HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7297 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.- 7297 p . I
To the Manor and Member of the City Council`art July 5 , 1988
Subject: APPLICATION OF SECTION 1213 (b), UNIFORM PLU01IING CODE,
INSTALLATION OF GAS PIPING/EXISTING STRUCTURES
In recent months there have been questions raised about that provision
of the City of Fort Worth Plumbing Code that specifies how gas lines
must be installed, where they enter structures, and how that provision
of the Code is applied to structures built under earlier code
requirements. The following is provided to brief the City Council
on the issue and the City's efforts to have non-conforming systems
brought into compliance.
Section 1213 (b) of the Uniform Plumbing Code, adopted by the City
of Fort Worth, states "no gas piping shall be installed in or on the
ground under any building or structure and all gas piping shall be
kept at least six inches above grade or structure".
The intent of the Plumbing Code is to prohibit non-conforming gas
systems that would allow accumulations of gas underneath structures.
An improperly installed gas system endangers the lives of people
occupying the structure, as well as those people who may be in adjacent
structures. Ferrous piping that is exposed to soil , as it would be
either in the ground or on the ground, deteriorates over time. It
develops pin holes that enables gas to escape. If the leaking pipe
is buried in the ground, the gas will accumulate in pockets thereby
creating the potential for explosions. If the leaking pipe is located
in or on the ground and below grade as it goes into a structure, gas
can accumulate underneath the structure and create the same potential
for explosions.
Most of those gas systems that are non-conforming are in older housing
stock that is frequently twenty years old or older. Since deterioration
is gradual , the longer the piping is in contact with the ground the
more deterioration will occur and the greater the potential exists
for leaks and possible explosions.
In order to bring about compliance in as many structures as possible,
the Code Enforcement Division in City Services Department and the
Plumbing Inspection Division in the Development Department have been
coordinating their efforts in identifying non-conforming gas systems
and requiring them to be brought up to Code. Where a violation is
found, the property owner is notified to make the necessary corrections.
If the owner fails to comply, the gas supplier may be notified by
the Plumbing Inspection Division to disconnect the service.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS N0.7297 p . 2
46 July 5 , 1988
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
OL
Subject:
107 31
Enforcement of this particular provision of the Plumbing Code has
generated numerous complaints that repairs are being required to systems
which are not safety hazards and that the enforcement policy is
inconsistent and inequitable. It is believed that non-conforming
systems do represent a significant safety hazard to the public and
do warrant actions to bring them up to the current provisions of the
Plumbing Code. Non-conforming systems are identified and corrective
actions are requested of property owners as a result of citizen
complaints, building permit inspections, and observation of inspectors
during the normal course of their duties. Although in the past there
have been some efforts that have focused on this problem, due to a
lack of resources there has not been a massive inspection program
directed at identifying all non-conforming systems. Ultimately though,
through the combined efforts of Code Enforcement and Plumbing Inspection
personnel , it is believed that all buildings will be inspected for
this provision of the Plumbing Code and all changes necessary for
the protection of the public will be made.
Additional information may be provided upon request.
ouglas man
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS