Today I was informed by the AHJ that a gas regulator falls under 515 and therefore no electrical equipment may be installed within 5' of it. This is a new one for me as I've always thought that you had to stay 3' away and that it was a building code not NEC. I didn't know any part of a dwelling would ever be considered a hazardous location. I have the house meter 3' away from the regulator with Sch 80 PVC running within this area they're claiming is hazardous. In 25 years this has never come up. He's also saying that I can't bond the gas pipe but 250.104 (B) says I have to. Any thoughts?
Dwelling Gas Regulator = Bulk Storage Plant?
- Thread starter sketchy
- Start date
- Status
Check your local gas utility for bonding and electrical distances. Our utility say don't bond the gas piping, but it does allow electrical equipment up to 3ft.
Check 250.104(B) again. You don't need to bring a bonding jumper to the piping if the equipment grounding conductor is properly installed at the equipment which could cause the piping to become energized. This does not need to be part of the grounding electrode system (paraphrased out the handbook and Mike Holt's video on bonding to gas piping)
250.52(B)(1) - Metal underground gas piping is not permitted for use as a grounding electrode.
Check 250.104(B) again. You don't need to bring a bonding jumper to the piping if the equipment grounding conductor is properly installed at the equipment which could cause the piping to become energized. This does not need to be part of the grounding electrode system (paraphrased out the handbook and Mike Holt's video on bonding to gas piping)
250.52(B)(1) - Metal underground gas piping is not permitted for use as a grounding electrode.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
If he would read the scope of Article 515 the AHJ would find it only applies to liquids...natural gas to you house is not delivered as a liquid.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
That blantantly ignores what 515.1 actually says, as Don explained.
Correct, Mechanical Code or Fuel Gas code.
Our main utility around here has additional rules, but of course that's not NEC. And they don't say that about 5ft.
Because he's wrong. Yup.
If you're bonding on the customer side of the meter I think you've got code on your side. But 250.52(B)(1) prohibits using an underground metal gas pipe as electrode, so if there isn't some electrically isolating fitting this is a bit contradictory. Easier in this case to give him what he wants.
- Status