Gas Line Installation Portland OR Code Basics

While most common gas line installation Portland OR code requirements aren’t rocket science, there are a few basic gas line installation codes that everyone should know.

Gas sizing is a topic of its own for another blog post, but one thing that you must understand with gas line installation sizing, is that the sizing math starts at the actual gas meter and ends at the actual gas appliance. Code for gas line installation in Portland OR does not allow for sizing to start at a Tee or any other junction of the gas pipe system.

Note: unfortunately many of the older Portland Oregon homes are already utilizing severely under-sized gas systems. It’s extremely common to see three to four gas outlets (Outlet = Gas Appliance) currently operating off a 3/4 inch gas pipe main line, which is about half the size actually required by current Portland Or gas code. Although your current gas system is grandfathered in, any new gas line installation work in Portland OR must be brought to current sizing code!

Corrugated stainless steel tubing, or csst, is becoming increasingly popular for gas line installation in Portland Oregon and surrounding metros as there is much less labor costs involved. One gas line installation code to be on the lookout for regarding csst is that the product must be protected by a specialized hardened steel nail plate anywhere the csst is within 3 in of a nailing surface. Kind of surprisingly, if csst is routed vertically in a 2 x 6 wall it is best not to strap the line in the middle of its route. Gas line installation Portland Oregon code states that csst routed in the middle of wall spaces should be left loose there for increasing the chance of deflection rather than penetration by a nail or screw. Nail plates must protect csst within 6 in of the top or bottom plate of a wall or 6in to either side of a stud if running csst horizontally through studs.

Note: it is not recommended to run csst horizontally through studs! Even though gas line installation code allows horizontal installation, morally we will always choose the safest route and do not believe it’s worth the risk of the csst being randomly penetrated and therefore causing a leak.

Pressure test code. Gas line installation Portland Oregon code states that all new gas lines at standard operating pressure must be pressure tested using a gauge with a dial capable of reading up to 30 PSI and must hold at least 15 psi test pressure. Personally, we pressure test at 22 to 24 PSI. The slightly higher pressure just helps us sleep at night knowing that none of our jobs have any small leaks that were not detected at the lower minimum test pressure.

Here’s a couple of common gas line installation Portland Oregon code related questions we hear often:

Q:Are both pipe dope AND Teflon tape required for all gas pipe joints?

A:No. Gas line installation Portland OR code States you may use one or the other type of thread sealant. However, we believe in using both. Why take a chance at all with flammable gas??

Q:Can black Iron piping and modern csst Gas Line both be installed on the same system?

A:Yes. In fact this is a very common installation by many of the gas line installation Pros in Portland Oregon including ourselves. One thing to keep in mind is that csst flows less than black Iron. anytime you use csst any pipe system that also has black Iron, you must do the sizing math off the csst.

Q: What is a drip leg and is it required on my Appliance?

A: A drip leg or condensate trap is required for all continuously operating gas appliances. A barbecue, clothes dryer, gas range, Etc are all examples of gas appliances that are not continuously operating and therefore do not require a drip leg. A water heater and furnace are examples of gas appliances that will be continuously operating and therefore do require a drip leg.

Note: gas fireplaces are one of the few gray areas when it comes to requiring a drip leg or not. If the gas fireplace is the sole source of heat for the home and is to be left in the continuously operating position, then it obviously does require a drip leg.

Q: Do I have to install a gas line shut off valve at each of my appliances?

A:Yes. Gas line installation Portland OR code says that each gas Appliance must have its own dedicated shut off valve. Also, the shut-off valve must be within 5 feet of the appliance controls. The shut-off valve must remain accessible and cannot be covered by sheet-rock or anything else permanent.

We hope you’ve learned a thing or three about gas line installation Portland OR code requirements! If you have any other questions or concerns, you can reach out to us here

Here’s a few other Gas Line Installation Portland Oregon related articles we think you might enjoy:

Underground Gas Piping for a Firepit, the Basics

Gas Line Installation Costs near Portland Oregon

7 Things To Ask A Gas Line Installation Contractor BEFORE Hiring!