GAS
SHUTOFF VALVES
CUT-OFF DEVICES
ACTIVATED BY MOTION
Contra Costa County
An
ordinance to the Contra Costa Code to require
the installation of Excess Flow Gas Shut-off
devices (non-motion sensitive) or has Shut-Off
Devices that are activated by motion. To
be installed on all gas services after the
meter in all new construction and certain
remodeling effective sixty (60) days from
the passage of this ordinance.
1. Findings.
The Board of Supervisions finds and declares
that:
a. It is generally accepted that Contra Costa
County will
experience moderate
and sever earthquakes in the foreseeable future.
b. A serious threat
to life and property resulting from these earthquakes
c. In order to mitigate,
as much as possible, the effects of a major
earthquake, including fire resulting
from an earthquake,
the installation of Excess Flow Devices (non-motion
sensitive)
or Seismic Gas Shut-Off Devices (non-motion
sensitive) or
Seismic Gas Shut-Off Devices (motion sensitive)
shall
be required in all new construction and in
certain remodeling.
1.1 DEFINITONS. For
the purpose of this section, certain terms
shall
be defined as follows:
a. Downstream of the gas utility shall refer
to all customer owned piping.
b. Residential building
shall mean any single-family dwelling, duplexes,
apartment building, condominium, townhouse,
lodging house, congregate residence, hotel,
or motel.
c. Excessive Flow
Gas Shut-Off Device shall mean those valves
or devices that are not actuated by motion,
but are activated
by significant gas leaks or overpressure surges,
which can occur when pipes rupture inside the
structure. The design of the device shall provide
a proven
method to automatically provide for expedient
and safe gas shutoff in an emergency. The design
of the device shall provide a capability for
ease of consumer or owner resetting without
concern for safety. The operational and functional
design of the device shall be certified by
one of
the following: the Independent Laboratory of
the International Approval Services (IAS),
Underwriter's Laboratory
(UL), International Association of Plumbing
and Mechanical Officials (LAPMO), Office of
the
State Architect, or any other recognized listing
and testing agency.
d. Seismic Gas Shutoff
Device shall mean a system consisting of a
seismic sensing means and actuating means designed
to automatically actuate a companion gas shut
off means installed in a gas piping system
in order to shut off the gas downstream of
the location of the gas shutoff means in the
event of a severe seismic disturbance. The
system
may consist of separable components or may
incorporate all functions in a single body.
The operational and functional design of the
device shall be certified by one of the following:
e. Upstream of Gas
Utility Meter shall refer to all gas piping
installed by the utility up to and including
the meter and
the utility's bypass toe at the connection
to the costumer's own piping.
f. Gas shutoff Device
as used in this ordinance, shall refer to either
a Seismic Gas Shutoff Device or Excess Flow
Gas Shutoff Device.
2. SCOPE. An approved
Seismic Gas Shut-Off Device (motion sensitive)
or an
approved Excess
Flow Gas Shutoff Device (non motion-sensitive)
shall e installed downstream of the gas utility
meter on each fuel gas line where the gas
line serves the following building or structures:
a.
Any building or structure (commercial, industrial,
or residential) containing fuel gas piping
for which a building permit is first issued
on or after sixty (60) days from the passage
of the ordinance; or
b. Any existing residential,
commercial, or industrial building or structure
which is altered or added to; and
(1) Such a building
or structure has fuel gas piping supplying
the existing building or structure or the addition
to the building or structure; and
(2) In the event
fuel gas piping is involved in the alteration
or addition, the value of such alteration/addition
is more than $5000; in the event fuel gas piping
is not involved in the alteration or addition,
the value of such alteration/addition is more
than $50000, and a building permit for the
work is first issued on or after sixty days
from the passage of this ordinance.
(a) With respect
to residential buildings, alterations or additions
to an individual condominium or
apartment unit shall require a Gas Shut-Off
Device to be installed for all gas piping serving
that building.
(b) With respect
to commercial or industrial buildings, alterations
or additions to individual units
or tenant spaces shall require a Gas Shutoff
Device to be installed for all gas piping serving
that commercial or industrial building.
3.
EXCEPTIONS.
a. A Gas Shut-Off Device is not required to
be installed downstream of the gas utility
meter where a Gas Shut-Off Device has been
installed by the gas utility or a contractor
authorized by the gas utility upstream of
the gas utility meter and downstream of the
gas utility meter service regulator and such
installation is in accordance with this ordinance
and
with the manufacturer's specifications.
b. Gas Shut-Off Devices
installed on a building or structure prior
to sixty days from the passage of this ordinance
are exempt
from the requirements of this section provided
they remain installed on the building or structure
and are maintained for the life of the building
of structure.
c. Gas Shut-Off Devices
installed on a gas distribution system owned
or operated by a public utility shall not be
subject to the requirements of this section.
d. A Gas-Shut-Off
valve shall not be required where the gas piping
system contained in the building or structure
is
designed to withstand seismic effects of earthquakes.
e. This ordinance
shall not apply to mechanical or process equipments
used in manufacturing.
4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
Gas Shut-Off Devices installed either in compliance
with this
ordinance or voluntarily with a permit
issued on or after sixty (60) days from the
passage
of this ordinance shall comply with the
following requirements:
a.
Be installed by a contractor licensed in the
appropriate classification by the State of
California and in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
b. In the case of
Seismic Gas-Shut-Off Devices (motion sensitive)
only, such devices must be must be mounted
rigidly to the exterior of the building or
structure containing the fuel gas piping. This
requirement
need not apply if the Building Inspection Department
determines that the seismic gas shutoff device
(motion sensitive) has been rested and listed
for an alternate method of installation
c. Be listed by an
approved listing and testing agency such as
IAS, LAMPO, UL, or the office of the State
Architect.
d. Have a thirty
(30) year warranty, which warrants that the
valve or device is free from defects, and will
continue to properly
operate for thirty (30) years from the date
of installation.
e. Where Gas-Shut-Off
Devices are installed as required by this section,
they shall be maintained for the life of the
building
or structure or be replaced with a valve of
device complying with the requirements of this
section.
5. LIST OF APPROVED
VALVES AND DEVICES. The Building Inspection
Department shall maintain
a list of all Seismic Gas-Shut-Off Devices
(motion sensitive) and Excess Flow Gas-Shut-Off
Devices (non-motion sensitive), which are
approved (by an approved testing and listing
agency
of the Office of the State Architect) for
installation in the State of California.
6. ENFORCING AGENCY. The Building Inspection
Department shall administer and enforce the
provisions of this ordinance.
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