Gas meter clearance codes, regulations, and standards for the USA and Canada:
This article provides a list of resource links and contact information for gas meter codes and standards for both the USA and Canada.
In this article series on gas meters, controls & piping, we provide descriptions and photographs of unsafe gas piping, indications of unsafe or improperly operating gas appliances, gas meters, and other gas installation defects.
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All piping (including CSST) installed outdoors shall be elevated not less than 31/2 inches (152 mm) above ground and where installed across roof surfaces, shall be elevated not less than 31/2 inches (152 mm) above the roof surface. Piping installed above ground, outdoors, and installed across the surface of roofs shall be securely supported and located where it will be protected from physical damage.
CSST systems shall be protected in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions. Where passing through an outside wall, the piping shall also be protected against corrosion by coating or wrapping with an inert material. Where piping is encased in a protective pipe sleeve, the annular space between the piping and the sleeve shall be sealed.
The unthreaded portion of piping outlets shall extend not less than l inch (25 mm) through finished ceilings and walls and where extending through floors or outdoor patios and slabs, shall not be less than 2 inches (51 mm) above them.
The outlet fitting or piping shall be securely supported.
Outlets shall not be placed behind doors. Outlets shall be located in the room or space where the appliance is installed.
Exception: Listed and labeled flush-mounted-type quick- disconnect devices and listed and labeled gas convenience outlets shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's installation instructions.
In a common system serving more than one building, shutoff valves shall be installed outdoors at each building.
A line pressure regulator shall be installed where the appliance is designed to operate at a lower pressure than the supply pressure.
Line gas pressure regulators shall be listed as complying with ANSI Z21.80. Access shall be provided to pressure regulators.
Pressure regulators shall be protected from physical damage.
Regulators installed on the exterior of the building shall be approved for outdoor installation.
Where located indoors, the regulator shall be vented to the outdoors or shall be equipped with a leak-limiting device, in either case complying with Section 410.3.
and be sure to see
Watch out: be sure to see the article series beginning at
BACKUP ELECTRICAL GENERATORS because there are critical life-safety hazards when using a backup generator.
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Canadian provinces may have different clearance regulations, and differing interpretations of the national Canadian model gas codes.
More examples are below, and all of these are included in our citations given in the article above.
Alberta, Canada: Gas Meter Clearance Distance codes for Alberta, Canada
"There must be a minimum of three feet (0.9m) separation between any part of the gas meter/regulation installation and any sources of ignition (i.e. open flames, electrical panels, switches, meters.)"
- Source:
- Alberta's ATCO who in turn cite:
The installation of the meter, regulator, house line and
secondary service lines must conform to the following codes
and standards:
Alberta Building Code
CAN/CSA-Z662
CAN/CSA-B149.1
The Alberta Safety Codes Act
The Alberta Gas Code Regulations
Gas Meter Clearances, BC, British Columbia, Canada, courtesy of Canadian Chimney, 521 Short Close Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A7 Canada, (250)800-2251 https://www.canadianchimney.com/
[Click to enlarge any image]
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For BC, Canada gas meter clearances also see
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Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2021-09-23 by Dale
COMMENT: Hello, the clearance distance for gas meters from shrubs or trees listed on this website, Is this regulations for BC or all provinces?
On 2021-09-23 by (mod)
Please see
On 2021-08-02 by Marc
My residential gas meter is located outdoors, adjacent to my garage wall.
My electrical circuit breaker panel is located WITHIN the garage, immediately on the other side of the same wall.
Inasmuch as the meter and electrical panel are completely separated by the noted wall, are there any minimum clearance regulations that apply?
On 2021-08-02 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - How does a building wall count in gas meter clearance distance to electric meter or panel?"
@Marc,
Thank you for a helpful gas meter clearance distance question that I'd phrase as "How does a building wall count in gas meter clearance distance?"
I haven't seen that detail spelled out explicitly in any of the electrical or plumbing codes; you'll see all the gas to electrical component clearance distances I could find given above on this page.
From what I've found in gas meter and electrical specifications from several utilities, a building wall can serve as a barrier wall when it's solid masonry; I would think that we'd care about the wall construction materials, and about how well any wall penetrations are sealed.
In concept you wouldn't want it to be possible for a gas leak to pass through a wall opening to any electrical component that could issue a spark and thus ignite a fire or explosion.
As a related example that could address gas vs electrical installation safety details, an electric meter installation on an un-finished wall may not be approved by your local inspector. The illustration below is excerpted from a common "Electric and Gas Meter Set Separation Dimensions" document provided by PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Co.) ; re: your question: note that it doesn't address installations on the other side of the wall - except by inference.
It may be that this question will be in the form of an opinion from your local building or electrical inspector: those authorities are the final legal word on code interpretation.
See
- PG&E GREEN BOOK ELECTRIC & GAS SERVICE REQUIREMENTS (TD-7001M) 2020–2021 [PDF] original source: https://www.pge.com/pge_global/common/pdfs/services/building-and-renovation/greenbook-manual-online/green book_manual_full.pdf
[Click any image to see more details]
See our more complete collection of model gas meter codes & clearance distance regulations above on this page
On 2021-06-29 by Cb
We had a quick connect added to our gas line for our generator. It goes from the meter, to a 1"T, to 3/4" shutoff valve and then a female quick connect that seals when disconnected.
When the generator is in use, it is connected to a natural gas hose with a regulator inline that automatically stops the gas when the engine stops.
I was told by a friend that we should not have any temporary connections outside the house. Is this true? I've seen lots of grills and other generators hooked up in the same fashion.
On 2021-06-29 by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - Unsafe gas generator hookup & codes on clearances for temporary outdoor gas connections, shutoff valves, piping
@Cb,
I have not found a national gas code discussion of "temporary" gas piping connection valves and shutoffs, and I agree that there are plenty of outdoor connections to natural gas piping.In general it is permitted to tap into the incoming gas line downstream from the gas meter provided that the work is done by a licensed plumber (or is permitted by others in your jurisdiction) and, of course, that the proper and safe devices and fittings are used.
Watch out: the installation in your photo looks quite dangerous to me: unless your fittings include a quick-disconnect that reliably shuts off the gas supply and that is approved for your outdoor use, the presence of a valve at the gas meter that could be opened to dump an endless flow of natural gas at the building risks fire or explosion - when the flexible gas hose is disconnected or should the hose be damaged and leak.
Watch out: it's not clear in your photo but your gas delivery to the generator may need an additional gas pressure regulator to step down from the incoming pressure from the primary regulator at the meter.
Be sure to ask your local plumbing inspector to OK this installation.
The model plumbing code (UPC) does discuss requirements for gas piping that your plumbing inspector might consider when looking at your installation as in your photo.
Examples:See details that address your question in the
Uniform Plumbing Code for Outdoor Gas Piping above on this page
On 2020-09-15 by Anonymous
Is there a code in California that requires fence/guarding over exposed gas lines to not be easily accessible, to be accessed by authorized personal only? See Attached Photo..
On 2020-09-16 by (mod) - Guard Fencing over exposed gas lines
You won't find such an explicit specific situation in the model nor the CA GAS CODES.
https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2016/chapter/12/fuel-gas-piping#12
On 2020-02-26 by Gilbert
My gas meter is located at the side corner of my house, which is also the driveway of my next door neughbor. Recently, i noticed my neighbor park his truck close to my gas meter with the tail pipe facing my meter. What does the laws take on this?
On 2020-02-26 - by (mod) - my neighbor parks very close to my gas meter
Gilbert
Model codes as well as your local building inspector will almost certainly require one or more protective bollards installed such that it becomes impossible to drive directly into the meter.
Although I see a pipe cage built around meter it appears to me that that would not be adequate no accepted by any competent building inspector.See details at PROTECTION BOLLARDS for MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
On 2020-02-05 by Jeff
I am asking about a black iron gas line in a basement is this pipe allowed to touch a furnace single wall exhaust pipe
On 2020-02-05 - by (mod) - gas piping distances we know from codes & standards
Jeff the gas piping distances we know from codes & standards are in the article above in the table titled
Gas meter needing repairs Gas Meter & Piping Clearance Distance Codes & Specifications
Beyond that it's up to your local code inspector.
In my OPINION while I certainly don't like a gas pipe or anything else rubbing against the heating system exhaust flue, it'd be a gas leak or pipe damage that'd be the first concern.
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Continue reading at GAS PIPING CLEARANCES, CODES & DEFECTS, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see GAS METER CLEARANCE DISTANCE FAQs - questions and answers posted originally on this page
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