Old Gas Shut-off for Appliances

[Lon Henderson]

Around these here parts....Over the last few years, I've had several HVAC techs & plumbers tell me that the old tang gas shut-offs that require a tool to operate must be replaced with hand operable shut-offs anytime a gas appliance is replaced. But recently, one of our AHJs told me that it was a good idea, but not required. I tried to find some mention of it in the IRC but cannot. G2420 covers locations of shut-offs and access, but I don't see any comment on whether the valve requires a tool or hand to operate it.
Am I missing something?

[Jerry Peck]

May be addressed in one of the standard referenced in G2420 for gas valves, but you would need the standards to find out.

[Richard Bushong]

Around these here parts....Over the last few years, I've had several HVAC techs & plumbers tell me that the old tang gas shut-offs that require a tool to operate must be replaced with hand operable shut-offs anytime a gas appliance is replaced. But recently, one of our AHJs told me that it was a good idea, but not required. I tried to find some mention of it in the IRC but cannot. G2420 covers locations of shut-offs and access, but I don't see any comment on whether the valve requires a tool or hand to operate it.
Am I missing something?

As far as if replacing an appliance it would be good common sense at the least and the code is vague at best. I do know whenever we were at a customers house on a leak call we greased all of the old style valves , it helped prevent recalls and also made them a lot easier to operate. Today I don't believe the companies care about the customers that much since it is all time and money.

[Wayne Domina]

Depends on your local jurisdictions' requirement for accessibility. Some AHJ's require that it not require special tools or keys to operate a valve (differences usually applied for readily accessible vs. accessible , etc..).