article 514, CNG

[j9DuBois]

We are working in a Natural Gas dispensening area. Some of the pipe is run in rigid with explosion proof fittings and then there is some that is run in EMT with screw tight connectors. We are installing power to go up to the roof from the panel and communication wire for a camera. The panel is over 30 feet away. The natual gas is purged out of a vent on the roof and the smell is very strong. The pipe run is less than 5 feet away. Our foreman wants everything done in EMT, from the panel up to the roof. I do not think this is correct. Any insight?

 

[nakulak]

We did some work for a local gas utility at their plants and substations. It was up to them/their engineers/public service commission/DOT-DOE to establish where/what the classified areas were. In most of the areas we worked on mercaptin mixers were used, so it was impossible without ppe (personal monitors) to tell if you were in gas or just smelled mercaptin. You should probably coordinate with the utility or ahj to determine the limits of each classified area, rather than guess, otherwise bad things may occur.

 

[charlie]

. . . It was up to them/their engineers/public service commission/DOT-DOE to establish where/what the classified areas were. . .

Agreed, it is never up to the electrician or the electrical inspector to determine what the classification is for a particular area.

 

[j9DuBois]

Thanks for your info. Unfortunately our work is rarely inspected and the foreman generally does not know the code. You know what rolls down hill, so I always try to look up the code and do things accordingly.