The fuel gas code adopted in this article shall be subject to the exceptions and amendments to the International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 edition, as follows:
The following sections, paragraphs, and sentences of the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code are hereby amended as follows: Standard type is text from the IFGC. Underlined type is text inserted. Lined through type is deleted text from IFGC. A triple asterisk identifies a new or revised amendment with the 2021 code.
**Section 101.1 Title, is amended as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fuel Gas Code of Lancaster, Texas, hereinafter referred to as "this code."
**Section 102.2; add an exception to read as follows:
Exception: Existing dwelling units shall comply with Section 621.2.
**Section 102.8; change to read as follows:
102.8 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be those that are listed in Chapter
8 and such codes
, when specifically adopted, and standards shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference. Where differences occur between provisions of this code and the referenced standards, the provisions of this code shall apply.
Whenever amendments have been adopted to the referenced codes and standards, each reference to said code and standard shall be considered to reference the amendments as well. Any reference to NFPA 70 or the National Electrical Code shall mean the Electrical Code as adopted. **Section 113 Means of Appeal, is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
Section 113. Means of Appeal. Any appeal of orders, decisions or determinations made by the building official relative to the application and interpretation of this code shall be heard by the City's Property Standards and Appeals Board as provided for by the City's Code of Ordinances.
**Section 114. Board of Appeals, is deleted in its entirety.
**Section 115 Violations, is amended by replacing Section 115.2, 115.3, and 115.4 with the following:
115.2 Notice of Violation. The building official may, but is not required to, serve a notice of violation or order upon the person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, moving, removal, demolition or occupancy of a building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code, or in violation of a permit or certificated issued under the provisions of this code. Such notice may direct the discontinuance of the illegal action or condition an the abatement of the violation. |
115.3 Prosecution of violation. The building official, any code enforcement officer, or any law enforcement official of the City may issue a citation regarding any violation of this code, regardless of whether a notice has been previously issued. Any of these persons may also request the legal counsel of the jurisdiction to institute an appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the building or structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto. |
115.4. Violations penalties. [Deleted in its entirety] |
**Section 306.5; change to read as follows:
[M] 306.5 Equipment and Appliances on Roofs or Elevated Structures. Where equipment requiring access or appliances are located on an elevated structure or the roof of a building such that personnel will have to climb higher than 16 feet (4877 mm) above grade to access, an interior or exterior means of access shall be provided. Exterior ladders providing roof access need not extend closer than 12 feet (2438 mm) to the finish grade or floor level below and shall extend to the equipment and appliances' level service space. Such access shall . . . {bulk of section to read the same} . . . on roofs having a slope greater than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33-percent slope). . . . {remainder of text unchanged}.
**Section 306.5.1; change to read as follows:
[M] 306.5.1 Sloped roofs. Where appliances, equipment, fans or other components that require service are installed on a roof having a slope of 3 units vertical in 12 units horizontal (25-percent slope) or greater and having an edge more than 30 inches (762 mm) above grade at such edge, a catwalk at least 16 inches in width with substantial cleats spaced not more than 16 inches apart shall be provided from the roof access to a level platform at the appliance. The level platform shall be provided on each side of the appliance to which access is required for service, repair or maintenance. The platform shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in any dimension and shall be provided with guards. The guards shall extend not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) above the platform, shall be constructed so as to prevent the passage of a 21-inch-diameter (533 mm) sphere and shall comply with the loading requirements for guards specified in the International Building Code.
**Section 401.5; add a second paragraph to read as follows:
Both ends of each section of medium pressure gas piping shall identify its operating gas pressure with an approved tag. The tags are to be composed of aluminum or stainless steel and the following wording shall be stamped into the tag: |
"WARNING 1/2 to 5 psi gas pressure Do Not Remove" |
**Section 404.12; change to read as follows:
404.12 Minimum burial depth. Underground piping systems shall be installed a minimum depth of 12 18 inches (305 458 mm) top of pipe below grade, except as provided for in Section 404.12.1. |
404.12.1 Delete in its entirety. |
***Section 406.4; change to read as follows:
406.4 Test pressure measurement. Test pressure shall be measured with a monometer or with a pressure-measuring device designed and calibrated to read, record, or indicate a pressure loss caused by leakage during the pressure test period. The source of pressure shall be isolated before the pressure tests are made. Mechanical gauges used to measure test pressures shall have a range such that the highest end of the scale is not greater than five times the test pressure. Spring type gauges do not meet the requirement of a calibrated gauge.
***Section 406.4.1; change to read as follows:
406.4.1 Test pressure. The test pressure to be used shall be no less than 1 1/2 times the proposed maximum working pressure, but no less than 3 3 psig (20 kPa gauge), or at the discretion of the Code Official, the piping and valves may be tested at a pressure of at least six (6) inches (152 mm) of mercury, measured with a manometer or slope gauge, irrespective of design pressure. Where the test pressure exceeds 125 psig (862 kPa gauge), 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. For tests requiring a pressure of 3 psig, diaphragm gauges shall utilize a dial with a minimum diameter of three and one half inches (3 1/2"), a set hand, 1/10 pound incrementation and pressure range not to exceed 15 psi for tests requiring a pressure of 3 psig. For tests requiring a pressure of 10 psig, diaphragm gauges shall utilize a dial with a minimum diameter of three and one-half inches (3 1/2"), a set hand, a minimum of 2/10 pound incrementation and a pressure range not to exceed 50 psi. For welded piping, and for piping carrying gas at pressures in excess of fourteen (14) inches water column pressure (3.48 kPa) (1/2 psi) and less than 200 inches of water column pressure (52.2 kPa) (7.5 psi), the test pressure shall not be less than ten (10) pounds per square inch (69.6 kPa). For piping carrying gas at a pressure that exceeds 200 inches of water column (52.2 kPa) (7.5 psi), the test pressure shall be not less than one and one-half times the proposed maximum working pressure.
Diaphragm gauges used for testing must display a current calibration and be in good working condition. The appropriate test must be applied to the diaphragm gauge used for testing.
**Section 409.1; add section 409.1.4 to read as follows:
409.1.4 Valves in CSST installations. Shutoff valves installed with corrugated stainless steel (CSST) piping systems shall be supported with an approved termination fitting, or equivalent support, suitable for the size of the valves, of adequate strength and quality, and located at intervals so as to prevent or damp out excessive vibration but in no case greater than 12-inches from the center of the valve. Supports shall be installed so as not to interfere with the free expansion and contraction of the system's piping, fittings, and valves between anchors. All valves and supports shall be designed and installed so they will not be disengaged by movement of the supporting piping.
**Section 410.1; add a second paragraph and exception to read as follows:
Access to regulators shall comply with the requirements for access to appliances as specified in Section 306. |
Exception: A passageway or level service space is not required when the regulator is capable of being serviced and removed through the required attic opening. |
**Section 621.2; add exception as follows:
621.2 Prohibited use. One or more unvented room heaters shall not be used as the sole source of comfort heating in a dwelling unit. |
Exception: Existing approved unvented heaters may continue to be used in dwelling units, in accordance with the code provisions in effect when installed, when approved by the Code Official unless an unsafe condition is determined to exist as described in Section 108.7. |
(Ordinance 2017-04-12 adopted 4/10/17; Ordinance 2025-03-21 adopted 3/24/2025)