exception. Although I agree with some above statements that they may not always be necessary they are very easy to incorporate into the system and provide an extra level of protection, especially in new construction. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. A few bucks worth of fittings to protect an expensive piece of equipment is not a bad deal.
 
ICE said:
You catch on quick. I am with linnrg. Never had any report of an issue. The gas company claims that there isn't a need. The majority of the installs are on an existing system that didn't have one or if it was there, it was useless.
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter. Submit for a code change but this creates issues when people pick and choose what they want to enforce based on their opinions. Some guy took apart some drip legs and never found a problem therefore he speaks for the entire country and all climates and installation types in varying environments? It does not work that way. Either get what you don't like out of the code legally or enforce it as written. I personally never saw a roof collapse due to lack of lateral restraints such as perpendicular ceiling joists, therefore I don't require lateral restraint on cathedral ceilings. Is this how it works?
 
Joe.B said:
A drip tee and a sediment trap are two different things. 2018 UPC 1210.6 for drips, see 1212.9 for sediment traps which does not have the dry gas exception. Although I agree with some above statements that they may not always be necessary they are very easy to incorporate into the system and provide an extra level of protection, especially in new construction. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. A few bucks worth of fittings to protect an expensive piece of equipment is not a bad deal.
Click to expand...
Correct, sediment traps don't have an exception.
 
jar546 said:
I personally never saw a roof collapse due to lack of lateral restraints such as perpendicular ceiling joists, therefore I don't require lateral restraint on cathedral ceilings. Is this how it works?
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That's apples to kiwis. Some things just drop by the wayside. It's been ten years since I have seen a permit for a yard sprinkler system.....now I know...that's bananas to watermelons, but at least I'm still in the plumbing code and as we all know a permit is required. How about the vacuum breaker on a hose bib....never written that correction....hey now ...still in the plumbing code.

As far as the rest of the country is concerned....I can count on half of one hand the Californians that pay attention to what I say much less in Topeka.
 
(Just to stir up some sediment here) Some of you must have that High pressure gas that is capable of blasting sediment - but me understands what those thingys at the meter are and what goes on in the gas piping system. In the OP the gas piping on the floor a couple of feet below should be checked for potential sediment!

BTW - in 2 months I won't care about sediment or drip traps
 
jar546 said:
Doesn't matter. Submit for a code change but this creates issues when people pick and choose what they want to enforce based on their opinions. Some guy took apart some drip legs and never found a problem therefore he speaks for the entire country and all climates and installation types in varying environments? It does not work that way. Either get what you don't like out of the code legally or enforce it as written. I personally never saw a roof collapse due to lack of lateral restraints such as perpendicular ceiling joists, therefore I don't require lateral restraint on cathedral ceilings. Is this how it works?
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Well said. Code enforcement is not about personal beliefs or opinions. Turning a blind eye because of a personal belief is pretty bad form, especially if someone is also writing corrections based on beliefs or opinions.
 
I know what opinions are like so take this with a grain of salt.

A code enforcement officer should never judge work they are seeing on anything other than code. It goes both ways, writing a correction or ignoring something based on opinion or preference. Inspectors tend to get a bad reputation and I think it jades some people on both sides of the counter. Inspectors tend to look closely at things they know about, and ignore or scoff at things they don't agree with (or don't understand). If an inspector was a plumber they will pick away at those trades but miss or ignore electrical issues and vise-versa. Ignoring things will probably never manifest issues, but it only takes one incident. Many inspectors ignore the anti-siphon hose bibs and it's probably never going to be an issue, but it only takes one hose in the wrong bucket to contaminate a water supply if the pressure drops suddenly. One in a million, or billion? Sure, but do you want your name on it if it does happen? It's like a winning the lottery or a lightning strike, chances are low, but not zero.

Everybody has to make their own choice and I only share this to encourage other inspectors to try to be less biased in their enforcement, or lack thereof.
 
Joe.B said:
I know what opinions are like so take this with a grain of salt.

A code enforcement officer should never judge work they are seeing on anything other than code. It goes both ways, writing a correction or ignoring something based on opinion or preference. Inspectors tend to get a bad reputation and I think it jades some people on both sides of the counter. Inspectors tend to look closely at things they know about, and ignore or scoff at things they don't agree with (or don't understand). If an inspector was a plumber they will pick away at those trades but miss or ignore electrical issues and vise-versa. Ignoring things will probably never manifest issues, but it only takes one incident. Many inspectors ignore the anti-siphon hose bibs and it's probably never going to be an issue, but it only takes one hose in the wrong bucket to contaminate a water supply if the pressure drops suddenly. One in a million, or billion? Sure, but do you want your name on it if it does happen? It's like a winning the lottery or a lightning strike, chances are low, but not zero.

Everybody has to make their own choice and I only share this to encourage other inspectors to try to be less biased in their enforcement, or lack thereof.
Click to expand...
I’ve yet to meet the righteous inspector or as I like to call him, “anti-tiger”
 
I see the traps missing for LP gas all the time. LP gas is exempted from the codes in PA. LP gas installers are only required to watch a 20 min. film of how to do a pressure test and then they get a certification. They don't need to know anything about plumbing or codes and there is no enforcement of the work being done by a certified person.
 
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