How Is Gas Piping Sized?

Tom_22

Can it be figured on how many BTU imput of the gas powered appliances that will be connected. Is there any problem making the pipe bigger than needed for current service in anticipation of added appliances later?

Alan_6

The international plumbing code book has gas pipe sizing towards the end of the book.

Bill Nye

Tom,

... yes, you need to know the BTU's and the length of pipe to the furthest appliance. You would also have to allow for future appliances.


And yes, there is a chart. I want to say NFPA 54 [I could be mistaken] it has listings for the type of fuel and specific gravity of the gas.

Greg Swob

The NFPA-54 aka National Fuel Gas Code contains a very comprehensive series of sizing tables. Did you also want some basic steps to follow in gathering data needed to relate to the aforementioned tables? Greg

bob young

HOUSE VS. PARKING LOT

ARE YOU A BONIFIDE PLUMBER OR JUST A HOMEOWNER DUDE TRYING TO BLOW UP HIS HOUSE WITH A LITTLE DO-IT-YOURSELF GAS PIPING EXPLOSION?

Jim Bennett

He only asked a question. Also Caps = SHOUTING!

Jim Bennett

Bob

He only asked a question. Also Caps = SHOUTING!

For what it's worth,
Jim

Weezbo

indeed there is a chart....and formula...

and indeed one may Oversize the pipe however most gas suppliers dont want the general populace installing thier own piping. It is a safety ,life safety,commuity life safety issue. what has happened with your question goes like this...do matches burn stuff? well,will it burn Paper? what if i use heavy card board and sume spruce bark under some sticks....handing Jhonny the matches to go play is not zackly cool... thats my impression of the questions ..and answers.

Unknown

yesterday's news

News - July 16, 2004

Man, 39, arraigned in fatal gas explosion





MANCHESTER — A man facing reckless conduct charges in connection with a gas explosion that killed a 5-year-old girl in Moultonborough last year was arraigned in Manchester District Court yesterday.

Patrick Taft, 39, of 19 Depot St., Center Barnstead, pleaded innocent to 15 misdemeanor reckless conduct charges out of Southern Carroll County District Court in Ossipee.

The reckless conduct charges accuse Taft of cutting a gas pipe with a tube cutter and failing to make the system gas tight and of failing to make the gas system safe and gas tight. The charges allege the result was an explosion May 24, 2003, at a Moultonborough home that killed one person and injured others.

The explosion destroyed the lakefront home owned by Craig Luhrmann of Medfield, Mass., and his father, Carleton Luhrmann of Windham.

Craig and Michelle Luhrmann and their three children: Andrew, 13; Anna, 11; and Amelia, 5; and Carleton and Margot Luhrmann were in the home at the time of the explosion.

Amelia, who was sleeping in a downstairs bedroom, was killed. Her mother, Michelle, was hospitalized with injuries.

Taft was arrested yesterday morning after his vehicle was stopped in Manchester, and police learned there was an electronic bench warrant for his arrest. The warrant was issued after Taft failed to appear for arraignment in South Carroll County Court in Ossipee on June 30.

In Manchester District Court yesterday, Taft said he was unaware he faced charges and was supposed to appear in court in Ossipee.

A spokesman at the court in Ossipee said notice had been sent to Taft in Barnstead, but it had been returned.

South Carroll County District Court Judge Pamela Albee had set bail at $25,000 cash only and set a new South Carroll County Court date of July 21.



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Unknown

Tom, if you get

in touch with me by e-mail I will send you for FREE a procedure manual for sizing piping both natural gas and LP.
My e-mail address is gastc@cox.net.

The manual has all of the charts and tables needed for sizing.

Tom_22

Just doing some design work and cost estimating.

Hi,
Thanks for you concern. I'm going to have a new gas boiler and hot water heating system installed by professional plumbers. I'm currently using oil.

I got a couple of proposals on it already, but I'm now considering going with tankless HWHs though and I am doing some design feasibility homework and want to estimate the initial and long term cost difference for the various options. I was also thinking of having a gas line run out to the backyard that can be used to hook up a gas grill.

Interestingly, both contractors offered to install two conventional fifty gallon HWHs or one 75 gallon HWH for the same price. (Four family residence, 4 rooms and 2 bedrooms each, 4 bathrooms and 4 kitchens total, 1 dishwasher and 1 washing machine (mine)). I thought (offhand) that one 75 gallon unit would be somewhat less expensive.

TomBk

Dale

Pipe sizing

NFPA54 the nat fuel gas code has all the tables and samples of how to use them. Where you are is important as one of the first things to decide is allowable pressure drop. If the utility like keyspan or whatever in Boston has trouble keeping the pressure up then the .3 " water column drop table is a good choice, this will give you larger pipe. Most utilities supply from 6-8 inches water col. pressure, 28 inches being about 1 pound. Then you pick pipe material and then figure length, too big won't hurt it justs costs more. If you need a run that snakes alot you can use csst in most places and the correct table for that. Using nat gas for the outdoor grill is a great idea. The plumber can get anodeless risers at each end, run plastic pipe underground and give you a 10 foot long quick connect hose for the grill. make sure a #14 wire is buries above the plastic pipe so it can be found in the future. Finding a nat gas grill isn't easy but the better brands like Ducane make them, never run out of propane or have to lug the stuff and much cheaper per btu. Have the plumber put a ball valve in the basement for the grill line so you can shut it off in the winter.