City of Peekskill, NY Installation of Gas Piping and Gas Appliance Connections in Buildings

§ 422-17 Legislative findings; purpose; scope.

[Amended 2-22-1993; 10-22-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007]

Legislative findings.

The Common Council finds that prohibiting the use of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST), as approved by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, would promote and protect the health, safety, welfare and property of the citizenry of the City of Peekskill and is therefore in the best interest of the citizenry of the City of Peekskill. The Common Council further finds that, through a nationwide class action lawsuit filed and settled against the various manufacturers of CSST, CSST has been found to be unreasonably susceptible to damage from arcing by direct or indirect lightning strikes. A direct or indirect lightning strike can create holes, allowing gas leaks that can result in a fire or an explosion.

(2)

The Common Council finds that on one occasion, a puncture hole was caused by the inherent defects of CSST, causing a fire to burn for at least two months. The Common Council further finds that, separate from and in addition to the real hazard of direct or indirect lightning strikes, the CSST has caused, on two separate occasions within only a two-month period in the City of Peekskill, actual leaks within concealed spaces resulting from puncture holes caused by nails used in routine construction applications as a result of the CSST being pulled through existing walls against nails protruding into those walls, or new nails being hammered or shot with a nail gun into walls where CSST is located. These serious occurrences are substantial evidence that CSST is unreasonably prone to leaks, fire hazards and actual fires in normal construction situations. The Common Council does not know if these problems are unique to the City of Peekskill or if they are pervasive problems throughout New York State, but the risk of injury or death and property damage that has been experienced in the City of Peekskill far outweighs any economic benefit that the installer may realize though the use of CSST. The Common Council further finds that puncture holes made to CSST by both professionals and homeowners pose a very real threat to life, health, safety and property.

(3)

Through this legislation the City desires to encourage the use of galvanized or black iron pipe, which it finds to be the most puncture-resistant material available for such applications, and to prohibit the use of CSST.

Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or use.

Scope. This chapter represents basic standards governing the installation of gas piping and gas appliance connections in buildings. These standards apply only to low-pressure (not in excess of 1/2 pound per square inch) gas piping systems in buildings extending from the gas meter outlet or regulators to the inlet connections of appliances and the installation of residential and commercial gas appliances supplied through such systems by bottled gas or public utilities. They are intended to cover the installation and tests of such systems for fuel gases, such as natural gas and liquefied petroleum and/or manufactured gas. They are not intended to cover systems or portions of systems supplying equipment engineered, designed and installed for specific manufacturing, production manufacturing, production processing and power-generating applications, such as large and high-pressure boilers, melting and treating furnaces, production ovens, etc. For piping in gas distribution system, in gas manufacturing plants, in gas compressing stations and in gas processing plants, consult the gas utility corporation. No permit shall be required for installation, removal or refilling of liquefied petroleum tanks as a regular continued supply to building.

§ 422-18 Installation restricted to licensed persons or registered companies.

[Amended 2-22-1993]

Installation of gas piping or gas appliances governed by this article shall only be performed by:

Those persons licensed to do plumbing work under this chapter; or

Employees of a bottled gas supply company duly registered in the City and certified by the Plumbing Board of Examiners as meeting the requirements of Article II, § 230-7A of this chapter.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Art. II, Registration of Plumbers, as amended, was repealed 6-28-2004 by L.L. No. 12-2004.

§ 422-19 Permit required.

[Amended 2-22-1993; 6-24-2019 by L.L. No. 3-2019]

It shall be unlawful for any person to install or cause to be installed any gas piping, gas water heater or other gas appliances without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Public Works to do so.

Permits for gas piping shall show the total number of gas outlets to be provided for and such other information as may be required by the Director of Public Works.

§ 422-20 Materials.

[Added 2-22-1993; amended 3-24-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003; 10-22-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007]

All pipe work and fittings within a structure shall be made out of materials permitted and provided for in the Fuel Gas Code of New York State, except that corrugated stainless steel tubing is prohibited. Valves and flexible connectors at appliances shall be gas connectors approved by the Department of Public Works or as required by public utilities.