Drip Leg Comment back from the AHJ - InspectionNews

Rick Hurst · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 08:11 AM

I sent a email to our local city AHJ regarding drip legs and why they don't enforce the code. Being in Texas, drip legs are not common to observe but the subject is brought up quite often on inspections.

Mr. Hurst,

The City doesn't enforce the code requirements concerning drip legs
because the natural gas in our area is dry gas. I haven't researched the
requirements of the UPC, but the City's adopted Codes, the 2006 IRC and
IFGC, both require that a sediment trap be installed when a sediment
trap is not incorporated as part of the gas utilization equipment (water
heater, furnace). The Building Inspection Department will begin
enforcing Section 408.4 of the 2006 IFGC and Section G2419.4 of the 2006
IRC. Thank you for your inquiry and concerns about sediment trap code
requirements. Please feel free to contact me if you have any code
questions or concerns.

Regards,
__________________________________________________ _______________

Jerry McCarthy · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:04 AM

And all these years I thought it was "wet gas?"

Jerry Peck · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:50 AM

Rick,

Now try it using the correct term: "sediment traps".

"Drip legs" *are not required* unless the gas contains sufficient moisture.

"Sediment traps" *are required* ... regardless.

See if his response is the same when you ask about "sediment traps".

Jim Luttrall · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:58 AM

Jerry, did you read the AHJ's respnse? Seems right on the money.
Good job Rick. Who knew it would be so easy?
What city?

Quote:

The City doesn't enforce the code requirements concerning drip legs
because the natural gas in our area is dry gas. I haven't researched the
requirements of the UPC, but the City's adopted Codes, the 2006 IRC and
IFGC, both require that a sediment trap be installed when a sediment
trap is not incorporated as part of the gas utilization equipment (water
heater, furnace). The Building Inspection Department will begin
enforcing Section 408.4 of the 2006 IFGC and Section G2419.4 of the 2006
IRC. Thank you for your inquiry and concerns about sediment trap code
requirements. Please feel free to contact me if you have any code
questions or concerns.

Jerry Peck · #5 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Luttrall

Jerry, did you read the AHJ's respnse?

Yes, but I got sidetracked with a phone call, then came back to it, and ... missed reading on beyond what I had first read ...

Quote:

Seems right on the money.
Good job Rick. Who knew it would be so easy?
What city?

I agree, they already addressed what I said in the latter part.

I'll go back to my corner now ...

(memo to self - make sure to read all of the post after getting sidetracked and going back to it)

Jim Luttrall · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 10:15 AM

List of words to avoid lest you press EC Jerry's Buttons:
Sub panel
Fire rated
Drip leg

Ted Menelly · #7 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

I sent a email to our local city AHJ regarding drip legs and why they don't enforce the code. Being in Texas, drip legs are not common to observe but the subject is brought up quite often on inspections.

Mr. Hurst,

The City doesn't enforce the code requirements concerning drip legs
because the natural gas in our area is dry gas. I haven't researched the
requirements of the UPC, but the City's adopted Codes, the 2006 IRC and
IFGC, both require that a sediment trap be installed when a sediment
trap is not incorporated as part of the gas utilization equipment (water
heater, furnace). The Building Inspection Department will begin
enforcing Section 408.4 of the 2006 IFGC and Section G2419.4 of the 2006
IRC. Thank you for your inquiry and concerns about sediment trap code
requirements. Please feel free to contact me if you have any code
questions or concerns.

Regards,
__________________________________________________ _______________

Great job Rick

Could you please call all the cities in the greater Tarant County area so I can stop putting my disclaimer in my report about sediment traps

Jim Luttrall · #8 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 03:41 PM

Ted, if they start enforcing it now... let's see, you might be able to see them installed properly in about 15-20 years, maybe.
Don't hold your breath!

Ted Menelly · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 04:33 PM

Shoot Jim

I'll only be 69 to 74. I might still be around

Nolan Kienitz · #10 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted Menelly

Could you please call all the cities in the greater Tarant County area so I can stop putting my disclaimer in my report about sediment traps

Ted,

Let's see now ... between a few of us we can sub-divide the DFW Metro Counties and get our assigned list of cities and start dialing .... Errr ... let me think about this now.

Ahh .. Likely not.

Anyway ... bottom line is that information from Rick is very good.

When inspecting the Houston market always wrote up the sediment traps ... and we actually saw them installed. Just doesn't happen up here in DFW.

Ted Menelly · #11 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 12:07 PM

Actually, Rick made a conscious decision to try and make a difference.

So I guess by him doing so it it *may* have made a difference, I think he did well.

Calling, well, Today for instance I am way to seriously busy with a day off to be able to make all those calls

It seems the past few weeks have been, do a couple inspections at the beginning of the week and then a day or 2 off in the middle of the week and then the end of the week and Saturday is busy again.

Nolan Kienitz · #12 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 01:20 AM

I have sent questions regarding the "sediment trap" to:

Cities of: Dallas, Little Elm, McKinney, Plano, Wylie, Allen, Frisco.

I had a call from a CBO at Dallas this afternoon, I've received a reply already from Plano.

When I get a chance and get more replies I'll compile and post. Hopefully over this weekend. I am taking Friday off as I'll be out of town with family business due to a death in the family.

BARRY ADAIR · #13 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nolan Kienitz

I am taking Friday off as I'll be out of town with family business due to a death in the family.

Our condolences from my family to yours.

Good job, Mr. Hurst

Glenn Duxbury · #14 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 08:22 AM

Hi all &

* 'Up here' (B.C., Canada), we call 'em dirt legs /sediment legs, in case that's a new term you haven't heard.

Geez & all the time I thought ours was 'clean'...

-Glenn Duxbury, CHI

Jim Luttrall · #15 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BARRY ADAIR

Our condolences from my family to yours.

Good job, Mr. Hurst

Ditto Nolan and Rick.

Nolan Kienitz · #16 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 08:45 AM

Thanks for wishes guys.

OK - Now here is some information I've obtained from two of the AHJ's I sent questions regarding the gas-line sediment trap.

From AHJ's verbal phone calls:
"Drip Legs" for moisture concerns and only at meter.
"Sediment Trap or Dirt Leg" for debris and at appliance (IE: furnace, water heater).

Phone call from City of Dallas Code Official: Said that (their view) with the multiple vertical rises in the gas lines in/around the meter and to house and more vertical rise changes, etc. and that the gas delivered is 'dry' it has never been a requirement to require a sediment trap at the appliance. He commented that the IRC (and others) are a 'nationally written' code and that there are local variances/exceptions, etc. In this market (DFW) this particular item does not apply.

I asked him why then they did not have this written up as an 'amendment' to "not be required"? He said that maybe he would bring it up at a future meeting of the local AHJ's where some of them write 'combined' amendments to the IRC, etc. He said that in his 23-years with the City of Dallas this is the first time anyone has brought this item up as a concern or interest. BTW - He was very open, friendly, etc. and not at all argumentative.

I told him that Rowlett's AHJ was going to start checking for it (per Rick's note) and he found that interesting, but commented that wasn't necessary - in his view/interpretation.

Here is an e-mail from the City of Plano, TX:

Plano does not require the sediment trap or drip leg due to the fact that moisture in the gas has never been an issue in Plano. Sediment is usually the by product of moisture within the system and sediment traps would normally be installed at the appliances whereas, drip legs deal with moisture accumulation within the system due to elevation changes in piping (slope/verticle risers). Ronnie Frazier with Oncore gas has told me that Plano has never had moisture related issues however, if there is any moisture within the gas mains that the provider is able to filter at gas regulation stations throughout the city therefore, drip legs and sediment traps are not necessary. I as a master plumber believe it is best to have as few joints as possible in a gas system and adding joints that are not necessary creates a greater potential for gas leaks.

Gary Miles, CBO
Assistant Building Official
Building Inspection Department
City of Plano
+++++++++++++

That is all I have so far.

When digging on-line the other night I noted that Frisco and Dallas both have their code amendments available and that they are very similar documents. Which synchs up with what the City of Dallas official commented on ... in that some of the AHJ's do meet and discuss some of these items, but each AHJ has their own guideline, but some things must be shared, etc.

Rick Hurst · #17 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 04:09 PM

For the locals in our area (eg. Jim and Nolan)

The City of McKinney called me today and told me as of this past Monday, they are now requiring "sediment" traps.

Rick

imported_John Smith · #18 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 07:01 PM

How come the "assistant building official" is interpreting requirements. Is the building official vacation?

Nolan Kienitz · #19 (**permalink**) 08-05-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imported_John Smith

How come the "assistant building official" is interpreting requirements. Is the building official vacation?

He was "directed" to do so by his boss ... the :"building official". I got a reply from the boss first with a cc to the assistant being advised to help me out.