Part 255 Transmission and Distribution of Gas

(a) Each field bend in steel pipe must comply with the following criteria: (1) A bend must not impair the serviceability of the pipe. (2) Each bend must have a smooth contour and be free from buckling, cracks, or any other mechanical damage. (b) On pipe containing a longitudinal …

A wrinkle bend may not be made on steel pipe to be operated at a pressure of 125 psig (862 kPa) or more.

(a) When pipelines must be installed where they will be subjected to natural hazards, such as washouts, floods, unstable soil, landslides, or other conditions which may cause serious movement of, or abnormal loads, on the pipeline, reasonable precaution shall be taken to protect …

(a) When installed in a ditch, each transmission line and main must be installed so that the pipe fits the ditch so as to minimize stresses and protect the pipe coating from damage. (b) When a ditch for a transmission line or main is backfilled, it must be backfilled in a manner …

(a) Plastic pipe must be installed below ground level unless otherwise permitted in subdivisions (l), (m) and (n) of this section. (b) Plastic pipe that is installed in a vault or any other below grade enclosure must be completely encased in gas-tight metal pipe and fittings that…

(a) The casing must be designed to withstand the superimposed loads. (b) If there is a possibility of water entering the casing, the ends must be sealed. (c) If the ends of an unvented casing are sealed and the sealing is strong enough to retain the maximum allowable operating pr…

(a) Each transmission line shall be installed with at least 12 inches (305 millimeters) of clearance from any other underground structure not associated with the transmission line. If this clearance cannot be attained, a minimum clearance of two inches (51 millimeters) must be at…

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (d), (e) and (f) of this section, each buried transmission line, or distribution main operating at 125 psig (862 kPa) or more in a Class 3 or 4 location, must be installed with a minimum cover as follows: (b) Except as provided in subdivisio…

Plastic pipelines installed by trenchless excavation must comply with the following: (a) Each operator must take practicable steps to provide sufficient clearance for installation and maintenance activities from other underground utilities and/or structures at the time of install…

Sections 255.353 through 255.379 of this Part prescribe minimum requirements for installing customer meters, service regulators, service lines, service line valves, and service line connections to mains.

(a) Each meter and service regulator must be installed in a readily accessible location and be protected from corrosion and other damage, including any vehicular damage that may be anticipated. (b) Each service regulator on new and replacement service lines, except for replacemen…

(a) If the customer's equipment or supplemental gas supply might create either a vacuum or a back pressure, a device must be installed to protect the distribution system. Commingling of a customer's supplemental gas supply with utility supplied gas is permissible provided the cus…

(a) Each meter and each regulator must be installed so as to minimize anticipated stresses upon the connecting piping and the meter. (b) When close all-thread nipples are used, the wall thickness remaining after the threads are cut must meet the minimum wall thickness requirement…

(a) A meter may not be used at a pressure that is more than 67 percent of the manufacturer's shell test pressure. (b) Each newly installed meter manufactured after November 12, 1970, must have been tested to a minimum of 10 psig (69 kPa). (c) A rebuilt or repaired tinned steel ca…

(a) Each buried service line shall be installed with at least 18 inches (457 millimeters) of cover. However, where an underground structure prevents installation at those depths, the service line must be able to withstand any anticipated external load and suitable protection must…

(a) Each service line must have a service line valve that meets the applicable requirements of this Part. A valve incorporated in a meter bar that allows the meter to be bypassed may not be used as a service line valve. All such exposed valves must be of tamper proof construction…

(a) Each service line valve must be installed upstream of the regulator or, if there is no regulator, upstream of the meter. (b) Each service line must have a shut-off valve in a readily accessible location that, if feasible, is outside of the building. The valve must be located …

(a) Each service line connection to a main should be located at the top of the main or, if that is not practical, at the side of the main, unless a suitable protective device is installed to minimize the possibility of dust and moisture being carried from the main into the servic…

(a) Each service line connected to a cast iron or ductile iron main must be connected by a mechanical clamp, by drilling and tapping the main, or by another method meeting the requirements of section 255.273 of this Part. (b) If a threaded tap is being inserted, the requirements …

Each steel service line to be operated at less than 100 psig (689 Kpa) must be constructed of pipe designed for a minimum of 100 psig (689 kPa).

Cast iron or ductile iron pipe shall not be used for new or replacement service lines.

(a) Each plastic service outside a building must be installed below ground level, except that: (1) it may be installed in accordance with section 255.321(l) of this Part; and (2) it may terminate above ground level and outside the building if: (i) the aboveground part of the plas…

Plastic service lines installed by trenchless excavation must comply with the following: (a) Each operator shall take practicable steps to provide sufficient clearance for installation and maintenance activities from other underground utilities or structures at the time of instal…

Each copper service line installed within a building must be protected against external damage.

Each service line that is not placed in service upon completion of installation must comply with one of the following until the customer is supplied with gas: (a) The valve that is closed to prevent the flow of gas to the customer must be of tamper-proof construction and be provi…

(a) Excess flow valves (EFVs) to be used on service lines that operate continuously throughout the year at a pressure not less than 10 psig (69 kPa) must be manufactured and tested by the manufacturer according to an industry specification, or the manufacturer's written specifica…

As used in this section: (1) Branched service line means a gas service line that begins at the existing service line or is installed concurrently with the primary service line but serves a separate residence. (2) Replaced service line means a gas service line where the fitting th…

As used in this section, manual service line shut-off valve means a curb valve or other manually operated valve located near the service line that is safely accessible to operator personnel or other personnel authorized by the operator to manually shut off gas flow to the service…

Unless otherwise indicated in this Part, submission of any notification, program, plan, letter of intent, procedure, or written or telephonic report as required by any provision of this Part shall be to the department.

Sections 255.452 through 255.491 of this Part prescribe minimum requirements for the protection of metallic pipelines from external, internal, and atmospheric corrosion.

(a) Notwithstanding the date the pipeline was installed or any earlier deadlines for compliance, each pipeline, which qualifies for use under this Part in accordance with section 255.14 of this Part, must meet the corrosion control requirements specifically applicable to pipeline…

Each operator shall establish procedures as required by section 255.605(b) of this Part to implement these requirements. These procedures, including those for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of cathodic protection systems, must be carried out by, or under the …

(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b), (c), (f), and (g) of this section, each buried or submerged pipeline installed after July 31, 1971, must be protected against external corrosion. (1) It must have an external protective coating meeting the requirements of section 255.46…

(a) Except for buried piping at compressor, regulator, and measuring stations, each buried or submerged transmission line, or distribution main to be operated at a pressure of 125 psig (862 kPa) or more in a Class 3 or 4 location, installed before August 1, 1971, that has an effe…

Whenever any portion of an existing underground steel facility is exposed by the operator, a galvanic type anode shall be attached to that facility if consistent with good corrosion control practices. Whenever an operator has knowledge that any portion of a buried pipeline is exp…

(a) Each external protective coating, whether conductive or insulating, applied for the purpose of external corrosion control must: (1) be applied on a properly prepared surface; (2) have sufficient adhesion to the metal surface to effectively resist underfilm migration of moistu…