st
NC Fuel Gas Code 2012
1 Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in brown 2nd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in green
3rd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in blue
4th Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in red
2nd Quarter
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
CHAPTER 3 GENERAL REGULATIONS
1.) (Q) A plumbing contractor wants to change out a gas storage type water heater for a new
tankless gas fired water heater. The current installation has a B vent which extends
through several floors. The building is more than 6 stories high. The previous use of
the building was mercantile but has been changed to office. The B vent currently goes
through a new drop ceiling that was added in the past. The added ceilings make access
virtually impossible to run either the PVC or the Stainless Steel vent recommended by
the manufacturer. Does the contractor have any options to install the tankless water
heater?
(A) No. Because of the corrosive atmosphere in the piping using a B vent for the tankless
water heater is not an option. If it is indeed impossible to run the Stainless Steel or
the plastic pipe then another storage type water heater must be installed if the
contractor wants to utilize the B vent system currently installed. Ref: 301.3 FGC
2) (Q) An inspector is called to inspect a gas fired appliance installed in a fire pit on the patio
of a residential home. Only parts of the listed appliance are installed in the fire pit. The
contractor has dissembled the appliance which voided the listing. The inspector
turned the job down. The contractor called the department to see if the appliance
could be approved as installed.
(A) The decision was made that the installation could be approved as installed if the
contractor could get a letter from the manufactures engineer stating the installation of
the product was approved per contractors installation. The letter was received by the
inspector and the job was approved. Ref: 301.4, 105(FG) (Discussion 2012 MC, 301.4
Exception 2)
CHAPTER 4 GAS PIPING INSTALLATIONS
1) (Q) Copper pipe has been installed underground from an LP storage tank to a tankless
water heater located on the exterior wall of a residence. The piping is buried 24 inches
deep. Are there any other special requirements for this installation?
(A) Yes. An approved dielectric fitting shall be installed above ground outside the building.
The fitting serves to electrically isolate the underground piping. Ref: 404.8 FGC 2012
st
NC Fuel Gas Code 2012
1 Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in brown 2nd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in green
3rd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in blue
4th Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in red
2nd Quarter
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
2) (Q) Does the Fuel Gas Code specify a minimum length for sediment trap piping?
(A) No. 2012 and 2009 Code has no specification for the length of the nipple. Our previous
interpretation has been “a minimum or 3 inches long or per the equipment
manufacturer’s installation instructions.” Ref: 408.4 FGC 2012
3) (Q) Are sediment traps required at every change of direction of metallic gas piping?
(A) No. This requirement is not in the code. If required by the manufacturers installation
instructions it would be required. Ref: 405.1, 408.4 FGC 2012.
4) (Q) Are all the provisions approved for use in the Q & A for the 2006 code still valid under
the 2012 Code? See list below.
410.2 MP regulators. MP pressure regulators shall comply with the following:
1. The MP regulator shall be approved and shall be suitable for the inlet and outlet gas
pressures for the application.
2. The MP regulator shall maintain a reduced outlet pressure under lockup (no-flow)
conditions.
3. The capacity of the MP regulator, determined by published ratings of its
manufacturer, shall be adequate to supply the appliances served.
4. The MP pressure regulator shall be provided with access. Where located indoors,
the regulator shall be vented to the outdoors or shall be equipped with a leak-limiting
device, in either case complying with 410.3.
5. A tee fitting with one opening capped or plugged shall be installed between the MP
regulator and its upstream shutoff valve. Such tee fitting shall be positioned to allow
connection of a pressure measuring instrument and to serve as a sediment trap.
6. A tee fitting with one opening capped or plugged shall be installed not less than 10
pipe diameters downstream of the MP regulator outlet. Such tee fitting shall be
positioned to allow connection of a pressure measuring instrument.
(A) Numbers one through five are the same. Number six has been revised to eliminate the
requirement for a tee fitting. Ref: 410.2 #6 FGC 2012
5) (Q) While inspecting a gas piping installation the inspector finds the vented pressure
regulators have vent piping located on a manifold with breather vents from other
st
NC Fuel Gas Code 2012
1 Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in brown 2nd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in green
3rd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in blue
4th Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in red
2nd Quarter
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
devices. Would the 2012 code allow the vent piping to be on a manifold with multiple
devices?
(A) No. Ref: 410.3.1 2012 FGC
6) (Q) Piedmont Natural Gas supplies an OPD at the line service regulator on a 5 # system. Is
an OPD still required at each appliance?
(A) No. Per conversations with PSNC “if the supplier has an OPD device with relief at the
line service regulator, then PSNC would deem it satisfied and preclude the installation
of individual equipment devices having OPD protection.” Ref: 416.1, 416.2 FGC
CHAPTER 5 CHIMNEYS AND VENTS
1) (Q) Is there any change in the 2012 code for the minimum or maximum B vent
height requirements?
(A) No. Minimum code height is 5 feet in 503.6.5. In table 504 minimum height 6 feet and
the maximum height is 100 feet. The exception to the maximum and minimum values
in the code would be the use of the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Ref:
503.6.5, table 504, FGC 2012.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (NC Admin. Code/NC Fuel Gas Code, Admin. Section/
Departmental Policy)
1) (Q) A. What are the clearance requirements from the building for a fire pit with gas log
lighter in a single family residence? B. What is the clearance if it is located on the deck?
C. What is the Mechanical or Plumbing inspector responsible to inspect in a fire pit with
a gas log lighter?
(A) If the fire pit is less than 10 feet away from the residence or (B) if it is located on an
attached deck a chimney shall be provided over the pit per the Building Code. (C) If the
fire pit is more than 10 feet away from a residence or attached deck the Mechanical or
the Plumbing inspector is responsible to inspect only the gas line and cut off. They are
not responsible for checking listing and labeling of a decorative appliance. Discussion
with DOI and email from Janie Sutton re-verified by Jim Moeller.
st
NC Fuel Gas Code 2012
1 Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in brown 2nd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in green
3rd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in blue
4th Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in red
2nd Quarter
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
2) Announcement: New Water Heater Recall information.
Navien Recalls Tankless Water Heaters Due to Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the
firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.
Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is
illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product. Name of Product: Navien
Instantaneous or Tankless Water Heaters Units: About 13,000 Importer: Navien America Inc.,
of Irvine, Calif. Manufacturer: Kyung Dong Navien Co. Ltd., South Korea Hazard: An unstable
connection can cause the water heater's vent collar to separate or detach if pressure is
applied. A detached vent collar poses a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported Description: Navien tankless hot water heaters are white
with "T-Creator" and "NAVIEN" on the front. Recalled model numbers are CR-180(A), CR210(A), CR-240(A), CC-180(A), CC-210(A) and CC-240(A) manufactured in 2008. A label on the
side of the water heater lists the model number along with the manufacturing year in YYYY
format. Sold by: Wholesale distributors to in-home installers nationwide from February 2008
through March 2009 for between $1,500 and $2,100. Manufactured in: South Korea Remedy:
Consumers should immediately stop using and check the model and manufacture year
information on their Navien water heater. Consumers with recalled water heaters should
immediately contact Navien to schedule a free repair. Navien will replace all Nylon 66 vent
collar with PVC collars. Consumers who continue use of the water heaters while awaiting
repair, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of sleeping areas in
the home.
Customer contact: For additional information, contact Navien at (800) 244-8202 between 8
a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at
www.navienamerica.com
Note: Regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home should
have a CO alarm outside all sleeping areas and consumers should ensure that
their CO alarms have working batteries.[cid:image001.jpg@01CCCC92.1C2A7DA0]
3) (Q) Is black CSST gas Piping an approved product per the listing and labeling
requirements of the Fuel Gas Code? Is it approved per ICC-ES testing
requirements to be used without a separate ground?
(A) Even though the answer to both of the questions above is yes the current position
of the Electrical CA for Mecklenburg County and the Electrical Chief for DOI is
as of March 30th 2012 the product is not approved without a separate grounding
conductor.
st
NC Fuel Gas Code 2012
1 Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in brown 2nd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in green
3rd Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in blue
4th Quarter 2012 Code Q & A in red
2nd Quarter
Land Use and Environmental Service Agency
(Code Enforcement)
4) (Q) A contractor is changing out an existing furnace in a residence. The new furnace is a
a high efficiency type with a PVC vent that is piped to the outside of the building. The
water heater has an existing 3 inch single wall vent that is combined with a 6 inch single
wall vent from the furnace. Should the mechanical inspector allow the mechanical
contractor to simply cap off the single wall vent at the connection of the furnace and
leave the water heater connection as is or should the contractor be required to
run a new 3 inch B vent from the water heater through the roof?
(A) The Mechanical Contractor should re-pipe the water heater with a B vent to meet
current code. Code Section/Discussion FGC_101.4, 102.4, 102.9, 105.4/2012
5) (Q) What type of North Carolina State Contractor License is required to install a heat
exchanger on a heating boiler? On a process boiler?
(A) An H 1 license is required for a heating boiler. A process boiler would require a
special license issued by Mecklenburg County or we would recognize the H 1 State
license. Ref: NC Plb. Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing board rules.