Copyright 2012 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Licensed, by agreement, for individual use and single download on November 10, 2012 to Unigaz for designated user faisal el mais. No other
reproduction or transmission in any form permitted without written permission of NFPA. For inquires or to report unauthorized use, contact licensing@nfpa.org.
®
NFPA 54
ANSI Z223.1
National Fuel Gas Code
2012 Edition
NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471
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Copyright 2012 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Licensed, by agreement, for individual use and single download on November 10, 2012 to Unigaz for designated user faisal el mais. No other
reproduction or transmission in any form permitted without written permission of NFPA. For inquires or to report unauthorized use, contact licensing@nfpa.org.
54–64 NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE ANSI Z223.1–64
8.1.2 Test Medium. The test medium shall be air, nitrogen, 8.1.5.2 The leakage shall be located by means of an approved
carbon dioxide, or an inert gas. gas detector, a noncorrosive leak detection fluid, or other ap-
OXYGEN SHALL NEVER BE USED. proved leak detection methods. Matches, candles, open flames,
or other methods that provide a source of ignition shall not be
8.1.3 Test Preparation. used.
8.1.3.1 Pipe joints, including welds, shall be left exposed for 8.1.5.3 Where leakage or other defects are located, the af-
examination during the test. fected portion of the piping system shall be repaired or re-
Exception: Covered or concealed pipe end joints that have been previ- placed and retested.
ously tested in accordance with this code. 8.2 Piping System Leak Check.
8.1.3.2 Expansion joints shall be provided with temporary 8.2.1 Test Gases. Leak checks using fuel gas shall be permit-
restraints, if required, for the additional thrust load under test. ted in piping systems that have been pressure tested in accor-
dance with Section 8.1.
8.1.3.3 Appliances and equipment that are not to be in-
cluded in the test shall be either disconnected from the piping 8.2.2 Turning Gas On. During the process of turning gas on
or isolated by blanks, blind flanges, or caps. Flanged joints at into a system of new gas piping, the entire system shall be
which blinds are inserted to blank off other equipment during inspected to determine that there are no open fittings or ends
the test shall not be required to be tested. and that all valves at unused outlets are closed and plugged or
capped.
8.1.3.4 Where the piping system is connected to appliances
or equipment designed for operating pressures of less than 8.2.3* Leak Check. Immediately after the gas is turned on into a
the test pressure, such appliances or equipment shall be iso- new system or into a system that has been initially restored after
lated from the piping system by disconnecting them and cap- an interruption of service, the piping system shall be checked for
ping the outlet(s). leakage. Where leakage is indicated, the gas supply shall be shut
off until the necessary repairs have been made.
8.1.3.5 Where the piping system is connected to appliances
8.2.4 Placing Appliances and Equipment in Operation. Appli-
or equipment designed for operating pressures equal to or
ances and equipment shall not be placed in operation until
greater than the test pressure, such appliances or equipment
after the piping system has been checked for leakage in accor-
shall be isolated from the piping system by closing the indi-
dance with 8.2.3, the piping system is purged in accordance
vidual appliance or equipment shutoff valve(s).
with 8.3, and connections to the appliance are checked for
8.1.3.6 All testing of piping systems shall be performed in a leakage.
manner that protects the safety of employees and the public 8.3* Purging Requirements. The purging of piping shall be in
during the test. accordance with 8.3.1 through 8.3.3.
8.1.4 Test Pressure. 8.3.1* Piping Systems Required to Be Purged Outdoors. The
8.1.4.1 Test pressure shall be measured with a manometer or purging of piping systems shall be in accordance with 8.3.1.1
with a pressure measuring device designed and calibrated to through 8.3.1.4 where the piping system meets either of the
read, record, or indicate a pressure loss due to leakage during the following:
pressure test period. The source of pressure shall be isolated be- (1) The design operating gas pressure is greater than 2 psig
fore the pressure tests are made. Mechanical gauges used to mea- (14 kPag).
sure test pressures shall have a range such that the highest end of (2) The piping being purged contains one or more sections
the scale is not greater than 5 times the test pressure. of pipe or tubing meeting the size and length criteria of
Table 8.3.1.
8.1.4.2 The test pressure to be used shall be no less than
11⁄2 times the proposed maximum working pressure, but 8.3.1.1 Removal from Service. Where existing gas piping is
not less than 3 psi (20 kPa), irrespective of design pressure. opened, the section that is opened shall be isolated from the
Where the test pressure exceeds 125 psi (862 kPa), the test gas supply and the line pressure vented in accordance with
pressure shall not exceed a value that produces a hoop
stress in the piping greater than 50 percent of the specified
minimum yield strength of the pipe.
8.1.4.3* Test duration shall be not less than 1⁄2 hour for each
Table 8.3.1 Size and Length of Piping*
500 ft3 (14 m3) of pipe volume or fraction thereof. When test-
ing a system having a volume less than 10 ft3 (0.28 m3) or a Nominal
system in a single-family dwelling, the test duration shall be a Piping Size Length of Piping
minimum of 10 minutes. The duration of the test shall not be (in.) (ft)
required to exceed 24 hours.
≥21⁄2 <3 > 50
8.1.5 Detection of Leaks and Defects. ≥3 <4 > 30
≥4 <6 > 15
8.1.5.1 The piping system shall withstand the test pressure ≥6 <8 > 10
specified without showing any evidence of leakage or other ≥8 Any length
defects. Any reduction of test pressures as indicated by pres-
sure gauges shall be deemed to indicate the presence of a leak For SI units, 1 in. = 25.4 mm; 1 ft = 0.305 m.
unless such reduction can be readily attributed to some other * CSST EHD size of 62 is equivalent to 2 in. nominal size pipe or
cause. tubing.
2012 Edition
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