ORD CC 08/30 - draft of gas regulationAN ORDINANCE REGULATING WITHI , THE CITY LIir ITS OF THE CITY
OF HUXTSVILLE, TEXAS, HOUSE PZPI_G, APP CES, FIXTURES AND APPARA-
TUS INSTALLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF USI IN ALL BUILDI;_GS AND
STRUCTURES OF GAS CONSUU.ERS, ADD THE ALLATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECS--
STRUCTION AND REPAIR THEREOF, PROVIDING FOR BONDS TO BE GIVEN Alz
LICENSE TO BE PAID BY THOSE ?+'MHO DO SUCH WORK, AND PROVIDING FOR PEMMS
AND PENALTIES AiiD DECLARIIyG AN EMERGENCY.
TEXAS, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HU�TSVILLE,
Section 1.
That a City Inspector be appointed by the City Council and
that same and his assistants be, and they are hereby authorized,
empowered and directed as follows:
(1) To supervise all house - piping, applioances, fixtures
and apparatus whether now or hereafter installed, placed in, or in
any manner connected in buildings and structures of any character in
the City of Huntsville, Texas.
(2) To supervise the installation, construction, alterations
-nd repair thereof, and to see that all the rules and regulations of
said City of Huntsville, Texas, with respect thereto are properly
complied with.
(3) To inspect all such house piping, appliances, fixtures
and apparatus; and the installation, construction, alteration or
repair thereof whenever and as often as they shall deem it necessary
in order to minimize danger of fires and accidents or injuries to
persons or property; and the City Inspector and his assistants be, and
they are hereby empowered and directed to cause all such house - piping
appliances, fixtures and apparatus and installation thereof to be such
as not to cause fire or accident or injury to life and property.
Section 2.
No gas appliance, fixtures or apparatus either for heating,
illumination or hot veLter heating be installed until type of spy . ^Ie has
been approved by the City Inspector.
Section 3.
The term "house- piping" be understood to mean and is hereby
defined, as gas piping leading away and extending from the outlet of
the meter cone ction to the gas consuming appliance or appliances.
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Section 4.
The City Inspector or his assistants shall be subject to the
order and direction of the City Council and are hereby invested with
full authority to eater any structure, premises, either public or
private, at any reasonable time in the discharge of their duty, how-
ever, giving notice to the owner of said premises that an inspection
is to be made, and a. tine for same is to be agreed upon, and then and
there to pass upon and decide any question arisring under the provisions
of this ordinance relating to � =ny such ho,--se- piping appliance, fixture
or apparatus or installation of repair thereof, or relative to the
material used therein, whether the same be in the original construc-
tion or erection, or in any alteration or repair thereof.
J1 (a)
do piping
in the City
firm or core
Section 5.
Before engaging in the business
appliances, fixtures or apparatus
limits of the City of Huntsville,
Dora.tion shall execute and deliver
or occupation of irstalla-
for the use of gas with -
Texas, every A erson,
to the City of Huntsville,
Texas, a good end sufficient surety bond signed by some solvent
surety company authorized to do business in the State of Texas in
the sure of Thousand Dollars (':x,000.00) to be approved by the
City Council and conditioned that such person, firm or corporation
will faithfully comply with all of the terms, provisions and condi-
tions of this ordinance and of all the rules and regulations made in
purs�.a.nce thereof and will indemnify and hold said City and any and
all residents thereof harmless against all costs, expenses, damages
and injuries sustained by said City or b�T such person, by reason of
the carelessness or negligence of said person, firm or corporation
in operating under this ordinance and the rules and regulations made
in pursuance thereof. Such bond shall be made payable to the City
of Huntsville, Texas, for the use and benefit of any and all citizens
of such City. Such bond shall expire on the first day of September
next following the date of the approval thereof by the City Council
and thereafter on the first day of September of each year a new bond
in form and substance as herein required shall be given by every
person, firm or corporation corning- within the terms of the provisions
of this ordinance to cover all work done by him, them or it during
the year beginning Septerloer 1.
(b) Upon the approval of said bond by the City Council the
individual, firm or corporation desirii�-'_ to dD such work shall secure
from the City a license which shall run until the First day of
September next succeeding its issue, unless sooner revoked, and shall
not be transferable. In the event of the dissolution of any Company
or partnership holding such license, the member retaining such license
shall be provided for doing any such work provided 'herein. The person
firm or corporation obtaining such license shall pay to the City of
10,00
Huntsville, Texas the sum of Dollars ($10.00) as an annual
license fee therefor, provided that if said license is issued after
September 1st. of any year, the license fee shall be for the propor-
tionate remaining part of such year, computed from the first day of
the month in which same is issued. Every licensed ga.s fitter shall
display his license conspicuously at his place of business.
Section o.
(a) ,o gas fitter shall install or make alterations to
installations of house piping or appliances in any new or old building
within the limits of the City of Huntsville, Texas, without first
obtaining a permit to do such work from the City Inspector's Ofi ice,
except as hereinafter provided.
(b) No such appliance need be glade and no permit issued for
an exposed gas line above the floor not exceeding five (5) feet in
length, to connection for one stove, providinc- however, that such ex-
tension must conform to other provisions of this ordinance.
Section 7.
Pipe used in gas installations shall be of the best quality���`f\
steel, free from splits or oth� =r defects.
Second hand pipe shall not be used unless equal to new pipe
in quality. House piping lines installed under the ground, as for
instance, from a house to garage or servants quarters, shall be of
steel, properly coated.
All fittings shall be of liteel.
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Bushing must not be used on concealed work, but faced bushings
may be used on exposed work.
Three -way valves are not permitted in any case.
Unions or running thread shall not be used on concealed gps
piping either in original installations or repairs.
In case of repairs requiring a pipe cut, it shall be reconnected
with right and left threaded coupling.
The use of cement for repairing split or faulty pipe or fittings
is not permitted.
Section 8.
Rules governing size and length of pipe and the greatest number
of openings allowed in piping buildings for gas, lighting, and fuel,
and rules governinE the sizes and Ingths of pipesand the greatest
number of openings allowed for the use of gas appliances shall be of
such size as set out by the rules and regulations of the cowpa y
furnishing gas to the City.
Section 9.
No. of Specifications for house pip -
Openings. ing.
Minimum Size of Pipe from From Meter to First Opening,
Meter. Maximun ft. of Pipe.
2"
1 1/2"
1 1/4"
1"
1
1
1/4"
180
135
110
2
1
1/4"
to
1st. 1" to 2nd.
180
135
100
45
3
1
1/4"
to
1st. 1" to 2nd. &3rd.
180
135
95
45
4
1
1/4"
to
lst. 1" 0 2,3, &4th.180
135
90
40
5
1
1/4"
to
1st.& 2n�"to 3rd, 4th,
&5th.
180
135
90
40
6
1
1/4"
to
1st, 2nd & 3rd 1"
to
4th,5th, &6th.
180
135
85
35
7
1
1/4"
to
lst.2nd,3rd & 4th2
10,
to 5,6, & 7th.
180
135
80
35
8
1
1/2"
to
lst.,l 1/4" to 2,3,
4,
5; 1" 6th 7,& 8th.
180
120
75
30
9
1
1/2"
to
1 & 2; 1 1/4" to 3rd,
4,
5, C; 1" to 7,8 & 9
180
120
70
30
10
2"
to
1; 1
1/2" to 2,3,; 1 1/4"
45,6,7;
1
"to 8,9, 10th.
170
110
65
25
t�
o. of Specifications for house pip -
Openings. ing.
IlInimun Size of Pipe from From 11eter to First Opening,
meter. ila,ximun ft. ofPipe.
11 2t1 to 1st,& 2; 1 1/211 314,
5); 1 1/411 to 6)7,8,9; 111
to 10,11th. 170 105 60 25
12 211 to 1,2,3; 1 1/211 to 4,
516; 1 1/4" to 7,8,9; 111 to
10,11 & 12th. 165 100 55 25
In colmputing lengths of lines for 2 ", add 51 for each Ell or
Tee; for 1 1/211 add 31 for each Ell or Tee; 1 1/211 add 31 for each
Ell or Tee; for 1 1/411 add 31 for each Ell or Tee; for 111 add 21 for
each Ell or Tee.
Section 10.
All house- piping shall be properly graded to a drip of ample
size located in an accessible place. 1,11here space will cermit, house -
piping, house pipes will be drained away from meter to a drip placed
at far end of main supply line, otherwise drip will be placed at
meter location and pipe graded to sale.
All house piping shall be securely fastened to floor joists
or sills with either steel pipe straps of pipe hooks, or with per-
forated pipe strapping, and in such a manner as to prevent pipe from
sagging and becoming trapped.
The following maximum spacings for supports shall be used:
3/811 or 1/2t1 ................. ............................... 6feet
3/4" or 1f1 ...... .......... .. ..............................8 feet
1 1/4" or larger (horizontal) ............................... 10 feet
1 1 /4t1 or larger (vertical) Each Floor.
When in running pipe it is necessary to cross through wood
joists or beams, they shall be notAked as little as possible, but never
to a depth of more than one fifth of the depth of the timber. This
notching shall be as close as possible to a point of support of the
timber, and should in no case be further from support than one -sixth
of the tota-.l unsupported _,iii span of timber. d'vhen feasible, the pip-
ing should run so that only timbers having the shortest spans will be
cut.
No gas pipe shall be run closer than 611 to any electric wire,
unless such electric wire be in conduit.
Section 11.
Gas :.gust not be supplied from a smaller pipe to a larger one.
When necessary to connect to sizes of pipe, a reducing coup-
ling must be used.
All branch outlet pipes shall be taken frow, top or sides of
ria.in supply line, and never from below.
',,mere extensions to house - piping are made, care must be taken
to break pipe where the rule for size shows.
Section 12.
,'Chen a house pipe is laid underground, best quality steel
pipe of not less than one inch in diameter shall be used, and must
be run in a straight line and drained to an accessible and suitable
syphon drip.
e&�eel"�gas piping shall .act be laid in cinder or concrete
cinders or any other corrosive material, unless pipe is covered with
asphalt or pitch and wrapped with burlap painted with tar.
Section 13.
Ihite lead, or other suitable joining material shall be used
sparingly and applied only to male threads in making up joints on
gas piping.
Section 14.
Each and every gas stove, range, cooking stove, hot water
heater and other gas c ons,zining appliance shall be provided with a
lever handled stop cock located in the riser above the floor and be-
low the union at the appliance. Such stop cock shall be readily
accessible at all tires.
Gas connection to stoves, ranges, cooking stoves, hot water
heaters and other appliances shall be rigid connection, except that
flexible :petal tubing may be used providing sari ,,e is not over five (5)
feet in length and there is no cock on such pIDrtable heating appli-
ance.
-o stove, range, cooking stove, hot water heater or other
appliance nor any portion of sane, which cones in direct contact with
the gas flames or hot gasses shall be placed less than ten (10) irtdhes
from any .rood work or wooden lath and plaster partition, unless such
wood work or partition is properly protected by metal shields. SAM
metal shields shall be securely attached so as to preserve an air
space between shield and wood work behind the:, and inhere such shield
is so placed the clearance as above specified nay be reduced to six
inches.
Section 15.
In tenement houses every apartment shall be provided with an
open stove pipe connection with a :petal or masonry flue or chimney.
A gas stove or waster heater shall be directly connected with
a flue that serves another apartment, except that flues from several
apartments may be united in an attic.
Furnaces and rater heaters rust be provided with vent and
flue connections at least as large as vent connections on the furnace
or heater, and extend to open air at least two feet above roof, and
terminate with a screened cap.
Where more t han one appliance is vented with a, flue, the
area of said flue shall be equal to the combined areas of the vents
entering into it.
Ranges, hot plates, etc, used in hotels, restaurants and
hamburger stands, where gas is used for fuel, .;gust be provided with
canopies properly vented into brick, tile or metal flues extending to
open air at least two feet above the roof.
Vents to gas appliances, concealed inside of partitions,
under floors, or inclosed in any :Wanner so that the said vent pipes
are in contact with wood shall be air tight, and shall be :jade of at
least 22 ga.. Galvanized iron, and properly covered with asbestos
paper.
Vent pipes in attic may connect with a chimney flue; or may
extend through the roof to open air at least two feet above the roof
and terminate with a screened top or cap. Such vent pipes shall be
at least No. 22 ga,. Galvanized or black iron.
Wood partitions through which vent pipes pass _ust be protected
by thimble with a proper air space, except that no vent shall pass
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through any closet or pantry used for the storage of clothing, house-
C.)
hold goods or any other combustible material.
;,ester heaters and gas appliances having pil5t burners must be
provided vrith down draft devices above the fixture in the vent, near
the appliances.
Plumbers and gas fitters stopping vents in walls or attic
will have their License revoked.
Section 16.
T_ie mouse- ,oiping in a. building shall be tested air tight by
the gas fitter, and before the pipes are concealed they must be in-
spected, the test iiitnessed, a Certificate of Inspection issued, and
an inspection tag attached to sa ch piping by theCity Inspector.
The test on house piping shall be made by closing all openings
and subjecting the pipes to an air pressure that will support a
column of -iercury ten (10) inches in height or 15 lbs. air pressure.
If this col1_:rn of r:ercury is supported by the air pressure for at
least fifteen (15) minutes, the piping shall be considered tight.
'later will not be used in testing gas piping for leaks, and
piping into which water has been introduced will not be approved,
but will be conde =coned as faulty.
work.
A fire test is not per=mitted under any circzistances on inside
Mien the gas fitter has coripleted the system of piping a.nd
hV all branch and bracket extensions and he,- -ter openings firmly and
permanently fastened, he shall test the piping and if found tight,
shall :Hake applic.tion for tests with the City Inspector. The City
Inspector r1l call and ins_Dect the piping and witness the test, and if
he fines the piping tight and the size and work in accordance with the
provisions of this ordinance, then the City Inspector will issue and
deliver Certificate.
Section 17.
Any additional piping or outlets installed after a certificate
is granted :rust be reported for inspection and test.
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Section 18.
For inspecting of new g ,-.s piping, extensions, branch lines
and alteration work in any building, the City Inspector shall charge
and collect from the person, firm or corporFtion applying for such
inspection the sum of Dollar ( .00) for each inspection up to
fifteen (15) outlets and then ten (10(,�) cents for each additional oat-
let as per schedule following:
3, 4.
Sizes in inches, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2,
Value in Outlets 1,2,6,11,20,32,66,115,181,372.
Section 19.
If the house pipes are not tight or if the construction and
installation: of the fixtures, pipi::g and a_ purtenances do not conform
to the provisions of this ordinance, when the inspector is called for
its inspection and approval and it is necessary for the inspector to
'alake another inspection, then there shall be .made and collected a
charge of fifty (50¢) cents for each additional trip for inspection.
Section 20.
In piping ar_Tr house for ga.s the Gas Company shall decide
and designate in every case where the gas ::peter is to be located.
The fitter sell extend the house piping line to this point
and connect it to the out -let of the ::peter connection which will be
furnished by the Gas Company to the fitter for each job application.
The joint between the house piping a.nd the outlet to the
me�er connection will be proven tight at the time the house piping
is tested.
1irllere a gas :peter is installed under the floor of any build-
ing a door or opening at least 24" x24" shall be provided in the
skirting of the building within four feet of the gas meter.
W
r�ere one or :more meters are desired in a. given building,
the Gas Company may set as many meters as there are separate consumers
applying for same, connecting the meters to one service pipe, provid-
ing that the house - piping leading to such different cons,�:aers are ex-
tended to and connected with their respective meter connection out-
lets, and are run according to the requirements of this ordinance.
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Section 21.
The City Inspector will furnish to the Gas Company a copy of
each Certificate inrhich he issues and this will authorize the Gas
Company to install gas service at the building or pre Ases covered
by same.
In no case shall the Gas Coapa.ny turn cra,s into new or altered
or repaired house- piping system, if it is aware of this condition
until a Certificate has been received by there.
Section 22.
The City Inspector sh all shut off, or cause to be shut off
&11 gas service in residences or business houses in the City of
Huntsville, Texas,where in his judg.�ent the house- piping or appliances
are unsafe. The gas will rer_zadn s'_zut off until such times as the un-
sa a conditions are corrected by the property owner or the fitter in-
stalling them, and a. Certificate issued by the City Inspector and a
copy thereof furnished the Gas Company, after which the Gas Com-
pany may restore the service.
Tae terra, "Gas Coopa.ny" is understood to rzean, and is hereby
defined as any person, firm or corporation holding -and exercising a
franchise to distribute gas within the City Li Ats of the City of
nuntsville, and supplying gps to a.ny pre- .mises therein.
Section 23.
The GF s Company shall furnish and install in every residence
or business house in the City of Huntsville a gas shut -off or valve
to be used for the purpose of shutting; off the gas supply therein in
case of fire. Said shut -off or valve shall be placed just inside of
the curb line providing that if the gas service is run in the alleys
00 '� ^+k.... f-
then said shut -off or valve shall be placed just inside of the prop-
erty line. Such s':ut -off or valve s'_iall be so placed so ^,s to be
readily accessible by the Fire DepartLient. The Gas Company shall
furnish to the Chief of the Fire De -oa.rtment the exact location of
all such shut -offs or valves. Said shut -offs or valves shall be
provided with a, suitable box and cover, and must be kept in working
order at 2.11 tiiaes. Failure of the Gas Company to install the above
said shut -offs or valves shall be guilty of z r.isde:ieanor and upon
conviction thereof shall be punished as hereinafter provided. The
cover of the valve box shall indicate the name of the Gas Co:apany to
which it belongs. The Gas Company shall furnish the Fire Department
e sufficient number of valve 'keys which keys shall be carried on the
fire fighting apparatus as part of its enuipment.
Section 24.
The rules and regulations of the I1iational Board of Fire
Underwriters embodied in its regulations for the installation, r in-
tena ce and use of piping and f ittirigs f or City ga..s purposes in 1980
and such subsequent codes, regulations, a.iend:ents and supplements
th_,.t said Ya.tional Board of Fire Underwriters t1ay hereafter adept
are hereby adopted as the rules and regulations to govern and to be
observed and f ollowed in all cases of installation, maintenance and
use of piping and fittings for gas in the City of Huntsville, Texas,
except as otherwise specially provided in any section of this ordi-
nance and the same are hereby made a part of this ordinance as fully
and to the same extent as if copied Iierein in full. Any printed book,
pamphlet or leaflet entitled "Regulations of the I?ational Board of
Fire Underwriters for the Installation, ?iwintenance and Use of Piping
and Fittings for City Gas" for the year 1920 or for any subsequent
year and all books, paxapIlets or leaflets containing supplements or
amendments to such regulations which purport on their face to be the
rules, regulations and require - ,Rents of the „ational Board cf Fire
Underwriters governing such matters shall be admitted in evidence in
the sar,e force and effect as the original rules ^.nd regulations with-
e "" 14
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out other or further proof and the interpretations of such regulations
by the City Inspector shall be final and conclusive.
Section 25.
Any person, firm, association or corporation that shall fail
to comply with or violate any of these provisions of this ordinance
shall be deered guilty of a niisdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined in any sum not less than Twenty -five Dollars (;25.00)
nor metre than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each offense, or the
license of such person, firm, association or corporation -,ay be re-
voked or both fine and revocation of license may be imposed.
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Section 26.
The absence of any adequate ordinance regulating house - piping,
a.ppli ^n ces, f ixtares ;a.n.d apparatus installed for the purpose of using
gs-s for buildings or structures Y,ithin the City of Huntsville, Texas,
and the great danger to life and property therefrom creates an e:-,er-
genoy and an imperative public necessity th�tt�-.11 rules requiring
delay in the passage of this ordinance shall be suspended and that
this ordin -p ce shall be passed as of the day of the date of its
introduction and ap- proval and beco:,:e effective as soon Ls pu'plished in
accordance with the requirements of tide law relating to penal ordina: ices
Pnd it is so ordained.
Introduced August , A.D. 1930.
Passed Ailgu st , A.D. 1930.
Approved August , A.D. 1930.
Mayor, My of Huntsville, Texas.
ATTEST:
City Secretary.