I’ve attempted understand a few basic rules about gas line installation for residential construction and I’ll admit I’m confused!
Much of the literature I’ve read sounds like a gas line can never be run in wall cavities or between floors without sleeving and venting to outdoors. Other literature simply doesn’t mention any problem installing the gas line in a wall. When I look at actual construction in homes in my area of CA I see the gas lines in walls without sleeves. My county code book only details gas lines under concrete slabs.
Can someone tell me or direct me to accurate national information on running or not running gas line in walls and between floors?
Thanks.
Replies
What they do around here
is to either run black iron pipe within floor and wall cavities--not sleeved, vented, or protected aside from nail plates--or run CSST tubing in the same manner, with sleeving wherever it passes thru framing holes. The sleeving is a flexible stainless jacket that is there to prevent abrasion of the CSST, but it's not enough to stop a nail, so nail plates are used also.
There are of course fittings on black iron pipe, and those get concealed. CSST is usually installed as home runs without concealed fittings, although there are connections to appliance stubs inside floors and walls.
The attached pic shows a feed to a cooktop, with the gas valve going in a cabinet under the top. The pipe is CSST and the sleeve in the pic extends to the crawl space below.
My current gas line setup.
Here is my situation and why I am asking. My family is about to get a little bigger and we need to make use the valuable space on the lower floor. Home is setup as reverse floor plan with what will be bedrooms below. Currently bedrooms, living and kitchen are all on 2nd floor.
My gas lines currently are black pipe hung from the 2nd floor's floor joists. Lower floor is a slab with exposed framing and in-slab sewer runs. If I am to finish my lower floor (slab 3' below grade on 2 sides) and use it as living space I'm concerned that I will need to remove my current gas lines and route the gas outside along the footing and popping up and penetrating exterior walls where gas is required (laundry room, kitchen).
Like I mentioned in my original post, I do see gas lines installed in walls in my area but I also keep reading that gas lines cannot be buried in walls or between floors of two story homes. I can't imagine I have a lot of options here. It sure seems like this is a yes, your allowed to run through walls and floors or no your not allowed to but the answer is not easily found.
David, thanks for the info on CSST, maybe its an option if pipe joints are the problem with runs in walls and between floors.
Good advice/comments found here. Ultimately, though you'll be governed by your local code. So you should go talk to the BO about this and he should be able to lay your question to rest.
I installed piping in my new house a couple of years ago ... black iron. I had a LOT of it ... 150 ft, I think total ... running all over the place. Unions require access. Fittings did not. Valves (e.g. shut off) require access.
But this may not apply to you. Before you assume anything and put a lot of money or effort into it ... talk w/ the BO. He should be your buddy right now.
"talk w/ the BO. He should be your buddy right now."
That's a fact. You should have a plumber or gas installer lining you out, and/or the BI telling you what he's going to accept. All I know is what I can do on my jobs.
>>I also keep reading that
>>I also keep reading that gas lines cannot be buried in walls or between floors of two story homes.
It's ok in my area, as long as when it is in a wall or celing/floor it is black pipe.
Local codes and interpretations vary, though.
Part of my gas piping ran through the ceiling above and the floor of the room above that, so it was OK to do it where I was.
>>>without sleeving and
>>>without sleeving and venting to outdoors.<<<
>>> My county code book only details gas lines under concrete slab<<<
With most gas codes that I'm familiar with has a similar provision that applies to underground gas lines only, not to pipe run in the wall.
seems like I had heard when I did my gasline that gas lines weren't allowed at all under concrete slabs ... but there has to be some provision to allow it, I would think. Maybe a patio is OK, but the house was not.
Under Slab Gas Line
Like I tried to indicate to the O.P. depending on the local areas code most will allow them with certain provisions, it always has to be confirmed with the local jusidiction.
All nationally-recognized codes (Uniform Plmg/Mech. Code, NFPA 54, International FGC) allow fuel gas lines to be run in framed walls and concealed above-ground building spaces. Unions and valves must be accessible, and pipe other than iron--like copper or CSST-- must be protected by nail guards in places where it is near the face of framing and in danger of being pierced by finish nails, screws, etc.
Gas pipe that is run indoors under the concrete slab needs to be run in a sleeve or conduit along with some other special requirements, but it sounds like you don't need that.
Great, my lines meet national code
I understand I will still need to cofirm with the local athortires but from what rdesigns posted from the national codes, it appears my current iron gas lines will be okay as is. The runs in the walls and between floors do not contain any unions or valves.
Thank you all for your help!