N.Y.C. Admin. Code § EBC 311: Section EBC 311: Fuel Gas

311.1 General.

In addition to the general requirements of Section 302.9, the installation of and work on all fuel gas piping, appliances, equipment, and systems shall be governed by the applicable provisions of this code. All work not specifically addressed in this section shall be in accordance with the New York City Fuel Gas Code. The scope covered by this section includes piping systems from the point of delivery to the connections with the appliances and includes the design, materials, components, fabrication, assembly, installation, testing, inspection, operation and maintenance of such piping systems in existing buildings.

311.1.1 Meters and service piping.

Service piping includes the fuel-gas piping up to the point of delivery. Meters and service piping shall comply with the requirements of 16 NYCRR Part 255 and Appendix E of the New York City Fuel Gas Code. In addition, meters, regulators and service piping located within buildings shall be located in accordance with the structural integrity, firestopping, and fire protection provisions of this code.

311.1.2 Existing installations.

Except as otherwise provided for in this section or elsewhere in this code, a provision in this code shall not require the removal, alteration or abandonment of, nor prevent the continued utilization and maintenance of existing installations of fuel gas systems lawfully in existence on the effective date of this code.

311.2 Special provisions for prior code buildings.

Fuel gas piping work in prior code buildings shall comply with the requirements of this section. Where compliance with Sections 311.2.1 and 311.2.2 is not feasible, compliance with the New York City Fuel Gas Code is required.

311.2.1 Repair or replacement of existing fuel gas piping.

For prior code buildings, the repair or replacement of existing fuel gas piping located in existing public corridors, exit enclosures, interior stairways, fire-resistance-rated construction, or spaces containing fire pumps in the same location shall be permitted where the following conditions are met:

1. The piping system must have been shut down and locked by the utility in response to an emergency condition;

2. Minor deviation from the existing location is permissible within 5 feet from the original piping location;

3. When an existing gas piping system located within a space containing a fire pump is replaced, all piping must be separated from the space by an enclosure equivalent to the fire resistance and, where applicable, impact resistance requirements of the space in which the piping is located; and

4. The existing installation must have been constructed in accordance with the code requirements in effect at the time of the installation.

311.2.2 Alterations, additions and new fuel gas piping.

For prior code buildings, the alteration, addition or installation of new fuel gas piping in existing public corridors, exit enclosures, interior stairways, fire-resistance-rated construction, or spaces containing fire pumps shall be permitted where the following conditions are met:

1. New fuel gas piping located in exit enclosures, interior stairways, fire-resistance-rated construction, a space containing a fire pump, townhouses or within a public corridor above the lowest level or above the lowest residential level of a building must be separated from the space by an enclosure meeting the fire resistance rating and, where applicable, impact resistance requirements of the space in which the piping is located;

2. New fuel gas piping located in a public corridor at the lowest level or lowest residential level of a building shall not be required to be separated by an enclosure;

3. All new valves shall be accessible for maintenance and inspection; and

4. All new piping joints must be welded.

311.2.3 Guards and access to roofs and elevated structures.

The provisions of Sections 306.5 and 306.6 of the New York City Fuel Gas Code, relating to guards and permanent means of access, respectively, shall not apply where the equipment or appliances replace existing equipment or appliances in the same location.

311.2.4 Seismic supports.

For prior code buildings, the determination as to whether seismic design requirements shall apply to a repair or replacement shall be made in accordance with Section 307.

311.2.5 Wind resistance.

For prior code buildings, the determination as to whether wind pressure design requirements shall apply to a repair or replacement shall be made in accordance with Section 307.

311.2.6 Drips.

Existing drips on piping systems shall be permitted to remain.

Exception: An existing drip shall be removed when an alteration or repair connection is made at the drip.

311.2.7 Gas piping supplying domestic cooking appliances.

Existing 1/2 inch diameter piping supplying gas to a domestic cooking appliance shall be permitted to be utilized and remain, provided it has adequate capacity for all appliances served.

311.3 Gas piping in townhouses.

When originally constructed in accordance with the New York City Construction Codes in effect prior to October 1, 2014, gas piping downstream of the point of delivery and extending through a townhouse unit to serve another townhouse unit shall be permitted to remain. Alterations, repairs, replacements and new piping installations of such piping shall comply with this section.

311.3.1 Minor deviations.

Minor deviations from the existing installation location are permissible only to the extent of replacing existing piping within 5 feet from the original location.

311.3.2 Valves.

All valves shall be accessible for maintenance and inspection.

311.3.3 Joints.

All new joints located within the townhouse containing, but not served by such gas piping must be welded.

Exception: For the purpose of repairs and replacements, joints shall not be required to be welded.

311.4 Gas piping installations.

The installation of gas piping shall comply with Sections 311.4.1 through 311.4.3 of this code.

311.4.1 Identification.

All new gas piping installed in existing buildings and existing gas piping exposed during the course of work, when subject to testing, whether or not the piping is intended to be enclosed when construction is completed, shall be identified in accordance with Chapter 4 of the New York City Fuel Gas Code.

311.4.2 Prohibited locations.

Gas piping shall not be installed in locations prohibited by Section 404 of the New York City Fuel Gas Code.

Exception: In prior code buildings, existing gas piping and meters lawfully constructed in accordance with the prior codes that are not in compliance with Section 404 of the New York City Fuel Gas Code, shall be permitted to be altered, provided that the following conditions are met:

1. All gas valves shall be accessible for maintenance and inspection; and

2. Gas pressure shall not exceed 1/2 psi (14 inches w.c.).

311.4.3 Inspection and testing of piping.

Prior to acceptance and operation, all gas piping installations shall be inspected and pressure tested in accordance with Section 406 of the New York City Fuel Gas Code and this section to determine that the materials, design, fabrication and installation practices comply with the requirements of this section and the New York City Fuel Gas Code.