No apparatus is to be laid directly above and along the line of existing gas pipes irrespective of clearance. Transmission tower: 50 to 500 feet. The only access is by backing up by the side of the house which has the gas line hooked up to it. Whether the right of way is around a transmission tower or distribution power lines, there are strict guidelines in place for the safety of the public as well as Dominion Energy workers. A glass globe can also be shattered with a hammer, but put it 5,000 feet under … any road, street, driveway, or parking lot, at a safe enough distance that vehicles traveling in these areas will not strike or run over the underground tank dome. Traditional OSHA-style signs, tags and labels are the most widely recognized design format in the industry. It's also known as PEX tubing. Damage to underground electrical cables can cause fatal or severe injury and the law. Pipeline control center personnel monitor pipeline operation 24 hours a day, every day. Hand dig to expose the gas line. CUSTOMERS WHO OWN THEIR TANKS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UPKEEP AND PROTECTION OF THE CONTAINER. Snow is, after all, just water. Technical Safety BC has approved these guidelines for locating and hand digging. 3/4-inch: 480 psi. Heavy vehicles may actually crush buried leach field lines, or they may compress the soils around the leach field, either of which leads to failure. If you have a truck, you can safely keep a gas container in the bed of the pickup. 811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. And since PVC piping comes with a lot of fittings, it lends itself to being a great multi-use product. Answer (1 of 6): I have had to dig up concrete walkways and tiled patios where sprinkler pipes or pipe fittings have failed 10 to 40 years later. 3. If you’re thinking of switching from heating oil to natural gas, you’ll need to remove the old tank. Once your gas provider has excavated the site for your tank, he or she will take every safety precaution to … Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects a variety of data on the storage measures discussed above, and EIA publishes selected data on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis. #1. If you haven't heard of PEX or are unfamiliar with the product and your plumber is recommending … Similarly, a line running on the surface of the ground can easily be damaged by accidentally tripping over it. Tank capacity (gallons) Minimum distance (feet) From tank to building. 2. In its natural state, it is not possible to see or smell it. Hitting a buried natural gas line can cause serious injury and expensive repairs for you and/or your contractor. Mine are like that. You should be alright the gas line "should be" 2' down. but Id still ask the Gas Company to be safe. Personally, I'd actually relocate the gas-line so it's not under your driveway. Think of this inspection as a physical for your car. Do not plant or place anything less than five feet away from any part of an above-ground tank. Galvanized pipe for natural gas is, I think, a no-no. Gas companies have a responsibility to replace piping with more effective and durable plastic, and the government has a duty to protect the consumer from absorbing the cost associated with … Driving on or parking on leach fields will destroy them. This keeps objects away from the tank that might restrict ventilation and allows technicians to access the tank when needed. mcparadise January 4, 2010, 5:07pm #5. The gas line comes to our meter at one end of the house, and the owner wants to have a gas burning insert in the fireplace at the other end of the house, 50 feet away. By Advanced Septic Services |. Striking the gas line cost the contractor not only the price of the machine but also the repairs to the overhead line that soon failed in the fire. Do not fully enclose the tank. The minimum distance from a property line is 10 feet; 1000-gallon propane tanks. The cost of replacing these pipelines can exceed more than $1 million a mile, with the costs passed on to consumers. Do: Call Before You Dig Sure enough, I cannot have the foundation over top of the gas line. The inadvertent movement of the gas service line can cause leaks to form at the connections on either end of the line. The Federal Communications Commission established 811 as the phone number to access the once-call system, which allows excavators to request location and marking of buried services. Fire Departments have some leeway when it comes to buried fuel lines, they can be left in place if they run under driveways, trees, shrubs, porches and/or decks. Avoid planting large trees under power lines. Typically these lines contain pressure pipes installed at shallow depths which are sufficiently stiff to resist the minimal earth load. Last edited by Zorfdt; 09-07-09 at 06:57 AM. The state requires utility companies and their subcontractors to locate and mark where underground lines are buried. It can even be fatal. These mark the power lines that connect to a neighbor’s power grid. Do not rely on your sense of smell alone to detect the presence of natural gas. not use a mechanical excavator within. We found a house that are 18 yrs old, we like the house very much, it has about 1.2 acre lot. Electricity wires are, by their nature, very warm, as they’re channeling currents to and fro. Please Help! 2018-02-15T19:54:27+00:00. Safe digging practices, in accordance with HSE publication HS(G)47, should be followed as both direct and consequential damage to gas plant can be dangerous both to employees and to the general public. Depth (minimum) Red flags – Red is the most common flag. If you have an emergency, call our emergency hotline at 1-800-400-4271. Using cable plans. not use a mechanical excavator within. Step 2. Natural Gas Hazards We work hard to maintain a safe gas system. 49 CFR 195.248 “Cover over buried pipeline” 49 CFR 195.401(b) “General requirements” ASME B31.4 Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquids and Slurries Appendices Appendix A: Forms and Reports Appendix B: Other Documents Related Toolbox Topics ROW Patrol and Response (Air/Ground) Excavation Monitoring and Observation The assets protected include over 900,000km of pipes and cables in the electricity, gas, high pressure fuel, water and telecoms / fibre optic networks. Measure. They blew up a house here that had no natural gas used in the house, but a line leak came into the house through a sewer line. They have pipeline fires and blow outs all the time. Use all of your senses —smell, listen or look—to check for signs of a leak. In sum, driving over the leach field in any vehicle larger than a child's bicycle is a bad idea. The town just had all the utilities on the street marked and you can't get to the back yard without driving directly over the gas line. 7. Paving over a drainfield, These inspections are performed by Precision Pipeline Solutions (PPS), a licensed National Grid contractor, at no cost to our customers. Gas lines also can be quite near the surface; I have accidentally cut them as little as 5 inches deep. Copper is naturally corrosion resistant to most soils and underground environments. Figure 3: Contractor hits gas line while repairing country road More Tips ... Do not attempt to control the release of gas yourself. Underground lines..Driving on them. Leave the premises immediately then call 911 and Atmos Energy at 866-322-8667. ... Use great caution when planting near a … ... Do not attempt to control the release of gas yourself. Be respectful of property lines when selecting plants. Gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon composed of methane (CH4), which is principally found in underground formations of porous rock. The ground is obviously frozen but am wondering if I should be worried about cracking the water line with that much weight. Amber to black liquid. “Be safe, call 811 now or you may be calling 911 later.” If at any time you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, immediately call 911 or Orange & Rockland at 1-800-533-LEAK (5325) For your safety and protection, the Utility Notification Service provides details on the location of underground electric wires, gas lines and com- If you listen closely and hear a hissing sound from your gas lines, it means that there is a leak. Through a regulatory assessment on the industry (currently $.003 per gallon of odorized gas sold in the state), which is collected and managed by the department, the Council develops and implements When you (or the contractor) digs near these marks, you'll want to dig by hand and carefully. Please take an active role in helping us keep our 4,300 miles of underground pipelines safe. We recommend you periodically hire a professional plumbing/heating contractor or leak survey and corrosion expert. Stained or melted snow/ice over pipeline areas. Snaking around the outside of the house (even underground), is more difficult, and may make the pipe more susceptible to damage. Excavation work should be properly managed to control risks, including: Planning the work. There really is no safety issue unless you are playing around with a backhoe or something. White flags – White flags mean excavation. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center’s website a few business days before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.. 811 protects you and your community! follow the relevant guidance at all times. The inadvertent movement of the gas service line can cause leaks to form at the connections on either end of the line. Pipeline Info. Marking these junctions helps avoid a neighborhood-wide power outage. We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues. If possible I would reroute your pipes so as not to cover them with concrete if reasonable. It's used as an alternative to PVC, CPVC or copper tubing. Since you’ve read this far, why not travel just a bit further and scope out a couple of my favorite heating and cooling products and tools. Hand dig to expose the gas line. RIS-MCHL625VP-R2590. When in doubt, call us immediately. The industry enjoys an excellent safety and reliability record. There are thousands of underground utility lines beneath our yards that might get faulty when we dig without caution. Safety must come before the job, and not the other way around. Where new plant crosses over, or is laid alongside, an existing gas pipe, a minimum clearance of 250mm (or 1.5 times the external diameter of the gas pipe if … Left unchecked, these pipes that run underground can cause serious harm from leaks and explosions. You can also schedule a time that works best for you by using our online scheduling form or by calling 1-844-749-8898. If there was no barrier nor signage and you didn't maliciously damage an improperly installed pipe, that's just too bad. Electric lines are typically buried 18” or so, but cable TV lines may be much shallower. In addition, unless they are buried 2' or more under the drive, you run the risk of frost heave and cracking. Can you drive over a buried propane line? You must: • have gas line information on site And, if you have an SUV, you can get a metal Jerry can mount installed on the back of your vehicle. Gas leaks, an odor of gas, damaged lines, and carbon monoxide symptoms are all considered emergencies. I need to call the city to see if I need to pull a permit for this though. The general rule, as seen in the table below, is that propane tanks should be at least 10 feet from the nearest buildings. If you damage a natural gas pipeline, for instance, you are endangering both your own safety and the safety of others. It is not safe to eat food crops grown in the ground around a drain field because eating them might entail ingesting harmful bacteria. If still leaks, undo, check threads, and reapply pipe dope and tighten again. 1 1/2-inch: 330 psi. This is especially true with an asphalt driveway. If the leak still appears, change the pipe and fitting. When running a gas main supply pipe underground the HSE specifies it should be at least 750mm deep in a verge or road, but 600mm deep for a footpath. According to the Health and Safety Executive in the UK, gas lines are to be buried at 750 millimeters (or roughly 28 inches) “in a road or verge,” at 600 millimeters (23 inches) “in a footpath,” at 375 millimeters (14 inches) “in private ground,” and 450 millimeters (16 inches) “in footpaths and highways.” A buried propane tank needs to be at least 10 feet from the sides of your home as well as 10 feet from the edge of your property line. Polyethylene gas piping systems are specifically engineered and certified for the underground environment. A gas service pipe should normally be laid with a minimum depth of cover of 375 mm in private ground and 450 mm in footpaths and highways. When you start digging you must: have read and understood the guidelines we sent you when we confirmed it was safe to dig. 1,000-gallon tanks are also common for agricultural purposes. Removing an underground oil tank costs between $1,000 and $3,000, and removing an above-ground oil tank costs between $300 and $1,000 . Safety. The gas company said that I would need to have a plumber come out and move that portion of the line and then they would come and inspect it before turning the service back on. If you must grow trees and shrubs, shallow-rooted kinds are better to grow around septic tank drain fields. When you dig. “Treating” a septic tank does not prolong the periods between cleaning the tank, which usually should be done every 3-5 years on average. The last thing I'd feel like dealing with is a possible rupture during or after the install of the new driveway. Personally, I'd actually relocate the gas-line so it's not under your driveway. 1 1/4-inch: 370 psi. This makes it easy to work with. Shallow-rooted trees and shrubs include: Dogwood trees. Try tightening the joint some more until you can not tighten anymore. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, flammable, non-toxic and lighter than air. 1/2-inch: 600 psi. Black iron outside is OK. You see it … In some counties it’s legal to run copper gas line above ground, but never underground that I’ve ever experienced or heard of. The ideal spot for them to drop it means they will have to drive near my well and over my water line to the house. distribution water lines, many force main sewer lines, and many process water lines. As they grow thicker, they can cause severe damage. However, if not timely addressed, natural gas leaks could cause fire and/or explosions. Hissing Sounds Coming From Gas Lines. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provides online maps to help you locate pipelines in or near your community through the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). It can even be fatal. An accumulation of ice or frost over the pipeline (in the summer) Oil. No apparatus is to be laid directly above and along the line of existing gas pipes irrespective of clearance. To dig the pipe in would mean crossing a driveway in front, or going all … If you ever smell or suspect a natural gas leak, do not wait! Electrolysis will attack copper and eat hole right through it. PVC pipe is also durable and cost-effective, which helps keep the maintenance costs low. Place a pipe wrench around the body of the shutoff valve. Re: Drive over buried sewer line; Author: hj (AZ) A truck running over it would NOT be like hitting it with a hammer. Only show this user. Previously agreed working practices should be reviewed and revised based on current site conditions. In addition to the routine oil changes, I would ask the technician at the garage to perform a once a year overall inspection. For example, the American Gas Association provides pipeline safety guidelines for enhancing pipeline safety in the natural gas industry. Courtney Van Delden says: August 23, 2016 at 3:07 pm. The distance varies per the size of the tank. 1 Answer. The federal law administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (Title 49 CFR 192.16) states: Buried piping that is not maintained may be subject to the potential hazards of corrosion and leakage. Pulling a vehicle onto the lawn is not uncommon or unpredictable. Hitting a buried natural gas line can cause serious injury and expensive repairs for you and/or your contractor. In most cases, the best option for installing copper underground is to bury it in direct contact with the soil. Similarly, do gas lines need to be buried? Technical Safety BC has approved these guidelines for locating and hand digging. Corrosion and rust both cause significant damage to gas lines and eat through them. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the transmission of natural gas through interstate pipelines is the safest means of transportation in the U.S. Any changes must be Measure the depth of the water line as installed when they excavate. Buried gas lines need special attention because they can corrode or leak if not properly maintained. It connects at about 4 feet underground and the run of the sewer line gradually rises from that 4 feet to about 18". These post are usually embedded in concrete to help hold them in place if hit. Truck weighs 10000lbs empty and with 4yds top-soil at appx. Buried piping past the outlet of a meter supplying additional equipment, such as pool heaters, gas grills and yard lamps. 2-inch: 280 psi. of buried gas lines. Gas utilitiy suppliers, themselves, run their supply lines, typically black steel, outside, even underground. 2000lb a yd that is 18000lbs. Turn the wrench's handle to loosen and remove the valve from the end of the existing gas pipeline. Snow won’t hurt the car or its finish. This specific color combination makes this sign stand out well during the day and at night. When you start digging you must: have read and understood the guidelines we sent you when we confirmed it was safe to dig. Tip: If you add steel posts, use a heavy wall steel post; either schedule 40 or 80. We will reach out to you to schedule the inspection. keep all Cadent correspondence on site at all times. Section 2401.1 (101.2) governs the applicability of the provisions of Chapter 24, which covers fuel gas piping systems, fuel-gas appliances and related accessories, venting systems and combustion air configurations that are most commonly found in single-family and duplex-type dwelling structures. When you dig. Schedule 40 PVC pipe has the following pressure ratings for the most common pipe sizes: Advertisement. If you smell gas, do not attempt to locate the leak. Our personnel are ready to assist you 24/7. Northern is committed to ensuring the safe operation of its natural gas pipeline systems. Natural Gas Pipeline on Property. Over the years, the road shoulder had been worked and scraped, and the once deeply buried line was soon too shallow. Guidelines for locating and hand digging Before beginning any excavation or boring, you must locate the buried gas line and hand dig to expose the line. Move a safe distance away from the area (e.g., a neighbour’s house), call 911 and contact Enbridge Gas immediately by calling 1-866-763-5427. The septic tank cannot be pumped through the cleanout, it must be pumped through the access lid (s) on the top of the tank. For safety reasons, instead of removing rust from your house’s gas lines, it is better to change the lines altogether. 2. underground lines at no cost. Where new plant crosses over, or is laid alongside, an existing gas pipe, a minimum clearance of 250mm (or 1.5 times the external diameter of the gas pipe if … not remove concrete blocks near gas pipes. Pipeline personnel walk, drive and fly over pipeline right-of-ways inspecting them for erosion damage, unauthorized activities that might endanger the pipeline or unusual changes in vegetation that might indicate a leak. Discoloured vegetation on or near a pipeline in an area that is usually green. If you have a large home, like over 4,500 square feet, a 1000-gallon propane tank is your best bet for keeping your home heat running and your everyday appliances in operation. Add a “Bollard” (a steel post ) Protection is often provided by adding one or more steel post near the gas meter to prevent it from being bumped. You must: • have gas line information on site February 15th, 2018 | Septic Systems, Septic Tank Care. My question is whether it is safe to drive a cement truck over this connection and new sewer run. If bubbles appear, you have a leak. follow the relevant guidance at all times. Knowing the signs of a natural gas leak, practicing safe digging and being aware of proper land use near pipelines all go a long way to keeping you and your family safe. Consumers Energy provides natural gas service to more than 1.7 million If the utility flags are not in place, workers can just dig and end up damaging underground lines. Any future repairs means tearing up your driveway. Yes. Jan 24, 2008. The most popular reason for using PVC pipe in underground plumbing is that it is flexible, lightweight and easy to handle. Trees or shrubs planted above water lines may penetrate gaps in underground pipes. In an effort to avoid digging up ~50' of line, I called the propane contractor who did the original install 4 years ago.