23.Possible new policy for pressure testing
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date: Originating Department: Presented By: Agenda Item No.:
2-20-12
Council Date: City Manager Gene Anderson 23.
2-27-12
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Motion to set city policy regarding the necessity of pressure testing natural gas lines.
POLICY ISSUES):
Public safety
See attached staff report.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
None
EXHIBITS:
Staff Report
ACTION: BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ® Minute Order Expense $NA
❑ Department Report ❑ Resolution Budgeted Amt. $NA
❑ Presentation ❑ Ordinance YTD Actual $NA
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Other Acct. Name NA
Acct. Number NA
FISCAL NOTES:
None
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
® Administration ® City Clerk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT ❑ Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court ® Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
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City of Paris C Revised 2/04/08
STAFF REPORT
PRESSURE TESTING OF NATURAL GAS LINES
Background
Prior to 2001, Texas had no statewide standards for any residential or commercial buildings
constructed within a city. Each city chose what, if any, building code(s) to adopt for construction
in the city limits, and each city amended its code to meet local concerns. The most common
codes adopted by cities were the Uniform Building Codes and the Southern Standard Building
Code.
In 2001, the Texas Legislature adopted S.B. 365 (now codified in the Texas Local Government
Code 214.211 et seq.). S.B. 365 adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) and the
National Electrical Code (NEC) as the standard building codes for residential construction in
Texas cities effective 1-1-2002. Under the statute, cities were authorized to make amendments to
these codes to meet local concerns. In 2005, the Texas Legislature adopted the International
Building Code for most commercial and multi-family construction. Again, local amendments
could be made to the code.
As of October 31, 2008, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires cities to
follow the 2006 versions of International Building Code, International Fuel Gas Code,
International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Residential Code,
International Energy Conservation Code, International Existing Building Code, and the 2008
version of the National Electric Code.
Issue in Question
OBJECTION HAS BEEN RAISED TO THE CITY OF PARIS' REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A
PLUMBER CHECK THE GAS PIPING SYSTEM OF ANY STURCTURE WHERE THE GAS
HAS BEEN OFF FOR 30 DAYS OR LONGER.
The National Fuel Gas Code states in section 8.2.3 under the heading Leak Check the following:
"Immediately after the gas is turned on into a new system or into a system that has been initially
restored after an interruption of service, the piping system shall be checked for leakage. Where
leakage is indicated, the gas supply shall be shut off until the necessary repairs have been made."
This would indicate that anytime, no matter how brief a time, that gas service is cut off it is
required that the piping system must be checked for leaks.
The International Fuel Gas Code states in sections 406.4.1 and 406.4.2 the following:
Test Pressure. The test pressure to be used shall be no less than 1.5 times the proposed
maximum working pressure, but not less than 3 psig irrespective of design pressure. Where the
test pressure exceeds 125 psig, the test pressure shall not exceed a value that produces a hoop
stress in the piping greater than 50 percent of the specified minimum yield strength of the pipe.
Test Duration. Test duration shall not be less than'/2 hour for each 500 cubic feet of pipe
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volume or fraction thereof. When testing a system having a volume less than 10 cubic feet or a
system in a single-family dwelling, the test duration shall not be less than 10 minutes. The
duration of the test shall not be required to exceed 24 hours.
Atmos Energy uses the CFR Code 192 Rule for testing a gas piping system. This requires Atmos
to only test to what a normal usage pressure would be. For most structures in Paris, this would be
only 4 oz. of pressure for 1 minute. By contrast, the minimum pressure the City test requires is
3 pounds pressure for 30 minutes.
Between 1-1-2011 and 6-30-11 Atmos tested 620 structures of which 33 (5.32%) failed the test.
By contrast, the City required test (by a licensed plumber) from 8-10-11 through 2-3-11 of 263
structures resulted in 51 failures (19.39%). The City required test is more likely to detect a faulty
system.
This would appear to be a public safety policy decision. Would the change from the current 30
day testing requirement to a 90 testing requirement endanger the public? Would the piping
system be more likely to fail if it has been off three times as long?
The staff is requesting that the Council determine if it wishes to retain the current 30 day policy
or change it to a 90 policy.
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