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Gas Procedures
Hibbing Public Utilities
Natural Gas Meter Installations
Natural Gas Service Installations
Natural Gas Servicing and Metering to a Garage
Natural gas service to a facility will not begin
until an
HPUC inspection has been conducted and passed.
The HPUC has the right to inspect a customer’s natural gas
installation
prior to rendering service and as needed thereafter, but the HPUC
assumes no
responsibility as a result of having made such inspection.
Certification of Inspection
Upon completion of natural gas service, natural
gas piping,
or the installation of any natural gas equipment, it is the
responsibility of
the customer to request a natural gas piping inspection.
The HPUC gas inspector will inspect a natural gas installation
within 48
hours of the time that an inspection request is received.
If the natural gas installation is found to be in compliance
with HPUC
procedures and regulations, the inspector will make the necessary
connections to
the main natural gas service. No
energized connection will be made to any natural gas piping until the Certification
of Inspection has been signed and submitted by the inspector.
Inspections will not be performed on weekends or holidays.
Inspections will be done on Monday for any requests received on
Friday.
The HPUC Certification
of Inspection is required in the following situations:
1) A new natural gas service line is installed or an old line is replaced.
2) An alteration or addition is made to the existing natural gas piping of any building or structure.
3) Connection is made with a natural gas service pipe.
4) Installation is made of a natural gas furnace, conversion burner, natural gas stove, hot plate, hot water heater, clothes dryer or any other natural gas appliance. (back to top)
Customers must notify the HPUC immediately if any
escape of
natural gas is suspected or discovered. There
is no charge to the customer for investigation of a suspected natural
gas leak.
When a leak is discovered, the natural gas will be shut off at
the
structure’s service valve or meter valve.
Open lights are not allowed near any escape of natural gas.
The HPUC is not responsible for any damage or loss that may result from the escape of natural gas on or in a customer’s premises or property. (back to top)
General Requirements
Gas meters used to measure the quantity of natural gas used by a customer are owned by the HPUC. The HPUC and the customer will jointly determine the location of all natural gas meters. The HPUC will install, set, and maintain the natural gas meter. Only authorized HPUC personnel can set a meter, turn a meter on or off (except in emergencies), connect a meter to the main gas system, or remove a natural gas meter.
Residential Natural Gas Meter Installations
The location of
residential
meters will be jointly determined by the HPUC and the customer in
accordance
with the following guidelines:
1.
Meter installations must comply with all local, state, or
federal
regulations as stipulated in CFR Part 192.
2.
Meters will be located in a safe location that is readily
accessible for
meter reading and repair.
3.
Outside meter locations are mandatory.
Outside meters will be installed by a meter set bracket.
4.
Inside gas meters are prohibited.
5.
Meters and associated relief valves will not be closer than 3
feet to any
source of ignition such as electric meters, switches, and
transformers.
6.
Meter locations will avoid water taps, electric facilities, air
intake
vents, edges of sidewalks, and driveways.
7. Meters must be installed at least 6 inches above finished grade level.
Commercial and Industrial Natural
Gas Meter
Installations
1) Factors that determine the design of a commercial or industrial natural gas meter installation include:
a. Volume of natural gas to be delivered.
b. Pressure at which natural gas is metered.
c. Type of structure or business.
d. Public or non-public nature of structure.
e. Number of occupants.
2)
All buildings must install new natural gas meters outside.
The meters will be hard case and hung where practicable.
Meter installations at schools and playground buildings must be
protected
from potential damage.
3)
Outside meters and relief valves must not be installed closer
than 50
feet from any standby propane storage tank or fuel transfer
points.
4)
Meter setting materials and natural gas pipe materials must
comply with
standards specified for natural gas service.
5)
Using a mounting bracket for support of the meter is preferable.
A meter shelf or slab may be required.
6)
Meters will not be installed where rapid deterioration from
corrosion or
other causes is likely.
7) A protective device, such as a backpressure regulator or check valve, will be installed by the customer downstream of the meter under the following conditions:
a. If the nature of the utilization equipment may induce a vacuum at the meter, install a backpressure regulator downstream from the meter.
b. Install a check valve if the utilization equipment might induce a backpressure, if gas utilization equipment will not be connected to a source of oxygen or compressed air, or if liquefied petroleum gas or other supplementary gas is used as standby and might flow back through the meter.
c.
A three-way valve installed to admit the standby supply and shut
off the
regular natural gas supply at the same time may be substituted for a
check
valve.
8)
Appropriate instruction as given for residential meter
installations will
apply to commercial and industrial meter installations.
9)
A bypass valve and piping with test tees may be required on the
large
volume or interruptible meters, depending on the method used to test
the meters.
Special Large Capacity Natural Gas
Meter
Installations
1)
Special natural gas meter installations that require more than
the
standard metering facilities include:
a. Installations where metering is done at unregulated medium pressure and above.
b. Installations where metered natural gas exceeds 5 mcf per hour, any pressure class.
c.
Installations where a meter house or enclosure is required.
2) Factors that determine the degree of special treatment design of a natural gas meter installation include:
a. Volume of natural gas to be delivered
b. Pressure at which natural gas is metered
c. Type of structure or business
d. Public or non-public nature of structure
e. Number of occupants
f.
Need for securing accessibility to the metering facilities
3) If customers request or require a separate meter house or enclosure, the HPUC will provide information and will approve the final plan.
4)
Typical meter installations for various applications can be
obtained from
the HPUC Heat Department.
5)
All natural gas piping from the point where the service enters
the
structure to the meter will be exposed and accessible.
The piping to the meter will be installed so that the
connections to the
meter fit without strain.
6)
The HPUC will furnish a separate meter for each consumer
classified as a
complete apartment or business.
7) Natural gas services will not be turned on before piping has been completed to at least one major appliance and after an inspection has been made and passed by the HPUC. (back to top)
The Rate Schedule is available at the HPUC offices.
Standard agreements to supply natural gas service are based on
the
ability to purchase natural gas from the supplier and the HPUC’s
capacity
limitations and distribution facilities.
The HPUC is responsible for the installation and repair of all natural gas services. All required permits and licenses must be obtained from the City of Hibbing Engineering Department or the City Clerk prior to any work beginning on public property. (back to top)
Natural Gas Service Installations
Natural Gas Installation Requirements
The customer’s gas service installation will be constructed and
maintained
in accordance with HPUC procedures and policies.
The Code of Federal Regulations Part 192, & the Minnesota
Uniform
Mechanical Code are the accepted standards for all installations.
The customer will not utilize any apparatus or
device that
may adversely effect the natural gas service. The HPUC reserves the
right to
discontinue or withhold natural gas service to any installation failing
to
conform to these requirements.
Natural Gas Service Line Ditches
Natural gas service line ditches will not be used
for the
installation of electric, telephone, sewer, or water services unless
previously
approved by the HPUC. There must be
at least 12 inches vertical and horizontal separation between
underground
services. Depth of natural gas
lines must be at least 18 inches under the surface.
Natural Gas Service Size
The HPUC will determine the sizes of residential,
commercial, and industrial natural gas services on the basis of
governing codes,
rules, and regulations. Sizes
include low pressure, medium pressure (up to 10 PSIG), and high
pressure (10 to
50 PSIG).
Natural Gas Piping
The customer’s piping is to be done by a qualified licensed plumber or qualified natural gas pipe fitter. Piping must be in accordance with the following regulations that ensure safe and satisfactory residential installation of natural gas pipe:
1. Pipe will be of ample size to carry the desired BTU load, preferably not to exceed a 0.3-inch drop in water pressure. The HPUC Gas Department will provide pipe-sizing information.
2. Pipe carrying natural gas to residential appliances will not be smaller than ½ inch in size. All gas piping will meet or exceed the standards of the Minnesota Uniform Mechanical Code.
3. Gas piping and fittings will be clean and free of cutting burrs, defects in structure, or threading.
4. Every appliance will have an approved shut-off cock with a lever handle.
5. An approved union will be installed between the shut-off cock and appliance.
6. All gas pipe concealed will be completely welded using either butt or socket weld fittings. All concealed construction will be inspected, tested, and approved before concealment.
7. All gas lines running under concrete slabs will be encased in steel or wrought iron casing. The casing will be sealed at each end and a suitable vent to the outdoor atmosphere provided in an accessible location.
Prohibited Fittings
1. The use of bushings is prohibited. Reducer fittings must be used.
2. The use of street elbows is prohibited.
3. Cast iron and compression fittings are prohibited.
4. Old pipe or galvanized pipe will not be used.
5. The use of pipe plugs is prohibited. Caps must be used at all times to terminate open pipes.
6. Tin straps, wires, and makeshift supports will not be used. Use only standard wire pipe hanger hooks, pipe straps, or straphanger iron.
7. Use only reliable standard ground joint unions.
8. Hose or flexible connections shall only be allowed in the vicinity of the appliance connection.
9. Cement or caulking is not allowed to repair faulty fitting work. All imperfect fittings must be replaced.
10.
Use as few elbows and couplings as possible.
Elbows and couplings that are not essential will be removed.
Testing of Pipes
All piping will be
air tested
before the natural gas is turned on. Natural
gas piping will be tested under at least 25 pounds of air pressure for
not less
than 12 hours without loss of pressure, and soap tested at all joints.
All appliances must be disconnected when testing as the usual
stove cock
will not stand this pressure. Appliances
will be tested as provided for in the National Board of Fire
Underwriters Code
No. 54 and the Minnesota Uniform Mechanical Code, Chapter 1346.25.
Natural Gas Main Extensions
The HPUC is not
required to make
an extension from a natural gas main unless the present main has
sufficient
capacity to provide the additional gas service required by the
extension, and
the extension will not jeopardize gas service to the area currently
being served
by the main. Residential,
commercial, and industrial extensions are subject to negotiation
between the
requesting party and the HPUC regarding the ability to provide service,
cost of
services, and facilities.
Approved Natural Gas Appliances
All appliances must
be approved
by the American Gas Association or the National Board of Fire
Underwriters or
the Minnesota Uniform Mechanical Code.
Space Heating
Contractors installing natural gas-fired services of any type are to notify the HPUC of the installation. An HPUC employee must conduct and pass service inspection before flowing natural gas to the system. The HPUC employee will verify the following:
1. For piping, a lever handle cock will be installed in the drop pipe to the furnace or burner not less than 5 feet from the floor.
2. All electric wiring between the gas appliance and the building wiring will be installed by a licensed electrician and will conform to HPUC procedures and regulations and to the National Electric Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. (back to top)
Natural Gas Servicing and Metering to a Garage
No more than 1 single
meter is
allowed for a residential natural gas service.
The meter can be either outside of the house or the garage.
The HPUC does not allow a separate meter for the garage that is
fed from
an existing riser on the property (the house service) unless
specifically
approved. Second service runs from
an existing riser are intended to supply a natural gas load that is
less than
the supply to the residence.
A second service run tapped from the main to the garage is typically the only option in which to meter a garage separately.
Approval to run a
second service
from the main to the garage for metering purposes must be obtained from
the HPUC
Director of Utility Operations. (back to top)
The natural gas
service
territory consists of all areas served by the HPUC natural gas lines,
subject to
capacity limitations of the HPUC system, their ability to purchase
natural gas
from the supplier, and their distribution facilities.
(back
to top)
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