Service Regulator Requirements

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 6 Companies Affected: NIPSCO CGV CMD CKY COH CMA CPA REFERENCE Code of Federal Regulations - Title 49 - Part , , , VA SCC NOPV GENERAL The purpose of this standard is to provide requirements and related guidance when inspecting and/or installing new residential and small commercial regulators. All service regulators showing external corrosion or damage shall be replaced. Refer to GS (VA), Meter Set Assembly Protection and GS (VA) Inspection Program for Risers and Meter Set Assemblies for Abnormal Operating Conditions for additional protection requirements. Service regulators are to be located where gas from the vent can escape freely into the atmosphere and away from any opening(s) into a building. Note: Mercury regulators and/or external mercury relief devices encountered in the field shall be removed as soon as practical. Upon discovery and prior to removal of a mercury regulator and/or external mercury relief device, a member of the Operations Center leadership team and a member of the Health Safety and Environmental (HSE) team shall be notified. Never attempt to remove a mercury regulator and/or external mercury relief device without assistance and guidance from a member of the Operations Center Leadership team and a member of the HSE team. For additional guidance on high pressure service regulator installation requirements, refer to GS High Pressure Service Regulator and Meter Setting Selection. 2. SERVICE REGULATOR REQUIREMENTS The regulator and/or relief device vent; vent line, if so equipped; screen; and cap, if present; shall be properly sized, installed, and free of blockage with no external leakage. Consideration should be given as to the location of the service regulator and/or relief device and the possibility of vent terminal freeze-up. Regulator vent skirts or a vent line extending the vent terminal away from the potential source of moisture should be considered if the potential for vent terminal blockage due to freeze-up is evident. This document is considered CONTROLLED only when viewed electronically on the Company's intranet. Printed or other electronic copies may not be current, and the intranet version should be used to verify.

2 Page 2 of Service Regulator Vent Requirements When a regulator and/or relief device is located inside a building, each regulator and/or relief device shall have a separate metallic relief line vented to the outdoors so in the event gas is discharged, it will not create a hazard- under no circumstances shall the relief lines of separate regulators and/or relief devices be manifolded. If tubing is used for the vent line, it shall be metallic and one size larger than the relief opening in no case shall corrugated tubing be used as a regulator vent line. Relief vent lines shall be as short as possible, and when in excess of 10 in length or contain more than 2 elbows, shall be increased one nominal pipe size for each additional 10 of length. Each elbow in the vent line will contribute approximately three (3) feet in effective length. Service regulators installed outdoors of a building requiring a vent line, may be equipped with a PVC vent line conforming to UL 651, schedule 40 or schedule 80 rigid PVC conduit. The same sizing guidance provided above applies Service regulator Vent Terminal Requirements NOTE: All measurements shall be taken from the service regulator vent terminal (relief opening) (see Exhibits A and B). Except as noted below, the vent terminal: a. Shall be installed outdoors above grade, at a height sufficient to prevent entry of water in areas where flooding may occur. b. Shall be installed to protect it from the entry of insects by a screen or an approved vent cap, and be installed so as to prevent the entry of rainwater. c. Shall be located not less than 3 feet radially and not directly below any rotating electrical equipment (e.g., an air conditioning unit). d. Except as noted below, the vent terminal should be installed with a minimum of 3 feet radial separation from an electric meter, electric panel, electric outlet, electric pedestal, electrical equipment disconnect, or pad mounted transformer, etc. When it is not possible to install the regulator vent terminal with a 3 foot radial separation, a minimum of 1 foot radial separation shall be maintained between the regulator vent terminal and any of the electric equipment listed above.

3 Page 3 of Testing Requirements e. Shall be located 3 feet radially from, and not below, any first floor opening into a building, such as a door, window(s) (that can be opened) or other gravity air opening(s) into a building (including clothes dryer exhaust terminals, and appliance air intakes). f. Shall be located not less than 10 feet radially from, and not below any forced air inlet into a building (excluding appliance air intakes). Self Operated - Single Ported Service Regulators under 2 inch, serving domestic or large volume meters, shall be tested/inspected at the time of regulator installation, regulator repair, meter change or meter installation Set Pressure and Lock-Up Pressure Tests Service regulators to be set at 7" W.C. shall have a set pressure and lock up test performed with the meter removed, unless other means have been provided. The set pressure shall be adjusted to a minimum of 7 W.C. and the lock up pressure shall not exceed 12" W.C. If the set pressure is between 7 W.C. and 9 W.C. and the lock up pressure is 12 W.C. or less, no further action is necessary. If the set pressure is between 7 W.C. and 9 W.C. and the lock up pressure exceeds 12" W.C., the regulator must be adjusted, repaired or replaced. If a higher set pressure is necessary to adequately serve the customer, this condition shall be reported to the New Business Team, who may decide to install Fixed Pressure Factor Metering (FPFM). See GS Fixed Pressure Factor Metering for additional guidance. If the lock up pressure of a regulator set at 0.5 psig (14" W.C.) is in excess of 20" W.C., the regulator shall be repaired or replaced. If the lock up pressure of a regulator set at 2.0 psig is in excess of 2.25 psig, the regulator shall be repaired or replaced. If the lock-up pressure of a service regulator delivering an outlet pressure in excess of 2 psig exceeds the set point more than 0.25 psig, the regulator shall be repaired or replaced. A lock up test need not be performed for an in-service regulator serving more than one meter or when a bypass around the meter has been provided; however, the set pressure must be determined and corrected, if necessary. A service regulator without full internal or without associated external relief

4 Page 4 of 6 devices shall be changed at the time of the meter change unless changing the orifice will provide full relief. 3. ESTABLISH/REESTABLISH SERVICE See GS (VA), Lighting Appliances When Establishing or Reestablishing Service. 4. RECORDS Record the necessary information on the MDT Order, including pertinent information regarding the service regulator(s) (e.g., Meter Pressure Compensation Codes, Service Regulator Codes).

5 Page 5 of 6 EXHIBIT A Regulator vent terminal must be installed to maintain a minimum clearance of 3 feet radial separation from any door, window, gravity air opening into a building, or rotating electrical equipment. However, in no circumstance shall the vent terminal be installed beneath any 1 st floor air opening into a building nor under any rotating electrical equipment.

6 Page 6 of 6 EXHIBIT B