propane and electrical equipment

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kitsr

Member
Would like to know how close electrical equipment can be to propane lines, either by code or safety reasons?
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: propane and electrical equipment

Well a gas furnace has gas and electric in the same enclosure. :D

You will need to give a little more information.
 

kitsr

Member
Re: propane and electrical equipment

Thanks iwire, heres my problem. I have a commercial kitchen with propane line feeding commercial stove, outside there is the propane line next to main electric service, i need to connect a ATS to service for generator, how close to the propane line can the ats be?
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Re: propane and electrical equipment

The regulator at the gas meter may vent gas, I believe there is a gas code that requires a 'spark producing device' to be at least 3' from that regulator vent.

I would think that an ATS would be a spark producing device.

Hopefully George will jump in I think he has a drawing showing the rules.
 

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
Re: propane and electrical equipment

Oh, yeah, I'm an "expert." :D

Check out this thread for the picture Bob is referring to.

Generally, propane is distributed from a propane tank on the premises. A typical 500 gallon propane tank has a regulator on it, which looks the same as the regulator on the natural gas meter in the picture in the thread I'm posting a link to here.

Unless your service is within 3' of that regulator on that propane tank, you should be ok. There's nothing wrong with having electrical equipment close to gas pipes, in the context we're talking about.
 

jimwalker

Senior Member
Location
TAMPA FLORIDA
Re: propane and electrical equipment

If you hear a loud BOOM you were to close.Personally if possable i would keep more than 3 feet,the more the better.While the 3 foot is the rule i would take this case by case as sometimes you might be confined in a tight area where air will not flow.
 
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