CITY OF TUCSON

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL GAS PIPE INSTALLATIONS

2012 IRC
These standards are intended to be a guide to the homeowner. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to provide
an installation that complies with the 2012 International Residential Code, and addendums. Contact ICC
(www.iccsafe.org) to order publications. All situations are not covered in this guide. If you are not able to
provide a system that complies with the minimum code requirements, hire a licensed professional. Multiple
denied inspections may result in re-inspection fees.

A “gas system” includes all gas piping, appliances and equipment. The inspector will need access to all
equipment including, but not limited to, the water heater and furnace. The inspector will check existing
appliances for any safety defects. Inspectors do not have ladders or tools, and will expect you to provide safe
access to all areas. Inspectors will not enter an occupied structure without an adult escort. Any necessary
ladders, keys, etc. for access to the system shall be ready at the time of inspection.

Water heater (WH) and furnaces require a permit when they are replaced or relocated. Water heaters and
furnaces that have been replaced must comply with current codes. An appliance is only considered “existing” if
a permit was obtained and approved by inspection at the time of installation. No part of any system may be
concealed prior to approval from the inspector.

All materials used in a piping system, including pipe supports, shall be “approved” or “listed”. Listed materials
(designed and tested for a specific use) shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation
instructions.

Water heaters shall be provided with a temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P) with a relief drain to the
outside of the building or to an approved location per code. In the event that there is no way to comply with this
requirement due to existing conditions, a “Petition of Appeal to the Building Official” must be completed and
submitted. The T&P valve shall be tested at the time of inspection and replaced if leaking.

The permit holder shall provide a 10 psi air test on the entire system using a 15 psi gauge (exception: a mobile
home interior may be tested with 3 psi). The entire gas system shall be under test prior to the inspector’s
arrival.

Note: If you’re are replacing or adding gas piping, a plan is required. It is important to verify that the pipe,
being replaced or added to, is the correct size for the current code. Existing gas piping may not be properly
sized for the currently adopted code. In order to perform a complete review, the following items must be
specified:
 The total developed length of the pipe measured from the meter to the furthest appliance served
 The total Btu/h input for each of the gas-fired appliances that are being fed from the gas meter

201 N. STONE AVENUE – TUCSON, AZ 85726-7210

(520) 791-5550 * FAX (520) 791-4475
www.tucsonaz.gov/pdsd
TABLE G2413.4 (1)
SCHEDULE 40 METALLIC PIPE

Gas Natural
Inlet Pressure Less than 2 psi
Pressure Drop 0.5 in. w.c.
Specific Gravity 0.60
PIPE SIZE (inch)
Nominal ½ ¾ 1 1¼ 1½ 2
Actual ID 0.622 0.824 1.049 1.380 1.610 2.067
Length (ft) Capacity in Cubic Feet of Gas per Hour
10 172 360 678 1,390 2,090 4,020
20 118 247 466 957 1,430 2,760
30 95 199 374 768 1,150 2,220
40 81 170 320 657 985 1,900
50 72 151 284 583 873 1,680
60 65 137 257 528 791 1,520
70 60 126 237 486 728 1,400
80 56 117 220 452 677 1,300
90 52 110 207 424 635 1,220
100 50 104 195 400 600 1,160
125 44 92 173 355 532 1,020
150 40 83 157 322 482 928
175 37 77 144 296 443 854
200 34 71 134 275 412 794
250 30 63 119 244 366 704

G2424.1 Interval of support

Piping shall be supported at intervals not exceeding the spacing specified in Table G2424.1. Spacing of supports
for CSST shall be in accordance with the CSST manufacturer’s instructions.

TABLE G2424.1
SUPPORT OF PIPING
STEEL PIPE, NOMINAL SIZE
SPACING OF SPACING OF
NOMINAL SIZE OF TUBING
SUPPORTS SUPPORTS
OF PIPE SMOOTH-WALL
(feet) (feet)
(inches) (inch O.D.)
½ 6 ½ 4
¾ or 1 8 5/8 or ¾ 6
1 ¼ or larger 7/8 or 1
10 8
(horizontal) (horizontal)
1 ¼ or larger Every floor 1 or larger Every floor
(vertical) level (vertical) level
Future connections or undesignated “tee” outlets are not allowed unless specifically shown on your approved
plan; the system must be sized to handle any future demand.

An accessible shut-off valve shall be installed in the fuel supply piping within 6 feet of the appliance and ahead
of the union connection to the appliance. Approved, and correctly sized flex connectors, shall be on site. When
the gas meter is in a remote location (i.e. in an alley), install an emergency gas shut-off valve (SOV) at the
building.

All exposed gas piping shall be kept at least 6 inches above grade and 1½” above structure. Pipe supports used
outside of the building shall be weather resistant.

Piping installed below grade shall be “listed” for below grade installations (factory coated) and any uncoated
fittings and tool marks shall be installed neatly without wrinkles. Non-metallic piping requires a minimum #18
gauge yellow tracer wire secured at 8 feet on center. All gas piping for mobile homes and all plastic gas piping
requires 18 inches of cover from the top of the pipe to ground level. DO NOT cover the piping until it has been
inspected. Provide clean fill material on site at the time of inspection for backfilling purposes. Remove all rocks
from the trench and “shade the pipe” with clean sand or dirt. All below grade piping shall be continuously
supported. Metallic piping may be installed with only 12 inches of cover if it is not in an area where damage
may occur. Below grade offsets may not be made in a public right of way.

Things to remember:
 Unions and bushings may not be concealed
 Sediment traps are required at the water heater and furnace inlets
 All roof penetrations shall have an approved (listed) flashing
 All flashing shall be sealed and installed per listing
 Type B or other currently approved venting materials are required
 Exhaust vent piping shall be secured with galvanized sheet metal screws
 Proper vent terminations and clearances from combustibles are required
 Combustion air openings are required for gas-fired equipment
 Gas piping shall be electrically bonded

Refer to your code book and installation instructions for further information. This guide addresses some of the
commonly noted requirements. There are too many code sections that apply to list all of them here and not all
code sections will apply to each situation. The inspector will inform you of any additional requirements that
apply to your situation.

G2413.2 Maximum gas demand

The volumetric flow rate of gas to be provided, in cubic feet per hour, shall be calculated using the
manufacturer’s input ratings of the appliances served adjusted for altitude. Where an input rating is not
indicated, the gas supplier, appliance manufacturer or a qualified agency shall be contacted, or the rating from
Table G2413.2 shall be used for estimating the volumetric flow rate of gas to be supplied.

The total connected hourly load shall be used as the basis for pipe sizing, assuming that all appliances could be
operating at full capacity simultaneously. Where a diversity of load can be established, pipe sizing shall be
permitted to be based on such loads.
TABLE G2413.2
APPROXIMATE GAS INPUT FOR TYPICAL APPLIANCES

INPUT BTU/H
APPLIANCE
(Approx.)
Space Heating Units
Hydronic boiler
Single family 100,000
Multifamily, per unit 60,000
Warm-air furnace
Single family 100,000
Multifamily, per unit 60,000
Space and Water Heating Units Hydronic boiler
Single family 120,000
Multifamily, per unit 75,000

Water Heating Appliances

Water heater, automatic instantaneous
Capacity at 2 gal./minute 142,800
Capacity at 4 gal./minute 285,000
Capacity at 6 gal./minute 428,400
Water heater, automatic storage, 30- to 40-gal. tank 35,000
Water heater, automatic storage, 50-gal. tank 50,000
Water heater, domestic, circulating or side-arm 35,000

Cooking Appliances
Built-in oven or broiler unit, domestic 25,000
Built-in top unit, domestic 40,000
Range, free-standing, domestic 65,000

Other Appliances
Barbecue 40,000
Clothes dryer, Type 1 (domestic) 35,000
Gas fireplace, direct-vent 40,000
Gas light 2,500
Gas log 80,000
Refrigerator 3,000
 PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
201 N STONE AV
PO BOX 27210, TUCSON AZ 85726-7210
(520) 791-5550
ACTIVITY #
PETITION OF APPEAL
TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL

** This is a legal document that MUST be detailed, accurate and complete. Supporting data may be attached and submitted if needed. **

PROJECT NAME PROJECT ADDRESS DATE

OWNER’S NAME OWNER’S ADDRESS PHONE

TENANT’S NAME TENANT’S ADDRESS PHONE

APPELLANT’S NAME APPELANT’S ADDRESS PHONE

APPELLANT’S RELATIONSHIP TO PROJECT

Appeal is hereby made to the Building Official for an alternate method/material, or interpretation of, Section 608.5
and 508.5 of the Uniform Plumbing Code as adopted by the City of Tucson.

Water Heater temperature and pressure relief valve (tprv) discharge line is to be extended at a downward
angle to the exterior of the building. Discharge from a relief valve into a water heater pan is prohibited.

Explanation of why conformance with the above requirement on the project presents an unusual problem. (Use
attachment if necessary)

Existing water heater is located in an interior closet and away from exterior walls. There is no ready access
to the outside without either trenching the floor or relocating the water heater.

State specifically what is proposed in lieu of literal compliance:

A tprv discharge line shall be run to a metal drip pan located under the water heater.

Owner accepts and understands that if the water heater or tprv malfunction extensive water damage could
result.

_________________________________ __________________________________________
Owners signature if appellant is other than owner Appellant Title

DECISION OF THE INSPECTOR

 APPROVED STIPULATIONS
 APPROVED W/STIPULATIONS
 DENIED

DATE DIRECTOR’S SIGNATURE