[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the City of Hagerstown as Ch. 24 of the 1967 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The erection or construction of a piping system through which
is conveyed gas for power, heating or illuminating purposes, including
the connection therewith of gas fixtures, ranges, stoves, water heaters
and gas engines, and all their attachments and appurtenances, and
the maintenance in a good and safe condition of the system and the
making of the necessary repairs and changes.
All gas fitting, piping, fixtures and appliances
of all kinds shall be under the direction of the Plumbing Inspector
and subject to his approval.
A.
No work or material embraced under gas fitting as
provided in this chapter shall be used or placed in any building without
application having first been made to and a permit obtained from the
Plumbing Inspector.
B.
The application must be made by a registered licensed
plumber or registered licensed gas fitter upon blanks specially prepared
for that purpose and shall contain a full description of the work
to be done.
C.
If required, drawings or blueprints shall accompany
the application, showing the piping in its entirety as to the length
of the run, size of the same, etc.
There shall be a heavy main fullway cock on
every service pipe close to the inside of the foundation wall, and
in case there are two or more meters supplied from one service pipe,
there shall be an additional straightway cock at the inlet side of
each meter.
Meters placed in cellars shall be set on the
wall wherever practical, at least four feet above the cellar floor.
In no case shall the meter be set in a vestibule or above the door
of the same nor in any cellar, hallway or room closer to any furnace,
open grate or range than 10 feet nor within 10 feet of any electric
switchboard or other electrical appliance measured horizontally nor
in any closed closet or under stairways nor in any similar enclosure
or coal or ash vault.
All gas pipes shall be of the best quality wrought
iron or steel and of the kind classed as standard pipe and shall weigh
according to the following table:
|
Size of Pipe
(inches)
|
Pounds per Linear Foot
|
|---|---|
|
1/4
|
0.42
|
|
3/8
|
.56
|
|
1/2
|
.85
|
|
3/4
|
1.12
|
|
1
|
1.67
|
|
1 1/4
|
2.24
|
|
1 1/2
|
2.68
|
|
2
|
3.61
|
|
2 1/2
|
5.74
|
|
3
|
7.54
|
|
3 1/2
|
9.00
|
|
4
|
10.66
|
All fittings, except stopcocks or valves, shall
be of malleable iron. Joints shall be made with white or red lead,
preferably applied to male threads. No gas fitters' cement shall be
used except for fixture joints. All bends or angles must be made with
fittings. The bending of gas pipes will not be permitted.
A.
No pipe shall be laid so as to support any weight,
except fixtures, or be subject to any strain whatsoever. All pipe
shall be properly laid and fastened to prevent becoming trapped and
shall be laid, when practicable, above timbers or beams instead of
beneath them. Where running lines or branches cross beams, they must
be laid within three feet of the ends of the beams, and in no case
shall the pipes be let into the beams more than two inches in depth.
B.
No drop or bracket shall be taken from an ell; it
must be taken from a tee fitting, and the pipes must be run not less
than four inches longer, or to a bearing, and be capped and securely
fastened on both sides of the tee so as to prevent movement when the
fixture is attached.
C.
All pipes must be properly graded and, if practicable,
sloped toward the risers and meter. A bracket outlet shall be run
as a riser rather than as a drop.
D.
Any gas pipe laid in a damp or cold place shall be
properly dripped or graded and painted with two coats of red lead
and boiled in oil or be tarred. No gas pipe shall be laid in cement
or concrete, unless the pipe or channel in which it is placed is well-covered
with tar.
A.
The size of gas pipe shall not be less, nor the length
greater, than for the number of burners stated and enumerated in the
following table, except that if the number of burners is not more
than half the maximum, the length of run may be increased 1/2:
|
Size of Pipe
(inches)
|
Maximum Length of Pipe
(feet)
|
Maximum Number of Burners
Allowed
| |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3/8
|
20
|
2
| |
|
1/2
|
30
|
4
| |
|
3/4
|
50
|
9
| |
|
1
|
70
|
18
| |
|
1 1/4
|
100
|
32
| |
|
1 1/2
|
150
|
50
| |
|
2
|
200
|
103
| |
|
2 1/2
|
300
|
180
| |
|
3
|
450
|
580
|
B.
An outlet for a gas range or small water heater shall
be counted as equivalent to five burners and a gas log or grate as
equivalent to three burners.
A.
All outlets must be set plumb and securely fastened,
each one having at least one strap, and they shall be left capped
until fixtures are connected. They must not project more than two
inches below a plastered ceiling, centerpiece or wall. No gas outlet
shall be placed within 15 inches of any window or doorway trimming.
B.
Outlets for gas stoves, heaters or gas logs must not
be less than three inches above the floor and two inches in the clear
from the baseboard.
C.
No bracket or burner shall be located under or near
any tank containing flammable oils, the back of any door or within
10 feet of any gas meter. No swinging or folding gas bracket shall
be placed against any stud partition or woodwork, but a stiff bracket
can be used if the length is not less than six inches, measured from
the burner to the plastered surface or woodwork.
D.
No gas hot-water heater, gas range, gas radiator,
gas light or other gas appliance shall be placed in any location where
the location of meters is prohibited, except near furnaces, nor in
any garage or other place where flammable oils are kept, stored or
used. No gas log or open-flame radiator shall be placed in any fireplace
which is not provided with a flue to the outer air and which is not
thoroughly fireproofed.
E.
Gas brackets placed near window curtains or similar
combustible material shall be protected by proper shields. All gas
burners less than two feet from a plastered ceiling or less than five
feet from overhead woodwork shall be protected by shields of approved
material.
F.
No independent connection for a hose outlet shall
be placed above the stiff joint of any chandelier or pendant, but
such connection shall be brought down to an accessible point; nor
shall any independent hose connection be placed within six inches
of the key of a gas bracket.
All brass tubing shall be at least No. 18 standard
gauge. All threads on brass pipe shall screw in at least 5/16 of an
inch. All cast fittings, such as cocks, swing joints, double centers,
nozzles, etc., shall be extra-heavy brass. The plugs of all cocks
must be ground to a true surface for their entire length, be free
from sandholes and have not less than 3/4 of an inch bearing, except
in cases of special design. All stop pins to keys or cocks shall be
screwed into place.
When, for any reason, in remodeling old buildings,
it is impracticable to comply strictly with the provisions of this
chapter, the Plumbing Inspector shall have power to modify its provisions
so that the spirit and substance thereof shall be complied with.
A.
Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the extension
of a gas pipe from a building located on the front portion of a lot
to a stable, workshop or building of a similar character located on
the rear of the lot if there is no gas main in the rear alley or street
and both buildings are located on the same lot and owned, occupied
or used by the same owner.
B.
No extension or alteration of any existing system of gas piping in a building in excess of 15 feet in length, and unless the same is entirely exposed, shall be made without reporting the work to the office of the Plumbing Inspector for inspection and approval. Extensions shall conform in size to the table in § 120-10 of this chapter and shall be made where the proper size pipe can be maintained, and in no case shall extensions be made from smaller pipe.
C.
Where necessary to cut pipe for extensions or repairs,
pipe shall be again put together with right and left couplings, and
in no case shall unions or running threads be permitted.
All gas appliances, including gas ranges and
all types of gas water heaters, shall be connected with a vent to
a chimney or flue. In cases where this is impossible, the vent shall
be run to the outside of the building and shall be installed subject
to the approval of the Plumbing Inspector.
Upon the completion of any system of gas piping
in any building, premises or establishment and before the piping is
enclosed, covered or concealed, it shall be promptly reported to the
Plumbing Inspector for inspection. The outlets shall be suitably capped
and the system tested with air to a pressure equal to a column of
mercury six inches high in the length of time as will satisfy the
Plumbing Inspector that the work is sound and tight. No piping shall
be covered up nor shall any fixture, gas heater, range or appliance
be connected thereto until the test is approved.
Gas shall not be turned on in any building,
premises or establishment until the piping and fixtures have been
approved by the Plumbing Inspector and a certificate is issued stating
that the town conforms to the provisions of this chapter.
