2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code First Printing: January 2009 ISBN-978-58001-755-8 COPYRIGHT © 2009 by INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This 2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code contains substantial copyrighted material from the 2006 International Fuel Gas Code, Fifth printing, which is copyrighted work owned by the International Code Council, Inc. Without advance written permission from the copyright owner, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form orby any means, including, without limitation, electronic, optical or mechanical means (by way ofexample and not limitation, photocopying or recording by or in an information storage retrieval system). For information on permission to copy material exceeding fair use, please contact: Publications, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478. Phone 1-888-ICC­ SAFE (422-7233). Trademarks: "International Code Council," the "International Code Council" logo and the "International Fuel Gas Code" are trade­ marks of the International Code Council, Inc. Material designated IFGS by AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION 400 N. Capitol Street, N.W.• Washington, DC 20001 (202) 824-7000 Copyright © American Gas Association, 2006. All rights reserved. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 8,2008 CHAIR VICE CHAIRMAN Al Bass, Jr., PE - 09 Dan Tingen -11 John Hitch, AlA - 10 (Mechanical Engineer) (Home Builder) (Architect) Bass, Nixon and Kennedy Tingen Construction Co. The Smith Sinnett Assoc. 6425 Chapman Court 8411 Garvey Drive, #101 4601 Lake Boone Trail Raleigh, NC 27612 Raleigh, NC 27616 Raleigh, NC 27607 919-782-4689 919-875-2161 919-781-8582 Cindy Browning, PE - 11 Ed Moore, Sr. - 13 Bob Ruffner, Jr. - 09 (State Agency) (Electrical Contractor) (General Contractor) State Construction E. Moore and Son Electric Clancy and Theys Construction 301 North Wilmington S1. 2708 N. Graham S1., Ste. D PO Box 4189 Raleigh, NC 27601 Charlotte, NC 28206 Wilmington, NC 28406 919-807-4127 704-358-8828 910-392-5220 Ralph Euchner -13 Jack Neel, PE - 10 Butch Simmons - 09 (Gas Industry) (Municipal Representative) (Building Inspector) PSNC Energy City of Albemarle City of Greensboro PO Box 1398 1007 Colonial Drive PO Box 3136 Gastonia, NC 28053 Albemarle, NC 28001 Greensboro, NC 27402 704-810-3331 704-982-8434 336-373-2329 Steve Knight, PE - 09 Mack Nixon -10 David Smith - 10 (Structural Engineer) (County Representative) (Coastal Contractor) Steve L. Knight, PE Albemarle Home Builders D. Smith Builder 1507 Mount Vernon Ave. 199 Mill Street 905 Saltwood Lane Statesville, NC 28677 Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Wilmington, NC 28411 704-878-2996 252-338-5211 910-681-0394 Vacant-II Alan Perdue - 09 Paula Strickland - 13 (Public Representative) (Fire Services) (Mechanical Contractor) Guilford County Williams PH&AC 1002 Meadowood Street 1051 Grecade Street Greensboro, NC 27409 Greensboro, NC 27408 336-641-7565 336-275-1328 Kim Reitterer, PE -13 Tom Turner, FAIA - 10 (Electrical Engineer) (Architect) ELM Engineering ADEP,PA 212 S. Tryon S1., Ste. 1050 3225 Wickersham Road Charlotte, NC 28281 Charlotte, NC 28211 704-335-0396 704-770-0475 2009 NORTH CAROLINA FUEL GAS CODE iii NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE By Statute, the Commissioner of Insurance has general supervision of the administration and enforcement of the North Carolina State Building Code and the Engineering Division serves as the Staff for the Building Code Council. Officials of the Department of Insurance are: JIM LONG Commissioner TIM BRADLEY CHRIS NOLES, PE Senior Deputy Commissioner Deputy Commissioner BARRY GUPTON, PE HENRY WEBSTER, PE Chief Code Consultant Fuel Gas Code Consultant COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 ADMINISTRATION ENERGY RESIDENTIAL Dan Tingen - Chair Tom Turner, FAIA - Chair David Smith - Chair Al Bass, PE Al Bass, PE Cindy Browning, PE John Hitch, AlA Ralph Euchner Steve Knight, PE Steve Knight, PE Mack Nixon Jack Neel, PE Alan Perdue Kim Reitterer, PE Mack Nixon Kim Reitterer, PE Bob Ruffner, Jf. Butch Simmons Butch Simmons Paula Strickland David Smith FIRE PREVENTION Tom Turner, FAIA Tom Turner, FAIA Alan Perdue - Chair Ralph Euchner STRUCTURAL BUILDING John Hitch, AlA Steve Knight, PE - Chair Butch Simmons - Chair Jack Neel, PE Al Bass, PE Cindy Browning, PE Mack Nixon John Hitch, AlA John Hitch, AlA Bob Ruffner, Jf. Bob Ruffner, Jf. Ed Moore, Sr. Alan Perdue MECHANICAL Bob Ruffner, Jr. Al Bass, PE - Chair Paula Strickland Ralph Euchner Tom Turner, FAIA Ed Moore, Sr. David Smith ELECTRICAL Paula Strickland Kim Reitterer, PE - Chair Al Bass, PE Cindy Browning, PE John Hitch, AlA Ed Moore, Sr. Bob Ruffner, Jf. iv 2009 NORTH CAROLINA FUEL GAS CODE PREFACE Introduction Internationally, code officials recognize the need for a modem, up-to-date fuel gas code addressing the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas-fired appliances through requirements emphasizing performance. The International Fuel Gas Code®, in this 2006 edition, is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and small. This comprehensive fuel gas code establishes minimum regulations for fuel gas systems and gas-fired appliances using prescrip­ tive and performance-related provisions. It is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new fuel gas system and appliance designs. This 2006 edition is fully compatible with all the International Codes® (I-Codes®) pub­ lished by the International Code Council (ICC) ®, including the International Building Code ®, International Code Council Electri­ cal Code-Administrative Provisions, International Energy Conservation Code ®, International Existing Building Code®, International Fire Code®, International Mechanical Code®, ICC Performance Code®, International Plumbing Code®, Interna­ tional Private Sewage Disposal Code®, International Property Maintenance Code®, International Residential Code®, Interna­ tional Wildland-Urban Interface Code™ and International Zoning Code®. The International Fuel Gas Code provisions provide many benefits, among which is the model code development process that offers an international forum for fuel gas technology professionals to discuss performance and prescriptive code requirements. This forum provides an excellent arena to debate proposed revisions. This model code also encourages international consistency in the application of provisions. Development The first edition ofthe International Fuel Gas Code (1997) was the culmination ofan effort initiated in 1996 by a development com­ mittee appointed by ICC and consisting ofrepresentatives ofthe three statutory members ofthe International Code Council at that time, including: Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) and the gas industry. The intent was to draft a com­ prehensive set ofregulations for fuel gas systems and gas-fired appliances consistent with and inclusive ofthe scope ofthe existing mechanical, plumbing and gas codes. Technical content ofthe latest model codes promulgated by BOCA, ICBO, SBCCI and ICC and the National Fuel Gas Code (ANSI Z223.1) was utilized as the basis for the development. This 2006 edition presents the code as originally issued, with changes reflected in subsequent editions through 2003, and with code changes approved through the ICC Code Development Process through 2005 and standard revisions correlated with ANSI Z223.1-2006. A new edition such as this is promulgated every three years. This code is founded on principles intended to establish provisions consistent with the scope of a fuel gas code that adequately protects public health, safety and welfare; provisions that do not unnecessarily increase construction costs; provisions that do not restrict the use ofnew materials, products or methods ofconstruction; and provisions that do not give preferential treatment to par­ ticular types or classes of materials, products or methods of construction. Format The International Fuel Gas Code is segregated by section numbers into two categories - "code" and "standard" - all coordinated and incorporated into a single document. The sections that are "code" are designated by the acronym "IFGC" next to the main sec­ tion number (e.g., Section 101). The sections that are "standard" are designated by the acronym "IFGS" next to the main section number (e.g., Section 304). Adoption The International Fuel Gas Code is available for adoption and use by jurisdictions internationally. Its use within a governmental jurisdiction is intended to be accomplished through adoption by reference in accordance with proceedings establishing the jurisdic­ tion's laws. At the time of adoption, jurisdictions should insert the appropriate information in provisions requiring specific local information, such as the name ofthe adopting jurisdiction. These locations are shown in bracketed words in small capital letters in the code and in the sample ordinance. The sample adoption ordinance on page vii addresses several key elements ofa code adoption ordinance, including the information required for insertion into the code text. Maintenance The International Fuel Gas Code is kept up to date through the review ofproposed changes submitted by code enforcing officials, industry representatives, design professionals and other interested parties. Proposed changes are carefully considered