[CC 1985 § 114.010]
This shall be known as the "Gas Ordinance" of the City of East Prairie, and may be cited as such.
[CC 1985 § 114.020]
The purpose of this Chapter is to provide minimum standards, provisions, and requirements for safe installation of gas appliances and gas pipes, and to regulate the sale, maintenance, and repair of such appliances.
[CC 1985 § 114.030]
All gas appliances or gas pipes hereafter sold, installed, maintained, or repaired within the corporate limits of the City of East Prairie shall conform to the requirements of this Chapter.
[CC 1985 § 114.040]
The following definitions are provided for the sole purpose of proper interpretation and administration of this Chapter.
Accepted by reason of the satisfactory results of thorough investigation and tests conducted by the inspector, or by reason of accepted principles, or tests by recognized authorities, technical or scientific organizations.
A document issued and attached to the material, piping, or appliance inspected, completely filled out, together with date, address of the premises or consumer, and signed by the inspector.
Any appliance or device used for burning natural gas.
Any person, firm, or corporation holding and exercising a franchise or permit to distribute natural gas within the corporate limits of the City of East Prairie.
The gas piping leading from the gas main to the property line or point of delivery.
The gas piping extending from the consumer's service line to the gas appliance.
The administrative authority, and is so designed by the City officials.
A gas appliance which has not previously been sold and installed or used.
A threaded connection in a piping system to which a gas burning appliance is or may be attached.
The junction of the utility piping with the consumer's piping and shall be located at the consumer's property line, unless there be a street curb between the property line and the street line, in which case the point of delivery shall be at the curb line.
Approved vent piping of noncombustible corrosion-resistant material of adequate strength and heat insulating value, and having bell and spigot or other approved joints.
A gas appliance which has been previously sold, installed, and used.
A pipe, flue, or chimney designed and installed to carry the products of combustion from an appliance to the outside atmosphere.
An opening or collar which is provided on a gas appliance for the purpose of connecting the vent.
A gas appliance designed and installed in such a manner that the products of combustion are conveyed directly to the outside atmosphere by a vent.
The gas piping leading from the property line or point of delivery to the building or premises served.
[CC 1985 § 114.050]
No person shall engage in or work at the installation, extension, alteration, or repair of any gas appliance or piping pertaining to or in connection with gas service on consumers' premises within the corporate limits of the City of East Prairie, unless such person has first procured a license therefor, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
[CC 1985 § 114.060]
No person, firm, or corporation shall lend his or her "gas fitter's" or "master plumber's" license, as the case may be, to any other person, nor shall any such licensed person, firm, or corporation apply for a permit in his/her/their name for use of any other person, and any such licensed person, firm, or corporation so doing or refusing to comply with any other requirements of this Chapter shall have his/her/their "gas fitter's" or "master plumber's" license, as the case may be, suspended or revoked by the City officials of the City of East Prairie.
[CC 1985 § 114.070]
No gas fitter or plumber shall install a conversion burner, floor furnace, central heating plant, or gas engine, or make alterations to installed house piping in any building or structure without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the City of East Prairie. Permits will not be required for setting or connecting other gas appliances where such connections are made to existing outlets previously installed by a licensed plumber or gas fitter.
[CC 1985 § 114.080]
A.
Fee for consumer's piping. The fee for the permit, initial inspection, and one (1) reinspection/return to verify corrections shall be twenty dollars ($20.00). Anything outside of that may be assessed as an additional inspection fee.
B.
Fee for conversion burners, floor furnaces, or central heating plants. The fee for the permit, initial inspection, and one (1) reinspection/ return to verify corrections shall be twenty dollars ($20.00). Anything outside of that may be assessed as an additional inspection fee.
C.
Fee for Used Appliances. The fee for the permit, initial inspection, and one (1) re-inspection/return to verify corrections shall be twenty dollars ($20.00). Anything outside of that may be assessed as an additional inspection fee.
D.
Any and all fees shall be paid by the person to whom the permit is issued.
[CC 1985 § 114.090]
A.
Rough piping inspection shall be made after all piping authorized by the permit has been installed and before any such piping has been covered or concealed or any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto.
B.
Test or final piping inspection. A test shall be made after all piping authorized by the permit has been installed and after all portions thereof which are to be concealed by plastering or otherwise have been so concealed, and before any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto. This inspection shall include a pressure test, at which time the piping shall stand an air pressure for a period of at least fifteen (15) minutes without any perceptible drop. A U-gauge-type mercury column shall be used for the test.
[CC 1985 § 114.100]
The inspector shall issue a certificate of approval at the completion of the work for which a specific permit has been issued, if after inspection it is found that such work complies with the provisions of this Chapter and all other requirements of law or ordinance applicable thereto. A duplicate of each piping certificate shall be delivered to the gas company and used as its authority to grant gas service.
[CC 1985 § 114.110]
A.
The inspector is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of this Chapter; and the inspector or his/her authorized representative, upon presentation of proper credentials, may enter any building or premises for the purpose of making inspection or preventing violations of this Chapter.
B.
The inspector or his/her authorized representative is hereby authorized to disconnect any gas piping or fixture or appliances which has been connected before a certificate of approval has been issued, or which, upon inspection, shall be found defective or in such condition as to endanger life or property. In all cases where such a disconnection by the inspector or his/her representative together with the reason or reasons therefor, and it shall be unlawful for any person to remove said notice or reconnect said gas piping or appliance until authorized by the inspector to do so.
[CC 1985 § 114.120]
A.
Gas companies are hereby authorized to discontinue or refuse to supply gas for any gas piping or gas appliance which may appear to be defective or leaking, or otherwise considered to endanger life or property; provided, however, that the gas company shall immediately give notice of discontinuance to the inspector and the occupant of the building or premises where such gas supply is discontinued or refused.
[CC 1985 § 114.130]
A.
All pipe used for the installation, extension, alteration, or repair of any house gas piping shall be of standard weight and standard dimension wrought iron or steel pipe, and such pipe shall either be new or shall have previously been used for no purpose other than the conveying of gas. All such pipe shall be free from internal obstructions, splits, or other imperfections which would render it unfit for the purpose intended, and the ends thereof shall be properly reamed.
1.
All fittings used in connection with the house gas piping shall be of malleable iron. The use of cast iron fittings is prohibited.
2.
All joints between pipe and fittings, unless welded, shall be screwed joints (American Standard Pipe Thread). Such joints shall be made up with white lead or other suitable thread compound.
3.
All unions used in house piping shall be ground joint types. Right and left nipples and couplings are permissible.
[CC 1985 § 114.140]
A.
All gas service piping from the point of delivery to the first outlet shall not be less than one (1) inch.
B.
All gas piping inside buildings must be securely strapped to joists or ceiling with iron straps or approved wire hangers. No hangers made of nails or wood will be permitted.
C.
The use of bushings in any house or yard line is prohibited.
D.
The use of unions in concealed locations is prohibited.
E.
Gas outlets for instantaneous water heaters and gas ranges shall not be less than three-fourths (3/4) inch or one (1) inch pipe, and all outlets for central heating plants not less than one (1) inch pipe.
F.
All other outlets shall not be less than three-fourths (3/4) inch pipe.
G.
All gas outlets shall extend through the floor or baseboard not less than two and one-half (2 1/2) inches.
H.
The minimum size of all gas piping shall be in accordance with the 2018 Edition of the International Fuel Gas Code.
I.
Where gas meters are installed above ground at the house, each consumer's service line shall be provided by the consumer with a suitable stop cock located in an accessible place and at the inlet of the meter.
J.
Where an underground meter is used, each consumer's house line shall be provided with a suitable stop cock (sill cock) at a point above ground where the gas line enters the building.
K.
Where more than one (1) meter is supplied through one (1) service line, a stop cock shall be installed at each meter inlet in addition to the service line stop.
L.
The size of house piping not otherwise provided for in this Section shall be approved by the inspector and satisfactory to the gas company.
[CC 1985 § 114.150]
A meter location shall be provided for the building or premises to be served, and the location shall be such that the meter connections are easily accessible in order that the meter may be read or changed. No gas meter shall be hereafter installed under a stoop, stairway, show window, porch, or near a furnace, boiler, or other heating appliance. No meter shall be placed in any other location where it will be inaccessible or liable to injury. Location, dimensions, and type of installations shall be designated by the gas company.
[CC 1985 § 114.160]
A.
All new gas appliances hereafter sold, offered for sale, or installed within the corporate limits of the City of East Prairie shall be of a design and construction approved as to safety, efficiency and durability, and shall bear information showing the rated heat input in BTUs per hour.
B.
All used gas appliances hereafter sold or offered for sale shall be approved by the inspector for safety and efficiency, and shall be identified accordingly.
[CC 1985 § 114.170]
A.
Appliances shall be adequately supported, and so connected to the piping as not to exert undue strain on the connection.
1.
Appliances shall be installed so that their continued operation will not create a fire hazard to persons or property.
2.
No appliance shall be installed where facilities for ventilation do not permit the proper combustion of the gas.
3.
Semirigid gas tubing may be used to connect appliances, provided it is of adequate capacity and approved.
4.
The use of rubber hose is prohibited except when used with laboratory or shop equipment of a portable nature. Such connections shall have the cutoff valve installed at the pipe outlet.
5.
No device or attachment shall be installed on any appliance which in any way will impair the combustion of gas.
6.
Every appliance shall be properly adjusted after being installed and the consumer shall be instructed as to its safe operation by the installer.
7.
All vent-connected appliances, except incinerators, shall be equipped with draft diverters, approved as to design and capacity.
8.
No gas appliance shall be so located that it cannot be readily adjusted.
9.
All water heaters, all types of central heating equipment, all enclosed fire zone circulating hoisters, unit heaters, and floor furnaces hereafter installed shall be connected to adequate vents, conforming to Section 720.190.
10.
Furnaces, boilers, or other types of heating equipment designed to burn a fuel rather than gas shall not be converted to burn gas until such equipment has been approved for conversion by the inspector.
11.
No water heater shall be installed in a bathroom.
12.
Where the approval requirement of an appliance is such that a gas appliance pressure regulator is required, an approved regulator shall be used. In any cases where safety type regulator is not used, a breather pipe of not less than one-eighth (1/8) inch in size shall be installed from the diaphragm case of the regulator to the outside of the building, or into the combustion chamber of the appliance and adjacent to a constantly burning pilot, or into the appliance vent beyond the draft diverter. The breather pipe shall be securely supported and provided with a means of preventing water, dirt, or insects from entering the pipe.
[CC 1985 § 114.180]
A.
The installation of floor furnaces shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
B.
No furnace shall be installed in the floor of any aisle or passageway of any auditorium, public hall, or public assembly room.
C.
The floor around the furnace shall be braced and headed with a framework of material not lighter than the joists. The inside dimensions of the framework shall be approximately one-half (1/2) inch longer and wider than the furnace to be installed.
D.
All floor furnaces, including those having single or dual wall register outlets, shall be installed as approved without alterations, extensions, or change of any kind in the furnace.
E.
No automatic pilot shutoff shall be installed on a floor furnace that has not been approved for such equipment.
F.
All floor furnaces shall be equipped with an approved pressure regulator.
G.
The bottom of the floor furnace shall have at least a six-inch clearance from the ground. When that clearance is not present, the ground below and the sides shall be excavated to form a "basin like" pit under the furnace so that there is a six-inch clearance beneath the furnace, and a six-inch clearance on all sides except the control side which shall have a twelve-inch clearance. This facilitates any servicing that may be required, and allows ample air for proper combustion.
H.
Whenever the excavation exceeds twelve (12) inches, or water seepage is apparent under the house, a water-tight pan or concrete pit shall be used. The pan shall be made of not less than twenty-four-gauge galvanized iron or sixteen-ounce copper. The pan shall be suitably anchored in place, and the walls shall extend at least four (4) inches above the ground level, with six-inch clearance on all sides, except the control side, which shall have twelve-inch clearance.
I.
Adequate provisions shall be made for easy access to the furnace under the house by means of an opening in the foundation wall.
[CC 1985 § 114.190]
All venting requirements shall be as set out in the currently adopted International Fuel Gas Code for the City.
[CC 1985 § 114.200]
A.
Space heaters in public sleeping quarters for use of transients (tourist camps, rooming houses, etc.) must be of the fully vented type, i.e., having an enclosed combustion chamber and equipped with draft diverter and vented according to standards set out under Section 720.190.
B.
No installer or individual shall install or cause to be installed a ventilating fan in a residence, apartment, hotel, or commercial cooking establishment until the following provisions are complied with. There shall be a permanently opened ventilator or opening or series of openings at least equal in area to the total square inches in the exhaust opening of the fan or fans.
C.
No gas-fired equipment shall be installed in a basement, bathroom, or under buildings, or within any other enclosed space unless adequate provisions have been made to admit to the space sufficient fresh air to support combustion. The minimum cross-sectional area of ventilation required shall be equal to one (1) square inch for every one thousand (1,000) BTUs of the total input rating of all appliances installed or operating within the room or enclosure.
[CC 1985 § 114.210]
A.
Every gas appliance hereafter installed shall be properly adjusted by the person making the installation, and no such appliance, following the installation, shall be left connected to the gas piping unless every reasonable precaution has been employed to ensure safe operation of the burners and proper combustion of the gas, due attention being given to draft conditions and ventilation.
B.
In no case shall an appliance be fired or adjusted to pass a greater amount of gas than the rated capacity.
[CC 1985 § 114.220]
No person, firm or corporation shall, without the approval of the inspector, display, sell, barter, replace, offer for sale, lease, deal in supply, rent, donate, connect, or install within the corporate limits of the City of East Prairie any device purporting to reduce gas consumption when such device is tended as an adjunct or addition to a gas appliance, or to be suspended above, or to wholly or partially enclose any burner of a gas appliance in such manner as to reduce the effectiveness of ignition of the gas issuing from the burner or impair combustion of said burner.
[CC 1985 § 114.230]
All gas piping, vents, vent connections, and appliances shall be maintained in good condition; provided, however, that no gas piping, vent, vent connection, fixture, or appliance not conforming to the requirements of this Chapter shall be sued or maintained if the use or maintenance thereof would endanger life or property, and no gas appliance shall be operated which, in the opinion of the inspector, is not provided with ample ventilation.
[CC 1985 § 114.240]
Any person, firm, or corporation that shall fail to comply with or violate any of these provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or ten (10) days' imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment, or the license of such person, firm, or corporation may be revoked, or both fine and revocation of license may be imposed.
[CC 1985 § 114.250]
This Chapter shall not be construed as imposing upon the City of East Prairie any liability or responsibility for damages to any person injured by any defect in any gas piping or appliance mentioned herein, or by installation thereof, nor shall the City of East Prairie or any official or employee thereof be held as assuming any such liability or responsibility by reason of the inspection authorized hereunder or certificate of inspection issued by the inspector.
[CC 1985 § 114.260]
A.
No connection or attachments of service, including temporary connection for service to a residential dwelling, commercial building or building of any kind shall be made by any person or company until the building or dwelling has received a certificate of compliance from the City building inspector that the dwelling or building meets the standards required by the City of East Prairie.
1.
Certificates of compliance required by this Chapter shall certify that the building codes and gas codes set forth in City ordinances have been met where applicable.
2.
It is unlawful to use or to permit the use of, or to supply current for electric wire or light, heat, gas of any kind or power in any building structure in the City of East Prairie until the certificate of compliance has been issued by the City building inspector; provided, however, the City building inspector may, at his or her discretion, give temporary permission for a given time, to supply electricity, gas or power before such installation has been fully completed.