GAS SAFETY

Information Bulletin
September 2011

G-03-11-ABSA
Page 1 of 5

SUBJECT: Fuel Gas Pressure Piping in Plants

TO:

All Accredited Inspection Authorities, Safety Codes Council, Gas Utilities,

Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops, Canadian Propane Association (CPA)
Members, Propane Suppliers, Commercial and Industrial facilities as well
as Gasfitters/installers.

This bulletin has been jointly developed by Safety Services, the Boilers & Pressure
Vessels Sub Council, the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA) and the Gas Sub
Council to inform industry of the requirements associated with the installation of natural
gas and propane gas pressure piping in Alberta.
The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to ensure that Designers and Installers are
aware of the provisions for pressure piping above and below 15 psi (103 kPa) and of
the overlap with the authorities having jurisdiction before work proceeds.
The CSA B149.1-2010 Natural gas and propane installation code addresses all
pressure values and all locations.
The Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation under the Safety Codes Act adopts certain
ASME B31 Piping Codes and the CSA B51 Boiler, pressure vessel, and pressure piping
code. This regulation does not apply to natural gas or propane piping used for fuel
purposes including such piping in a pressure plant, power plant or heating plant.
In the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation, the following definitions apply to the
design and construction of a pressure piping system:
"Pressure Piping System" means pipe, tubes, conduits, fittings, gaskets, bolting
and other components that make up a system for the conveyance of an expansible
fluid under pressure and may also control the flow of that fluid.
"Expansible Fluid" means
(i) a vapour or gaseous fluid, or
(ii) a liquid under pressure and at a temperature at which the liquid changes to a
gas or vapour when the pressure is reduced to atmospheric pressure or
when the temperature is increased to ambient temperature.

{ABSA: D0278546.DOC .1}

Issue of this STANDATA is authorized by

the Administrators

[Original Signed]
Alberta Municipal Affairs Safety Services, 16th Floor, 10155 102nd Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 4L4
Safety Codes Council, 1000, 10665 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3S9

G-03-11-ABSA
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"Pressure Plant" means a pressure vessel or system or arrangement of

pressure vessels and the pressure piping system used in connection with the
pressure vessel the system of pressure vessels or the arrangement of pressure
vessels.
The Gas Code Regulation AR 111/2010 adopted the CSA-B149.1-2010, Natural Gas
and Propane Installation Code. This code applies to the installation of piping and tubing
systems, appliances, equipment, components, venting and accessories where gas is to
be used for fuel purposes, but does not cover piping or tubing where the gas is used
as a feedstock in petroleum refineries or chemical plants.
Piping and tubing systems under B149
The minimum requirements for natural gas piping or propane vapour phase piping with
operating pressures up to and including 125 psig (860 kPa) shall be at least Schedule
40. All natural gas piping or propane vapour phase piping with operating pressures
exceeding 125 psig (860 kPa) and all liquid propane piping shall be at least Schedule
80 if joints are either threaded or threaded and back welded. At least Schedule 40 shall
be used if joints are either welded or welded and flanged. Tubing shall be certified for
the pressure and application,
Copper tubing for gas systems shall meet the ASTM Standard B837 or B88 and
seamless steel tubing shall comply with ASTM Standard A179/A179M. Plastic piping
and tubing shall comply with CSA B137.4.
Permitting requirements under both Gas & Boiler Disciplines
The Safety Codes Act, under the Permit Regulation, Alberta Regulation 204/2007,
indicates that a permit, for a gas installation that is under the Gas Discipline, is required:
1. 12(1) A permit in the gas discipline is required to install, alter or add to a gas
system.
Work performed on piping under the jurisdiction of the gas regulations must be done by
certified Gas fitters.
Worked performed under the jurisdiction of ABSA shall follow requirements outlined in
the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation and ABSA document AB-518.
Pressure piping system at plant site.
1.

ABSA will be responsible for the design review and registration of all process
piping and for natural gas or propane piping extending from process piping at
pressures in excess of 15 psi (103 kPa) and volumes in excess of 500 litres
aggregate internal volume when the design and installation procedures have
been submitted for registration with ABSA.

{ABSA: D0278546.DOC .1}

G-03-11-ABSA
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2.

Any person constructing, modifying or repairing a pressure piping system in

excess of 15 psi (103 kPa), irrespective of the aggregate internal volume, shall
provide ABSA with a program of quality control relating to that activity in
accordance with the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation.

3.

The installation inspection of the piping or tubing system for fuel purposes that
extends downstream of the shut-off valve and/or the pressure regulator will be
carried out under the Gas Code Regulation. The required gas permit will cover
the installation of the gas-fired appliances and the final piping where gas is used
for fuel purposes.
Installation inspection carried out under Gas Code Regulation shall include:
Verification from a contractor whether the pressure piping system has been
registered with ABSA;
Installer qualifications (gasfitter) respecting the type of installation permitted;
Piping and tubing systems (size, schedule, capacity, supports, etc.);
Pressure regulators and line relief devices (working pressures, capacities,
venting to a safe location outdoors);
Appliances (approvals for Alberta, clearances, protection, venting systems
and air supply);
For underground piping and tubing (burial depth, not permitted under building,
sleeves on riser passing through concrete/pavement, swing joint on entry to
buildings, etc.);
Odorization (when process gas is utilized for fuel purposes); and
Other inspection items associated with B149 Codes and material
specifications.

4.

A natural gas service and meter upstream of a gas distribution system on a plant
site shall be in accordance with CSA Standard Z662-2007, the Pipeline Act and
regulations under that Act.

5.

A gas distribution system downstream of the supplier/distributor monitoring

station for process is under ABSA, and for fuel proposes, will be under the Gas
Code Regulation.
Registration under the Pressure Equipment Safety Regulation shall include
pressure piping systems design submissions as stated in that regulation,
Sections 16(1) & (2) and ABSA publication AB-518.

{ABSA: D0278546.DOC .1}

G-03-11-ABSA
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Exemptions under ABSA

The regulations made pursuant to the Safety Codes Act governing pressure equipment
do not apply to:
(a) A pressure piping system operating at and with relief valves set at 103 kPa
(15 psig) or less;
(b) A pipeline as defined in the Pipeline Act, except for a boiler, pressure vessel,
pressure plant or heating plant that forms the whole or any part of an
installation as defined in the Pipeline Act.
ABSA will review, for design registration in accordance with the Pressure Equipment
Safety Regulation, design submission of pressure piping systems supplying gas to
fuel-burning equipment. An Accredited Municipality or an Accredited Agency in
accordance with the Permit Regulation will issue the gas permit(s) and carry out the onsite inspections of fuel gas systems for compliance with the B149 Codes.
Anyone concerned about the status of a fuel gas pressure piping system could contact
Alberta Municipal Affairs, Safety Services office, visit the Web site,
www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/cp_index.cfm, contact the local Alberta Boilers Safety
Association (ABSA) office or visit ABSA Web site, http://www.absa.ca/ for further
information.

K.T. Lau
Administrator and Chief Inspector
Pressure Equipment Safety (ABSA)

Sidney Manning
Chief Administrator/Inspector
Plumbing and Gas (AMA)

{ABSA: D0278546.DOC .1}

G-03-11-ABSA
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Symbol Legend
Gas Supplier Distribution line

(Alberta Resource Development, Rural Utilities Branch)

On-site Process Distribution

ABSAregistered pressure piping system

On-site fuel Distribution

Gas Code Regulation Registered/Non-registered

Pressure piping

Plant Site

Gas Supplier Regulator

and gas Meter Station

Process Building

Security Gate

Administration
Building
Process Bldg
Maintenance shop

Process Building (Not all fuel-burning appliances would be in buildings in a pressure plant)
MU Roof top Make-up Air Units

B1 Boiler 400,000 Btuh Space Heating

Process
equipment
MU-1
Process equipment

Process
equipment
Boiler Room #1

MU-2

B1

{ABSA: D0278546.DOC .1}