SEC. 94.1217.0. SEISMIC GAS SHUTOFF VALVES.

   (Amended by Ord. No. 182,847, Eff. 1/3/14.)

94.1217.1. Definitions. For purposes of this section, certain terms shall be defined as follows:

   Downstream of the Gas Utility Meter shall refer to all customer owned gas piping, downstream of the bypass valve, as specified by the public gas utility company.

   Excess Flow Shutoff Valve shall mean a shutoff system activated by significant gas leaks or overpressure surges downstream of the valves.

   Residential Building shall mean any single-family dwelling, duplex, apartment building, condominium, townhouse, lodging house, congregate residence, hotel or motel.

   Seismic Gas Shutoff Valve shall mean a system consisting of a seismic sensing means and actuating means designed to automatically actuate a companion gas shutoff means installed in a gas piping system in order to shutoff the gas downstream of the location of the gas shutoff means in the event of a severe seismic disturbance. The system may consist of separable components or may incorporate all functions in a single body. The terms "Seismically Activated Gas Shutoff Valves" and "Earthquake Sensitive Gas Shutoff Valves" are synonymous.

   Upstream of the Gas Utility Meter shall refer to all gas piping installed by the utility up to and including the meter and the utility's bypass tee at the connection to the customer owned piping.

94.1217.2. Scope. An approved seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve shall be installed downstream of the gas utility meter on each fuel gas line where the gas line serves the following buildings or structures:

94.1217.2.1. A building or structure containing fuel gas piping for which a building permit was first issued on or after September 1, 1995.

94.1217.2.2. An existing building or structure which is altered or added to; and

94.1217.2.2.1. That building or structure has fuel gas piping supplying the existing building or structure or the addition to the building or structure; and

94.1217.2.2.2. The alteration or addition is valued at more than $10,000 and a building permit for the work in commercial buildings was first issued on or after September 1, 1995. Alterations or additions to individual units or tenant spaces shall require a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve to be installed for all gas piping serving that individual unit or tenant space; or

94.1217.2.2.3. The alteration or addition is valued at more than $10,000 and a building permit for the work in residential buildings, including condominium units, is first issued on or after January 10, 1998. Alterations or additions to an individual condominium unit shall require a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve to be installed for all gas piping serving that individual condominium unit; or

94.1217.2.2.4. The alteration or addition is to the fuel gas piping system and involves the alteration or replacement of the gas meter.

94.1217.2.3. Prior to entering into an agreement of sale, or prior to the close of escrow when an escrow agreement has been executed in connection with the sale,

   1.   Buildings or structures which contain fuel gas piping shall have a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve installed.

   2.   The sale of an individual condominium unit in a building shall require the installation of a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve for all gas piping serving that individual unit.

   EXCEPTIONS:

   (a)    Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve may be installed upstream of a gas utility meter provided they meet the requirements of this section.

   (b)    Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve installed on a building or structure prior to September 1, 1995, are exempt from the requirements of this section provided they remain installed on the building or structure and are maintained for the life of the building or structure.

   (c)    Notwithstanding LAMC Subdivisions 94.1217.2.1, 94.1217.2.2 and 94.1217.2.3 above, these provisions shall not apply to a building or structure if the Department determines that a building or structure satisfies all three of the following criteria: (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

   (i)   That the building or structure is owned, operated, and maintained by a governmental entity or public utility; or that the building or structure is owned by a private concern and provides a public benefit, such as a co-generation facility which shares its excess power with a public utility or with a large industrial facility which has governmental contracts;

   (ii)    That the building or structure has available 24-hour, year round maintenance staffing; and

   (iii)   That the gas piping system contained in the building or structure is designed to withstand seismic effects of earthquakes.

   (d)   A single seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve may be installed upstream of the gas utility meter at the discretion of the gas utility.

94.1217.3. General Requirements. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valves installed either in compliance with LAMC Subsection 94.1217.2, et seq., or voluntarily with a permit issued on or after September 1, 1995, shall comply with the following requirements:

94.1217.3.1. Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve shall be installed by a contractor licensed in the appropriate classification by the State of California.

   EXCEPTIONS:

   (a)   A person who has been determined by the Department to meet the qualifications of a Qualified Installer pursuant to the definition of a Qualified Installer set forth in Article 4, Chapter IX of the LAMC may install a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve to a single-family dwelling which is or is intended to be occupied by the Qualified Installer. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

   (b)   Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve may be installed, without a permit, by a gas utility or a contractor authorized by the gas utility when the valves are installed upstream of the gas utility meter and the valves are installed and approved in accordance with this section.

94.1217.3.2. Seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve shall be mounted rigidly to the exterior, or other approved location, of the building or structure containing the fuel gas piping.

   EXCEPTION: If the Department determines that the seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve has been tested and listed for an alternate method of installation, then a seismic gas shutoff valve or excess flow shutoff valve need not be mounted rigidly to the exterior of the building or structure containing the fuel gas piping.

94.1217.3.3. Be certified by the Office of the State Architect.

94.1217.3.4. Be approved by the Department of Building and Safety, Mechanical Testing Laboratory.

94.1217.3.5. Have a thirty (30) year warranty which warrants that the valve is free from defects and will continue to properly operate for thirty (30) years from the date of installation.

94.1217.3.6. Where seismic gas shutoff valves or excess flow shutoff valve are installed as required by this section, they shall be maintained for the life of the building or structure or be replaced with a valve complying with the requirements of this section.

94.1217.3.7. Seismic gas shutoff valves must be in compliance with all requirements of California Referenced Standard 12-16-1, at Part 12, Title 24, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)

94.1217.3.8. Excess flow shutoff valves must be in compliance with all requirements of California Referenced Standard 12-16-2. (Part 12, Title 24, of the CCR). (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.)