Policy on Gas Pipe Sizing Plan Submittal

[Glennman CBO]

Just wondering how many jurisdictions require a gas piping layout with pipe sizing, BTU demand, etc, at the time they come in for mechanical permits.

When i used to do that kind of work, there was one city in my area that required a layout, now there are at least 2, mine included (not mine really. The one I "serve").

This question woud apply to residential and commercial.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[Frank]

IBC Structures Yes

IRC structures No

 

[Papio Bldg Dept]

Same as Frank.

 

[fatboy]

Yes and Yes.

Started on IRC a few years back when we figured out that they weren't sizing correctly for CSST.

 

[gbhammer]

same as frank and papio

 

[Papio Bldg Dept]

Started on IRC a few years back when we figured out that they weren't sizing correctly for CSST.

Tell me more...our biggest problem with NSFR gas lines is when the CSST is being pulled tight against the metal truss plates in the floor trusses. While I have your ear/eye, have you amended the mounting heights for the manifold/shut-off in unfinished basements? We had guys mounting them at the bottom of joist/truss. Hard to imagine anyone taking a ladder with them when trying to use the shut-off in an emergency.

 

[fatboy]

Been a while since I was in the field, but that's were I was seeing them.

We don't see that much plate trusses much, mostly I-joists.

Plumbers were sizing systems like they would for steel gas pipe, and that wasn't making it with CSST and low pressure gas. Our local gas provider doesn't want to provide medium pressure to residential that has a gas demand of less than 550K BTU.

 

[globe trekker]

Commercial - yes

Residential - No

.

 

[ICE]

It depends on the complexity. It might take a drawing with size, length and demand. The usual problem appliance is the tank-less water heater. I must figure it out for them in almost all cases. If they can't even produce a drawing, I give them the options of a dedicated gas pipe or a storage capacity water heater.

I can remember contractors dumping it on me to figure out a new house by stating that all gas pipe will be 1/2". When I tell them I need a schematic with length and demand, they say, Well what size should the pipe be? I tell them 1.5" from the street and 1.25" thereafter. Then they want to know how I derived those sizes. I tell them it's that newfangled math that the kids are using where they have no information to use so they pick a number out of thin air.

 

[Glennman CBO]

Sounds like yes, commercial, and no, residential is fairly common. I'm thinking of going that way.

 

[fatboy]

If you have some oldtimer plumbers that cut their teeth on steel pipe installs, I can almost promise that they are undersized on CSST in low pressure installs. Do a couple spot checks.

 

[mark handler]

Almost every project I do, residential, industrial and commercial, that alter the existing use, the Building departments require the demand and sizing.