[R.O. 1998 § 725.010; CC 1980 § 44.010]
The provisions of this Code shall be construed to be an ordinance relating to the public safety.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.020; CC 1980 § 44.020]
There is hereby created a division under the City of Bismarck to be known and called the Gas Inspection Division. The Gas Inspection Division shall have charge of inspecting all gas installations made within the City of Bismarck and generally enforcing the provisions of this Code. The Utility Superintendent shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Board of Aldermen and his/her salary shall be as set forth from time to time by said Board.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.030; CC 1980 § 44.030]
It shall be the duty of the Utility Superintendent to cause inspections to be made of all gas piping and gas appliance installations and all consumer gas transmission and distribution systems within the City of Bismarck or any outside City limits owned by said City and to enforce the provisions of this Code. The Utility Superintendent shall keep a record of all gas installations inspected by the Gas Inspection Division. He/she shall keep a record of all licenses and permits issued under this Code.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.040; CC 1980 § 44.040]
The Utility Superintendent shall have the authority to enter any building, structure or premises within the municipality or any such premises outside the City limits that are users of the City-owned gas system at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making inspections for preventing violations of this Code. In case of emergency, the Utility Superintendent shall have the right of entry at any time, provided such entry is necessary in the interest of public safety.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.050; CC 1980 § 44.050]
This Code shall not be construed as imposing upon the City of Bismarck any liability or responsibility for damages resulting from defective gas piping or appliances or the installation thereof, nor shall the City of Bismarck or any official employee thereof be authorized to assume or held as assuming any such liability or responsibility by reason of any inspection or other function performed under this Code.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.060; CC 1980 § 44.060]
A.
No person shall construct, install, extend, alter or repair any gas piping or gas appliance pertaining to or in connection with gas service on consumer's premises within the City of Bismarck or any such premises outside the City limits that are users of the City-owned gas system without first obtaining a permit from the Utility Superintendent to do such work; provided, that in the case of an emergency arising where an immediate repair may be necessary, said repairs may be made under the express condition that a permit be secured in the manner herein provided on or before noon of the next following business day. The fee for such permit shall be one dollar ($1.00).
B.
When final inspection of gas piping or gas appliance installation is made, a certificate of inspection shall be issued by the Utility Superintendent. Upon issuance of a final certificate of inspection for gas piping installations, the Utility Superintendent shall serve notice upon the gas company or Mayor that the piping installation has been duly inspected and approved and is ready for service.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.070; CC 1980 § 44.070]
When any work done under a permit issued by the Utility Superintendent is completed and ready for inspection, the person to whom the permit has been issued shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after completion of said work, give notice to the Utility Superintendent that the same has been completed and is ready and completed for inspection, and the Utility Superintendent shall cause said work to be inspected within a reasonable time thereafter.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.080; CC 1980 § 44.080]
In the interpretation of this Code, all words other than terms herein specifically defined shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings as implied by the context or as customarily used in the gas industry.
As to materials, workmanship and type of construction, means approval of the Utility Superintendent, as a result of investigation, inspections or tests conducted by him/her, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by nationally recognized authorities.
Gas piping which conveys gas from a supply line to the appliance.
That portion of gas piping contained within the boundaries of the building foundation and any additional gas piping connected to and extending beyond that portion of the system.
A document issued and signed by the Utility Superintendent containing the date, address of the premises of consumer, and the material, piping or appliance inspected and attached to the same.
Walls, floors, ceilings, shelves, or other parts of a building constructed of wood, composition, or paper, and including walls constructed of wooden studding, lath, and plaster.
Gas piping which when in place in the finished building or structure will be hidden from view.
Any user of natural gas, artificial or mixed gas, including residential, commercial and industrial.
A device designed to regulate the gas, air, water and electrical supply to a gas appliance. It may be manual or automatic.
A device built into an appliance, or made a part of the flue or vent connector from an appliance, which is designed to:
Gas piping which will be in view in the finished structure.
Products of combustion and excess air.
Any natural, artificial or mixed gas.
A fixture or apparatus manufactured and designed to use natural, artificial, or mixed gas as fuel; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to apply to appliances, appurtenances or devices used for strictly experimental or scientific purposes.
Any person, firm, corporation or co-partnership holding and exercising a franchise to distribute gas within the corporate limits of the municipality. In this case, this shall be Bismarck Natural Gas Utility.
Anyone who does any gas fitting work, installation, maintenance, alteration or repair of any gas appliance or gas piping under the provisions of this Code.
Any run of pipe or fitting that is used to convey fuel gas installed on any premises or in any building that shall not include:
Any arrangement of gas piping supplied through one (1) meter.
A conduit or pipe such as a chimney or flue, vertical, or nearly so, in direction, designed to convey the products of combustion to the outside air.
A pipe or flue designed to convey the products of combustion from the gas appliance to a gas vent.
A manually operated valve or cock in the gas line for the purpose of completely turning on or shutting off the gas supply to the appliance except to pilot or pilots which are provided with independent shutoff valves.
The instrument installed to measure the volume of gas delivered through it.
Includes firm, corporation, or co-partnership, masculine gender shall include feminine gender. Singular shall include plural.
The property of the consumer up to the property line and including any buildings or structures thereon.
The piping between the street gas main and the gas meter.
Flue or vent of masonry, reinforced concrete or metal smoke stack.
Vent piping of non-combustible, corrosion-resistant material of sufficient thickness, cross-sectional area and heat-insulating quality to avoid excess temperature on adjacent combustible material and certified by a nationally recognized testing agency.
Flue or vent piping of sheet copper of not less than No. 24 Standard Gauge or of galvanized iron of not less than 28 U.S. Standard Gauge or other approved corrosion resistant material.
A gas appliance which has been previously used.
The officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of this Code, or his/her duly authorized representative.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.090; CC 1980 § 44.090]
If an inspection shall show that defective materials have been used or defective workmanship has been performed in the installation, alteration, repair or extension of any gas pipe, fixture or appliance or on any consumer's premises, such defective materials or work shall be replaced by the permit holder within three (3) days after such consumer shall be notified thereof and the inspection repeated.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.100; CC 1980 § 44.100]
The Utility Superintendent is hereby authorized to disconnect any gas appliance or gas piping which shall be found not to conform to the requirements of this Code or may be found defective and in such condition as to endanger life or property. Where such disconnection has been made, a notice shall be given to the consumer, on whose premises such disconnection has been made, and notice shall be attached to such appliance or gas piping which shall state that the same has been disconnected, together with the reason therefor, and such notice shall not be removed nor shall the appliance or gas piping be reconnected until the unsatisfactory condition has been corrected. It shall further be unlawful to turn on or connect gas on any premises unless all outlets are properly and securely connected to appliances or capped or plugged with screwed conversion burners.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.110; CC 1980 § 44.110]
A.
All pipe used for the installation, extension, alteration or repair of any gas piping shall be standard weight wrought iron or steel, or brass or copper pipe of iron pipe size.
1.
All such pipe shall either be new or shall previously have been used for no other purpose than conveying gas, and shall be free from internal obstructions and the ends thereof properly reamed.
2.
Used piping shall be cleaned and inspected and ascertained to be equivalent to new material.
3.
All filters used in connection with the above piping shall be of malleable iron, steel, brass or copper.
4.
All joints in the piping system, unless welded, shall be screwed joints, having American Standard or S.A.E. Standard threads. Such screwed joints shall be made up with a thread compound applied to the made threads only. Non-ferrous tubing shall not be run through walls and floors and shall not be allowed in unoccupied spaces within the building structure.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.120; CC 1980 § 44.120]
A.
All gas piping shall be supported at intervals of not more than six (6) feet, by straps or hooks capable of withstanding four (4) times the weight of the pipe being supported.
1.
Unions shall not be concealed in any walls or floors.
2.
Bushings, right or left couplings, or long-screws shall not be used. Piping may be jointed by threaded fittings, valves, couplings or ground joint unions, or by welding.
3.
Pipes shall not be bent except for minor offsets. Fittings shall be installed to prevent any air or oxygen from entering the gas piping.
4.
A stopcock shall be installed adjacent to every gas appliance.
5.
Piping laid under concrete, tile or composition floors when such are in direct contact with the earth or any kind of fill, shall be protected against corrosion in an approved manner. Piping laid in concrete, cement, masonry, etc., shall, if possible, be laid in a conduit or tunnel left in the solid work. Gas piping shall not run through hot air furnace pipes or cold air ducts or elevator shafts.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.130; CC 1980 § 44.130]
A.
Piping shall be of a size and so installed as to provide a supply of gas sufficient to meet the maximum demand without undue loss of pressure between the meter and the appliance or appliances as designated by the standards of the gas utility.
1.
The hourly volume of gas required at each piping outlet shall be taken as not less than the maximum hourly rating as specified by the manufacturer of the appliance or appliances to be connected to each such outlet.
2.
Where the manufacturer's rating of an appliance is given in BTUs per hour, this rating shall be divided by one thousand (1,000) to obtain the corresponding gas demand in cubic feet per hour.
3.
In no case shall a supply pipe to any gas appliance be installed having a diameter smaller than the inlet connection of that appliance.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.140; CC 1980 § 44.140]
Any gas service entering any building underground, without rising first above ground, shall pass through a vented pit or encasement directly adjacent to the building or be vented by means of a curb box.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.150; CC 1980 § 44.150]
Service shutoffs shall be installed on all new services including replacements at the curb or property line for each service or at an easily accessible place on the outside of the building served.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.160; CC 1980 § 44.160]
It shall be unlawful to remove or disconnect any gas appliance without capping or plugging with a screwed joint fitting, the outlet from which said gas appliance was connected.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.170; CC 1980 § 44.170]
Before any system of gas piping is finally put in service it shall be carefully tested and inspected to assure that it is gas tight. Where any part of the system is to be enclosed or concealed, this test shall precede the work of closing in. To test for tightness, the piping may be filled with air or inert gas, but not with any other gas or liquid. In no case shall oxygen ever be used. The piping must stand a pressure of at least ten (10) inches of mercury for a period of not less than fifteen (15) minutes without showing any drop in pressure.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.180; CC 1980 § 44.180]
All gas meter locations shall be approved by the Utility Superintendent. No gas meter shall be installed in sleeping rooms, closed closets or stairways or adjacent to boilers, furnaces or other open flame devices.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.190; CC 1980 § 44.190]
No person shall install or use any device intended as an adjunct or addition to a gas appliance or to be suspended above or wholly or partially to enclose any burner of a gas appliance in such a manner as to reduce the effectiveness of the ignition of the gas issuing from the burner or impair the combustion of said burner. No person shall cause gas supplied by the gas utility to bypass the meter by which the amount of gas supplied by the gas utility is measured.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.200; CC 1980 § 44.200]
A.
The construction and performance of all gas-burning appliances shall be reasonably safe to persons and property and in conformity with the provisions of this Code.
B.
The presence of a valid seal of approval of a nationally recognized testing laboratory showing conformity of the construction and performance of gas-burning appliances with applicable requirements, which have been approved by the American Standards Association or the American Gas Association shall be prima facie evidence that such construction and performance are safe to persons and property.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.210; CC 1980 § 44.210]
A.
Appliances shall be installed so that their continued operation will not in any way create a hazard to persons or property. The gas supply to any appliance shall not be set, adjusted or regulated so that the hourly flow of gas is in excess of the BTU rating as determined by the manufacturer.
1.
No filter or other obstruction shall be placed in a flue passage of any appliance. This shall not preclude baffles and other standard parts built into an appliance by the manufacturer.
2.
No appliances shall be installed in a room or space in which the facilities for ventilating do not permit the proper combustion of gas under normal conditions for use. All air ducts or permanent openings supplying air for combustion shall have a minimum of fifty (50) square inches of free area each or one (1) square inch per one thousand (1,000) BTU input, whichever is greater.
3.
All appliances shall be connected with rigid piping; provided, however, that appliances which are necessarily portable or which require a vibration joint may be connected with flexible tubing. On such appliances, the shutoff shall be in a solid connection of the piping and not on the appliance. Only approved tubing of proper design and good quality shall be used, and it shall be securely attached at each end. Flush-to-wall models of domestic gas ranges may be connected with metal tubing connectors approved by the American Gas Association Testing Laboratory or the Utility Superintendents.
4.
Every appliance shall be located so that it will be readily accessible for operation and servicing.
5.
Gas appliances shall not be installed in any location where flammable vapors are likely to be present unless the design, operation and installation are such as to eliminate the possible ignition of the flammable vapors.
6.
Gas appliance pressure regulators requiring access to the atmosphere for successful operation shall be equipped with a vent pipe leading to the outer air or into the combustion chamber adjacent to a constantly burning pilot.
7.
All electrical connections between gas appliances and the building wiring shall conform with the provisions of the Electric Code of the municipality.
8.
Gas-fired water heaters shall not be installed in bathrooms or bedrooms. However, water heaters of the automatic storage type may be installed as a replacement in a bathroom when specifically authorized by the Utility Superintendent, providing they are properly vented and are supplied with adequate combustion air. Gas-fired water heaters shall not be installed closer to combustible materials than six (6) inches, provided that underfired, insulated automatic storage heaters may have a clearance not less than two (2) inches and that units with one (1) or more flat sides and listed for installation flush to the wall may be installed without the specified clearance. A temperature and pressure relief valve shall be installed on all water heater installations, replacements or whenever relocated. The temperature and pressure relief valve shall meet the specification requirements of the American Gas Association or the American Standards Association. The valve shall be installed either directly in the tank in a tapping provided for this purpose or not over six (6) inches down from the top of the tank or in the hot water service line leading from the top of the tank and as close to the tank as possible. Pressure relief discharge shall be set at one hundred twenty-five (125) pounds and shall be rated to limit the pressure rise by thermal expansion for any given heat input to ten percent (10%) of the pressure at which the valve is set to open. However, the setting must not be in excess of the rated working pressure of the tank. Temperature relief discharge shall be set to open at two hundred ten degrees Fahrenheit (210° F.) and shall have a BTU temperature-relieving capacity rating at least equal to the gross heat input of all connected heaters to prevent any further rise in temperature. The outlet of a temperature- and pressure-relief valve shall not be connected to the drainage system of the building as a direct waste.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.220; CC 1980 § 44.220]
A.
Vent connections shall be required on the following:
1.
Domestic appliances with an input rating in excess of twenty thousand (20,000) BTUs per hour, except domestic gas ranges;
2.
All water heaters having an input rating in excess of five thousand (5,000) BTUs per hour;
3.
Automatically controlled appliances with an input rating in excess of five thousand (5,000) BTUs per hour;
4.
Automatically controlled appliances with an input rating less than five thousand (5,000) BTUs per hour, unless equipped with an automatic device to prevent the escape of unburned gas at the main burner or burners: The term "automatically controlled appliance" used in Subsection (A)(3) and (4) hereof refers to appliances to which the gas supply is automatically turned on and off in accordance with the demand for heat;
5.
Each of several appliances, except domestic gas ranges installed in the same room, which in the aggregate have an input rating as great as thirty (30) BTUs per hour per cubic foot of room content;
6.
All house heating steam and hot water boilers and warm air furnaces, including floor furnaces; and
7.
All appliances must be vented when installed in bathrooms, unventilated rooms, or rooms used for sleeping.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.230; CC 1980 § 44.230]
A.
Vent size and vent connection regulations are as follows:
1.
The vent connections shall not be less in diameter than the vent outlet of the gas appliance which it serves. Every vent connection shall have a rise of not less than one-half (1/2) inch per foot of length. The horizontal run of the connector shall be as short as possible, and the appliance shall be located as near the flue or vent as practicable. The maximum length of horizontal run shall not exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the height of the flue or vent.
2.
A rectangular or oval vent may be used, provided its internal cross-sectional area is not less than that of the vent outlet of the appliance it serves and, provided that the ratio of its width to depth in cross-section area is not less than that of the vent outlet of the appliance it serves and, provided that the ratio of its width to depth in cross-section does not exceed three (3) to one (1). In no case shall any vent or portion thereof have a cross-sectional area of less than twelve (12) square inches or a minimum internal diameter of less than two (2) inches.
3.
Every vent, thimble and inlet shall have a clear and unobstructed cross-sectional area at least equal to the area of the outlet on the gas appliance which it serves.
4.
Except as otherwise provided, the area of any vent serving more than one (1) appliance shall not be less than the area of the largest vent connection plus fifty percent (50%) of the areas of all other additional vent connections.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.240; CC 1980 § 44.240]
A.
Combustible materials within twelve (12) inches vertically and six (6) inches horizontally of any vent connection shall be protected by approved fire-resistive material. These distances shall be measured at right angles to the vent connections.
B.
Every vent, thimble and inlet extending into or through any wall partition, floor, ceiling or roof of any building shall have a perforated and/or ventilated sleeve extending the full length of such space between the ceiling and floor above, or through any partition or wall. Such sleeve shall provide at least a three-quarter-inch air space at every point around the vent. Such sleeves or air space may be omitted in non-combustible construction.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.250; CC 1980 § 44.250]
The flue or vent shall extend high enough above the building or other neighboring obstruction so that wind from any direction will not strike the flue or vent from an angle above horizontal. Flues or vents must extend at least two (2) feet above flat roofs or two (2) feet above the highest part of wall parapets and peaked roofs within twenty (20) feet horizontally except that gas vents need not comply with the provisions when equipped with an approved device which eliminates down drafts.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.260; CC 1980 § 44.260]
Where two (2) or more inlets are provided in any vent or chimney such inlets shall be offset in such a manner that no section of any inlet shall be opposite to other inlets in such vent and shall be at different levels. Vent inlets not in use shall be tightly closed by means of an approved cap.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.270; CC 1980 § 44.270]
B.
The draft hood shall be attached to the flue collar of the appliance or as near to the appliance as conditions permit and in a position for which it is designed with reference to horizontal and vertical plans. The draft hood shall be so located that the relief opening is not obstructed by any part of the appliance or adjacent conditions.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.280; CC 1980 § 44.280]
The installation of an approved vent cap or top which will prevent precipitation from entering the vent may be installed; an approved vent cap or top shall be so constructed that it will prevent birds from entering the vent and so constructed that it cannot slip down and block the vent opening. Such an approved cap or tap should be positioned so that for roof slopes less than 12-12 pitch (450°), a twelve-inch clearance is maintained between the roof or other obstructions and the lower portion of the top. A vent cap or top installed on the vent at its terminus shall have a free open area equal to the cross-sectional area of the vent pipe on which it is installed.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.290; CC 1980 44.290]
No person shall install any block flue pipe for the purpose of venting products of combustion from a gas-fired appliance.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.300; CC 1980 § 44.300]
No person shall suffer or permit any vent to annoy the residents, occupants or owners of any building in the immediate neighborhood. If such should occur, the Utility Superintendent shall cause the same to be abated or altered, relocated or improved and the vent carried to such height as may be necessary for the protection of the surrounding property.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.310; CC 1980 § 44.310]
Any chimney which has a clean-out at the bottom, is of solid construction, and the interior of which has a straight line opening from top to bottom, need not be lined for use as a gas vent; provided, it is properly cleaned. All other chimneys shall be provided with a fire clay flue liner or other approved corrosion-resistant liner.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.320; CC 1980 § 44.320]
Factory built chimneys that are approved as a result of tests and listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory shall be installed in accordance with the conditions of the approval.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.330; CC 1980 § 44.330]
A.
Type "B" gas vents shall be used only with approved gas appliances which produce flue gas temperatures not in excess of five hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit (550° F.). They shall not be used for venting:
B.
Type "BW" gas vents shall be used only with approved recessed or wall gas heaters.
C.
Type "C" gas vents shall be used only for runs directly from the space in which the appliance is located. Such vents shall not pass through any attic or concealed space nor through any roof or floor and shall not be used to vent a gas appliance directly to the outside atmosphere.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.340; CC 1980 § 44.360]
The issuance or granting of a permit shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for or approval of any violation of the provisions of this Code. No permit purporting to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code shall be valid.
[R.O. 1998 § 725.350; CC 1980 § 44.370]
Regulations pertaining to installations, use, maintenance, alteration, repair or removal of any gas piping or appliance within the City of Bismarck not covered by this Chapter will be regulated by the National Board of Fire Underwriters and the American Gas Association.