(A) Title and definitions.
(1) This section and the code herein adopted by reference shall be known as the “Gas Code of the City of Etowah” and may be cited as such.
(2) The following definitions are provided for the purpose of interpretation and administration of the Gas Code.
CERTAIN APPLIANCES. Conversion burners, floor furnaces, central heating plants, vented wall furnaces, water heaters and boilers.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL. A document or tag issued and/or attached by the Inspector to the inspected material, piping or appliance installation, filled out, together with date, address of the premises and signed by the Inspector.
GAS COMPANY. Any person distributing gas within the corporate limits or authorized and proposing to so engage.
INSPECTOR. The person appointed as Inspector, and shall include each Assistant Inspector, if any, from time to time acting as such under this section by appointment of the City Commission.
PERSON. Any individual, partnership, firm, corporation or any other organized group of individuals.
(1994 Code, § 12-401)
(B) Purpose and scope. The purpose of the Gas Code is to provide minimum standards, provisions and requirements for safe installation of consumers’ gas piping and gas appliances. The Gas Code shall apply to the installation of gas piping from the point of delivery, gas appliances and related accessories as covered in this Code. All gas piping and gas appliances installed, replaced, maintained or repaired within the corporate limits shall conform to the requirements of this section and to the International Fuel Gas Code 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this section as if fully set forth herein. One copy of the Gas Code shall be kept on file in the office of the Finance Director for the use and inspection of the public.
(1994 Code, § 12-402)
(C) Use of existing piping and appliances. Notwithstanding any provision in the Gas Code to the contrary, consumer’s piping installed prior to the adoption of the Gas Code or piping installed to supply other than natural gas may be converted to natural gas if the Inspector finds, upon inspection and proper tests, that such piping will render reasonably satisfactory gas service to the consumer and will not in any way endanger life or property; otherwise, such piping shall be altered or replaced, in whole or in part, to conform with the requirements of the Gas Code.
(1994 Code, § 12-403)
(D) Bond and license.
(1) No person shall engage in or work at the installation, extension or alteration of consumer’s gas piping or certain gas appliances, until such person shall have secured a license as hereinafter provided, and shall have executed and delivered to the Utilities a good and sufficient bond in the penal sum of $10,000, with corporate surety, conditioned for the faithful performance of all such work, entered upon or contracted for, in strict accordance and compliance with the provisions of the Gas Code. The bond herein required shall expire on January 1 next following its approval by the Utilities and, thereafter, on January 1 of each year a new bond, in form and substance as herein required, shall be given by such person to cover all such work as shall be done during such year.
(2) Upon approval of said bond, the person desiring to do such work shall secure from the Utilities a non-transferable license, which shall run until January 1 next succeeding its issuance, unless sooner revoked. The person obtaining a license shall pay any applicable license fees to the Utilities.
(3) Nothing herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting an individual from installing or repairing his or her own appliances or installing, extending, replacing, altering or repairing consumer’s piping on his or her own premises, or as requiring a license or a bond from an individual doing such work on his or her own premises; provided, however, all such work must be done in conformity with all other provisions of the Gas Code, including those relating to permits, inspections and fees.
(1994 Code, § 12-404)
(E) Gas Inspector and assistants. To provide for the administration and enforcement of the Gas Code, the Office of Gas Inspector is hereby created. The Inspector, and such assistants as may be necessary in the proper performance of the duties of the office, shall be appointed or designated by the City Commission and the compensation for such office shall be determined at the time of appointment.
(1994 Code, § 12-405)
(F) Powers and duties of Inspector.
(1) The Inspector is authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of the Gas Code. Upon presentation of proper credentials, he or she may enter any building or premises at reasonable times for the purpose of making inspections or preventing violations of the Gas Code.
(2) The Inspector is authorized to disconnect any gas piping or fixture or appliance for which a certificate of approval is required, but has not been issued with respect to same, or which, upon inspection, shall be found defective or in such condition as to endanger life or property. In all cases where such a disconnection is made, a notice shall be attached to the piping, fixture or appliance disconnected by the Inspector, which notice shall state that the same has been disconnected by the Inspector, together with the reason or reasons therefor, and it shall be unlawful for any person to remove said notice or reconnect said gas piping or fixture or appliance without authorization by the Inspector and such gas piping or fixture or appliance shall not be put in service or used until the Inspector has attached his or her certificate of approval in lieu of his or her prior disconnection notice.
(3) It shall be the duty of the Inspector to confer from time to time with representatives of the local Health Department, the local Fire Department and the gas company, and otherwise obtain from proper sources all helpful information and advice, presenting same to the appropriate officials from time to time for their consideration.
(1994 Code, § 12-406)
(G) Permits.
(1) No person shall install a gas conversion burner, floor furnace, central heating plant, vented wall furnace, water heater, boiler, consumer’s gas piping or convert existing piping to utilize natural gas without first obtaining a permit to do such work from the Utilities; however, permits will not be required for setting or connecting other gas appliances, or for the repair of leaks in house piping.
(2) When only temporary use of gas is desired, the Inspector may issue a permit for such use, for a period of not to exceed 60 days; provided, the consumer’s gas piping to be used is given a test equal to that required for a final piping inspection.
(3) Except when work in a public street or other public way is involved, the gas company shall not be required to obtain permits to set meters, or to extend, relocate, remove or repair its service lines, mains or other facilities, or for work having to do with its own gas system.
(1994 Code, § 12-407)
(H) Inspections.
(1) A rough piping inspection shall be made after all new piping authorized by the permit has been installed, and before any such piping has been covered or concealed or any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto.
(2) A final piping inspection shall be made after all piping authorized by the permit has been installed and after all portions thereof which are to be concealed by plastering or otherwise have been so concealed, and before any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto. This inspection shall include a pressure test, at which time the piping shall stand an air pressure equal to not less than the pressure of a column of mercury six inches in height, and the piping shall hold this air pressure for a period of at least ten minutes without any perceptible drop. A mercury column gauge shall be used for the test. All tools, apparatus, labor and assistance necessary for the test shall be furnished by the installer of such piping.
(1994 Code, § 12-408)
(I) Certificates. The Inspector shall issue a certificate of approval at the completion of the work for which a permit for consumer piping has been issued if, after inspection, it is found that such work complies with the provisions of the Gas Code. A duplicate of each certificate issued covering consumer’s gas piping shall be delivered to the gas company and used as its authority to render gas service.
(1994 Code, § 12-409)
(J) Fees.
(1) The total fees for inspection of consumers gas piping at one location (including both rough and final piping inspections) shall be $10 for one to five outlets, inclusive, and $2 for each outlet above five.
(2) The fees for inspecting conversion burners, floor furnaces, boilers or central heating plants shall be $10 for each unit.
(3) The fees for inspecting vented wall furnaces and water heaters shall be $2 for each unit.
(4) If the Inspector is called back, after correction of defects are noted, an additional fee of $5 shall be made for each such return inspection.
(5) Any and all fees shall be paid by the person to whom the permit is issued.
(1994 Code, § 12-410)
(K) Non-liability. This section shall not be construed as imposing upon the city any liability or responsibility for damages to any person injured by any defect in any gas piping or appliance mentioned herein, or by installation thereof, nor shall the city, or any official or employee thereof, be held as assuming any such liability or responsibility by reason of the inspection authorized hereunder or the certificate of approval issued by the Inspector.
(1994 Code, § 12-412)
(Ord. 494, passed 9-2-1993; Ord. 748, passed 12-16-2013)