Chapter 15.20
GAS INSTALLATIONS
Sections:
15.20.040 Conversion of Piping
15.20.050 License Requirements–Permits–Term–Fee–Scope
15.20.070 Inspector’s Right of Entry–Disconnection of Piping and Fixtures
15.20.100 Certificate of Approval
15.20.120 Violations–Penalties
15.20.010 Definitions
The following definitions are provided for the purpose of interpretation and administration of this chapter:
"Appliances" means conversion burners, floor furnaces, central heating plants, vented wall furnaces, water heaters and boilers.
"Certificate of approval" means a document or tag issued and/or attached by the inspector to the inspected material, piping or appliance installation, filled out, together with date, address of the premises, and which is signed by the inspector.
"Gas company" means any person or firm who distributes natural gas within the corporate limits of the city, or who may be authorized and proposes to so engage.
"Inspector" means the person appointed as inspector, and includes any assistant inspector who may be acting as such under this article by appointment of the city council of the city.
"Person" means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or any other organized group of individuals. (Prior code § 5-30)
15.20.040 Conversion of Piping
Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, if the inspector finds, upon inspection and proper tests, that consumers’ piping installed prior to the adoption of the ordinance in this chapter or piping installed to supply other than natural gas will not in any way endanger life or property, then and in that event, such piping may be converted to natural gas; otherwise, the piping shall be altered or replaced, in whole or in part, to conform with the requirements of this chapter. (Prior code § 5-33)
15.20.050 License Requirements–Permits–Term–Fee–Scope
A. An owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace an installation regulated by this code, or to cause such work to be done, shall first make application to the code official and obtain the required permit for the work.
B. All persons doings such work shall be licensed as required by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.
C. Permitting fee shall be calculated as set forth in the schedule of rates, fees and charges (Ordinance No. 637). (Ord. 1144 (part), 2011: prior code § 5-34)
15.20.060 Gas Inspector
To provide for the administration and enforcement of this chapter, the office of gas inspector, herein designated "inspector," is created. The inspector, and such assistants as may be necessary in the proper performance of the duties of the office, shall be appointed by the city council, and the compensation for such office shall be determined at the time of appointment. (Prior code § 5-35)
15.20.070 Inspector’s Right of Entry–Disconnection of Piping and Fixtures
A. The inspector is authorized and directed to enforce all of the provisions of this chapter, and the inspector, upon presentation of proper credentials, may enter any building or premises at reasonable times for the purpose of making inspections or preventing violations of this chapter.
B. The inspector shall disconnect any gas piping or fixture or appliance for which a certificate of approval is required but has not been issued, or which, upon inspection, is found defective or in such condition as to endanger life or property. In all cases where such a disconnection is made, a written notice shall be attached to the piping, fixture or appliance disconnected by the inspector, together with the reason or reasons therefor, and it shall be unlawful for any person to remove said notice or reconnect said gas piping or fixture or appliance without authorization by the inspector, and such gas piping or fixture or appliance shall not be put in service or used until the inspector has attached his certificate of approval in lieu of his prior disconnection notice.
C. It shall be the duty of the inspector to confer from time to time with representatives of the health department, fire department and gas company, and otherwise obtain from proper sources, all helpful information and advice, presenting same to the appropriate officials from time to time for their consideration. (Prior code § 5-36)
15.20.090 Inspections
A. Rough Piping Inspection. The inspector shall make rough piping inspection after all new piping authorized by the issued permit has been installed, and before any such piping has been covered or concealed or any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto.
B. Final Piping Inspection. The inspector shall make final piping inspection after all piping authorized by the permit has been installed and after all portions thereof have been concealed, and before any fixtures or gas appliances have been attached thereto. This inspection shall include pressure tests, subjecting the tested pipes to air pressures equal to not less than the pressure of a column of mercury six inches in height, using a mercury column gauge for the test. The piping tested must hold this air pressure for a period of at least ten minutes, without perceptible drop. All tools, apparatus, labor and assistance necessary for the tests shall be furnished by the installer of the piping. (Prior code § 5-38)
15.20.100 Certificate of Approval
The inspector shall issue a certificate of approval at the completion of the work for which a permit for consumer piping has been issued, if after inspection it is found the installation complies with the provisions of this chapter. A duplicate of each certificate issued covering consumers’ gas piping shall be delivered to the gas company and use as its authority to render gas service. (Prior code § 5-39)
15.20.120 Violations–Penalties
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to violate any of the provisions or requirements of this chapter or the code, and any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions or requirements of this chapter or the code shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Each separate day or any part thereof during which any violation of this chapter occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as provided by state law. (Ord. 1047 (part), 2007: Ord. 658 § 1 Exh. A (part), 1994: prior code § 5-41)
15.20.130 Liability of City
This chapter shall not be construed as imposing upon the city any liability or responsibility for damages to any person injured by any defect in any gas piping or appliance mentioned herein, or by installation thereof, nor shall the inspector or any official or employee of the city be deemed to assume any such liability or responsibility by reason of the inspection authorized hereunder or the issuance of certificate of approval pursuant to this chapter. (Prior code § 5-42)