CHAPTER 4 GAS PIPING INSTALLATIONS

1 CHAPTER 4 GAS PIPING INSTALLATIONSSECTION 401 (IFGC) CHAPTER shall govern the design, installation,modification and maintenance of PIPING systems. The applica-bility of this code to PIPING systems extends from the point ofdelivery to the connections with the equipment and includes thedesign, materials, components, fabrication, assembly, installa-tion, testing, inspection, operation and maintenance of suchpiping Utility PIPING systems located within service PIPING located within buildings shall beinstalled in accordance with the structural safety and fireprotection provisions of theInternational Building liquefied petroleum gas storage systemfor liquefied petroleum gas shall be designed and installed inaccordance with theInternational Fire Codeand nfpa Modifications to existing modifying oradding to existing PIPING systems, sizes shall be maintained inaccordance with this Additional an additional applianceis to be served.

2 The existing PIPING shall be checked to deter-mine if it has adequate capacity for all appliances served. Ifinadequate, the existing system shall be enlarged as required orseparate PIPING of adequate capacity shall be other than steel pipe, exposed pipingshall be identified by a yellow label marked Gas in black let-ters. The marking shall be spaced at intervals not exceeding 5feet (1524 mm). The marking shall not be required on pipelocated in the same room as the equipment two or more meters areinstalled on the same premises but supply separate consumers,the PIPING systems shall not be interconnected on the outlet sideof the PIPING meter from multiplemeter INSTALLATIONS shall be marked with an approved perma-nent identification by the installer so that the PIPING systemsupplied by each meter is readily Minimum pipe utilized for the installation,extension and alteration of any PIPING system shall be sized tosupply the full number of outlets for the intended purpose andshall be sized in accordance with Section 402 (IFGS)

3 PIPE General systems shall be ofsuch size and so installed as to provide a supply of gas sufficientto meet the maximum demand without undue loss of pressurebetween the point of delivery and the Maximum gas volume of gas to be pro-vided, in cubic feet per hour, shall be determined directly fromthe manufacturer s input ratings of the appliances an input rating is not indicated, the gas supplier, appli-ance manufacturer or a qualified agency shall be contacted, orthe rating from Table shall be used for estimating the vol-ume of gas to be total connected hourly load shall be used as the basis forpipe sizing, assuming that all appliances could be operating atfull capacity simultaneously. Where a diversity of load can beestablished, pipe sizing shall be permitted to be based on GAS INPUT FOR TYPICAL APPLIANCESAPPLIANCEINPUT BTU/H(Approx.)

4 Space Heating UnitsHydronic boilerSingle family100,000 Multifamily, per unit60,000 Warm-air furnaceSingle family100,000 Multifamily, per unit60,000 Space and Water Heating UnitsHydronic boilerSingle family120,000 Multifamily, per unit75,000 Water Heating AppliancesWater heater, automatic instantaneousCapacity at 2 ,800 Capacity at 4 ,000 Capacity at 6 ,400 Water heater, automatic storage, 30- to 40-gal. tank35,000 Water heater, automatic storage, 50-gal. tank50,000 Water heater, domestic, circulating or side-arm35,000 Cooking AppliancesBuilt-in oven or broiler unit, domestic25,000 Built-in top unit, domestic40,000 Range, free-standing, domestic65,000 Other AppliancesBarbecue40,000 Clothes dryer, Type 1 (domestic)35,000 Gas fireplace, direct-vent40,000 Gas light2,500 Gas log80,000 Refrigerator3,000 For SI: 1 British thermal unit per hour = W, 1 gallon = L,1 gallon per minute = VIRGINIA FUEL GAS :\data\CODES\STATE CODES\Virginia\2006\Fuel Gas code \Final VP\ , April 16, 2008 2:06:49 PMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default PIPING shall be sized in accordance with oneof the following:1.

5 Pipe sizing tables or sizing equations in accordance withSection The sizing tables included in a listed PIPING system smanufacturer s installation Other approved engineering Sizing tables and Tables (1)through (35) are used to size PIPING or tubing, the pipelength shall be determined in accordance with Section , or Equations 4-1 and 4-2 are used to size PIPING or tub-ing, the pipe or tubing shall have smooth inside walls and thepipe length shall be determined in accordance with , or Low-pressure gas equation [Less than pounds persquare inch (psi) ( kPa)]:DQHCLr= 0 3810 (Equation 4-1)2. High-pressure gas equation [ psi ( kPa) andabove]:()DQPP YCLr= 0 38112220 20618 (Equation 4-2)where:D= Inside diameter of pipe, inches (mm).Q= Input rate appliance(s), cubic feet per hour at 60 F(16 C) and 30-inch mercury columnP1= Upstream pressure, psia (P1+ )P2= Downstream pressure, psia (P2+ )L= Equivalent length of pipe, feet H= Pressure drop, inch water column ( inch water col-umn = 1 psi)TABLE FOR NATURAL GAS ANDUNDILUTED PROPANE AT STANDARD CONDITIONSGASEQUATION FACTORSCrYNatural SI: 1 cubic foot = m3, 1 foot = 305 mm, 1-inch water column = kPa, 1 pound per square inch = kPa, 1 British thermalunit per hour = Longest length pipe size of each sec-tion of gas PIPING shall be determined using the longestlength of PIPING from the point of delivery to the mostremote outlet and the load of the Branch length shall be sized as fol-lows:1.

6 Pipe size of each section of the longest pipe run fromthe point of delivery to the most remote outlet shall bedetermined using the longest run of PIPING and theload of the The pipe size of each section of branch PIPING not pre-viously sized shall be determined using the length ofpiping from the point of delivery to the most remoteoutlet in each branch and the load of the Hybrid pipe size for each section ofhigher pressure gas PIPING shall be determined using thelongest length of PIPING from the point of delivery to themost remote line pressure regulator. The pipe size from theline pressure regulator to each outlet shall be determinedusing the length of PIPING from the regulator to the mostremote outlet served by the Allowable pressure design pressure loss inany PIPING system under maximum probable flow conditions,from the point of delivery to the inlet connection of the appli-ance, shall be such that the supply pressure at the appliance isgreater than the minimum pressure required for proper appli-ance Maximum design operating maximumdesign operating pressure for PIPING systems located insidebuildings shall not exceed 5 pounds per square inch gauge(psig) (34 kPa gauge) except where one or more of the follow-ing conditions are met:1.

7 The PIPING system is The PIPING is located in a ventilated chase or otherwiseenclosed for protection against accidental gas The PIPING is located inside buildings or separate areas ofbuildings used exclusively Industrial processing or heating; Research; Warehousing; Boiler or mechanical The PIPING is a temporary installation for buildings liquefied petroleum gas operatingpressure for undiluted LP-gas systems shall not exceed 20psig (140 kPa gauge). Buildings having systems designed tooperate below -5 F (-21 C) or with butane or a propane-butane mix shall be designed to either accommodate liquidLP-gas or prevent LP-gas vapor from condensing into a :Buildings or separate areas of buildings con-structed in accordance with CHAPTER 10 of nfpa 58 andused exclusively to house industrial processes, researchand experimental laboratories, or equipment or process-ing having similar PIPING INSTALLATIONS4-22006 VIRGINIA FUEL GAS :\data\CODES\STATE CODES\Virginia\2006\Fuel Gas code \Final VP\ , April 16, 2008 2:06:49 PMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screen2006 VIRGINIA FUEL GAS CODE4-3 GAS PIPING INSTALLATIONSTABLE (1)SCHEDULE 40 METALLIC PIPEGasNaturalInlet PressureLess than 2 psiPressure in.

8 SIZE (inch)Nominal1/23/4111/411/2221/23456810 12 Actual (ft)Capacity in Cubic Feet of Gas Per Hour101312735141,0601,5803,0504,8608,580 17,50031,70051,300105,000 191,000 303,00020901883537261,0902,0903,3405,900 12,00021,80035,30072,400132,000 208,00030721512845838731,6802,6804,7409, 66017,50028,30058,200106,000 167,00040621292434997471,4402,2904,0508, 27015,00024,20049,80090,400143,000505511 42154426621,2802,0303,5907,33013,30021,5 0044,10080,100127,00060501041954006001,1 601,8403,2606,64012,00019,50040,00072,60 0115,0007046951793685521,0601,6903,0006, 11011,10017,90036,80066,800106,000804289 1673435149891,5802,7905,68010,30016,7003 4,20062,10098,4009040831573224829281,480 2,6105,3309,65015,60032,10058,30092,3001 0038791483044558771,4002,4705,0409,11014 ,80030,30055,10087,200125337013126940377 71,2402,1904,4608,08013,10026,90048,8007 7,30015030631192443667041,1201,9804,0507 ,32011,90024.

9 30044,20070,00017528581092243366481,0301 ,8203,7206,73010,90022,40040,70064,40020 026541022093136029601,7003,4606,26010,10 020,80037,90059,900250234890185277534851 1,5003,0705,5508,99018,50033,50053,10030 02143821682514847711,3602,7805,0308,1501 6,70030,40048,1003501940751542314457091, 2502,5604,6307,49015,40028,00044,3004001 837701432154146601,1702,3804,3106,97014, 30026,00041,2004501735661352023896191,09 02,2304,0406,54013,40024,40038,600500163 3621271913675851,0302,1103,8206,18012,70 023,10036,5005501531591211813495569822,0 003,6205,87012,10021,90034,7006001430561 151733335309371,9103,4605,60011,50020,90 033,1006501429541101653185088971,8303,31 05,36011,00020,00031,7007001327521061593 064888621,7603,1805,15010,60019,20030,40 07501326501021532954708301,6903,0604,960 10,20018,50029,3008001226489914828545480 21,6402,9604,7909,84017,90028,3008501225 46951432754397761,5802,8604,6409,53017,3 0027,400900112445931392674267521,5302,78 04,5009,24016,80026,60095011234490135259 4137311,4902,7004,3708,97016,30025,8001, 000112343871312524027111,4502,6204,2508, 72015,80025,1001,10010214083124240382675 1,3802,4904,0308,29015,10023,8001,200NA2 039791192293646441,3102,3803,8507,91014, 40022,7001,300NA2037761142193496171,2602 ,2803,6807,57013,70021,8001,400NA1935731 092103355921,2102,1903,5407,27013,20020, 9001,500NA1834701052033235711,1602,1103, 4107,01012,70020,1001,600NA1833681021963 125511,1202,0303,2906,77012,30019,5001,7 00NA173266981893025331,0901,9703,1906,55 011,90018,8001,800NA163164951842935171,0 501,9103,0906,35011,50018,3001,900NA1630 62931782845021,0201,8503,0006,17011,2001 7,7002,000NA162960901732764881,0001,8002 ,9206,00010,90017,200 For SI.

10 1 inch = mm, 1 foot = mm, 1 pound per square inch = kPa, 1-inch water column = kPa,1 British thermal unit per hour = W, 1 cubic foot per hour = m3/h, 1 degree = :1. NA means a flow of less than 10 All table entries have been rounded to three significant :\data\CODES\STATE CODES\Virginia\2006\Fuel Gas code \Final VP\ , April 16, 2008 2:06:49 PMColor profile: Generic CMYK printer profileComposite Default screenGAS PIPING INSTALLATIONS4-42006 VIRGINIA FUEL GAS CODETABLE (2)SCHEDULE 40 METALLIC PIPEGasNaturalInlet PressureLess than 2 psiPressure in. SIZE (inch)Nominal1/23/4111/411/2221/23456810 12 Actual (ft)Capacity in Cubic Feet of Gas Per Hour101723606781,3902,0904,0206,40011,30 023,10041,80067,600139,000 252,000 399,000201182474669571,4302,7604,4007,78 015,90028,70046,50095,500173,000 275,00030951993747681,1502,2203,5306,250 12,70023,00037,30076,700139,000 220,00040811703206579851,9003,0205,35010 ,90019,70031,90065,600119,000 189,00050721512845838731,6802,6804,7409, 66017,50028,30058,200106,000 167,00060651372575287911,5202,4304,2908, 76015,80025,60052,70095,700152,000706012 62374867281,4002,2303,9508,05014,60023,6 0048,50088,100139,00080561172204526771,3 002,0803,6707,49013,60022,00045,10081,90 0130,00090521102074246351,2201,9503,4507 ,03012,70020,60042,30076,900122,00010050 1041954006001,1601,8403,2606,64012,00019 ,50040,00072,600115,00012544921733555321 ,0201,6302,8905,89010,60017,20035,40064, 300102.