Questions on gas piping for fireplace insert

Ken C.

My company gets many calls from people wanting to have a gas log set or gas fireplace insert installed in an existing wood-burning, masonry fireplace. I'm unsure about the correct way to run gas pipe to these units (the only thing I am sure of is the shutoff valve must on the same floor as the unit, within three feet of the unit).
Some of my colleagues recommend drilling through the firebrick so the gas pipe riser and shutoff valve is in front of the unit. However, I've heard firebrick is difficult to drill through (tends to crumble). I think it is safer to have the shutoff valve in front of the unit, but many customers want it hidden from sight. In new construction, I've seen shutoff valves with an extension key and escutcheon, but that is not an option for retrofits.
Can a shutoff valve be put behind a gas log set, or is does code say it must be to the side or front?
Also, I'm wondering if it's possible to run flexible gas piping (CSST) down through the ash cleanout door in the fireplace and out through the cleanout door in the basement? Are there code restrictions against this?
Thanks,

Ken

Dale

NFPA 9.6

You may want to refer to the fuel gas code on this it isn't really too prescriptive. Also all gas log sets have installation instructions that must be followed. The csst section of the code allows it's use for fireplace conversions. We usually drill down through the brick (seal the space arround the pipe with furnace cement) and into the block below and make up 1/2 black pipe, we always put a valve in the fireplace opening often a valve in the basement too for parental use and will not install without a pilot safety. We do not pipe wood fireplace gas log starters because of the lack of a pilot safety. We sometimes fish copper tubing or csst up through the ash dump, down from the attic, or from outside the house, whatever it takes.

jim lockard

local code

or at least the Inspectors frown on us going thru the brickwork around the hearth so we usally pipe around in 3/8 black or use a short piece of 3/8 copper tube converting to Black/CSST before going in to the floor or wall.
Cut off valve within 3 ft.