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Home My WebLink About20030721Decision Memo.pdfDECISION MEMORANDUM TO:COMMISSIONER KJELLANDER CO MMISSI 0 NER SMITH COMMISSIONER HANSEN COMMISSION SECRETARY COMMISSION STAFF FROM:DON HOWELL DATE:JULY 17, 2003 RE:STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THE UPDATED EDITIONS OF THE NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE AND THE UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE; CASE NO. RUL-03-1 (IDAPA DOCKET NO. 31-1101-0301) The Commission s Safety Rules (IDAP A 31.11.01) adopt by reference several national safety codes. Two of these safety codes have recently been updated. The Staff is recommending that the Commission amend its Rule 202 to adopt the 2002 Edition of the National Fuel Gas Code and its Errata No. 54-02-1 dated April 11 , 2003. The Staff is also recommending that the Commission amend its Rule 203 to adopt the 2003 Uniform Mechanical Code. The proposed amendments are shown in the attachment to this decision memorandum. The current edition of the National Fuel Gas Code adopted in Safety Rule 202 is the 1999 Edition. The 2002 Edition of the National Fuel Gas Code includes changes from the 1999 Edition that address the following topics: definitions; gas pipe connections; gas pipe elbows; pressure testing; prohibited materials and in gas pipes; the burial depth of underground gas pipes; the location of gas equipment in residential garages; combustion and ventilation requirements; the location of central gas heating furnaces and boilers; exhaust ducts for gas driers; non- recirculation and recirculation direct gas-fired industrial air heaters; and corrugated chimney liners. The Commission s current Rule 203 adopts those portions of the 2000 Uniform Mechanical Code that explicitly referred to gas or gas-burning appliances. IDAP A 31.11.01.203. Amendments to the previously adopted 2000 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code address the following topics: definitions; requirements for connecting gas equipment; duct clearances and construction; chimneys and vents; fuel piping; and the installation of gas warm-air heating DECISION MEMORANDUM systems, vented gas decorative appliances , gas floor furnaces, vented wall furnaces, gas unit heaters, and gas room heaters. The Staff also proposes to include several housekeeping matters such as adding website addresses, correcting cross-references, and correcting a mailing address. COMMISSION DECISION Does the Commission wish to amend its Safety Rules 202 and 203 by adopting the updated versions of the National Fuel Gas Code and the Uniform Mechanical Code? Does the Commission approve the attached amendments to its Rules 202 and 203, IDAP A 31.11.01.202. and .203? Does the Commission wish to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule to be published in the Administrative Bulletin on September 3, 2003? cL- Don Howell Vld/N :31-110 1-030 1- DecMemo - dh DECISION MEMORANDUM IDAPA 31 TITLE 11 CHAPTER 01 31.11.01-SAFETY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING RULES FOR UTILITIES REGULATED BY IDAHO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 202.NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE (NFGA) (Rule 202). 01. Adoption By Reference. The Commission adopts by reference the N'FPl'.. 54 "NSI Z223.National Fuel Gas Code, +999 2002 Edition and the errata 99-l- No. 54-02-dated April 2000 1 L 2003 . The +999 2002 Edition of the National Fuel Gas Code is designated as ANSI Z223.+9992002 by the American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI), and as NFPA 54- +9992002 by the National Fire Protection Association (NFP A). The National Fuel Gas Code is jointly published by the American Gas Association, Codes and Standards, 400 N. Capitol Street , Washington, D.c. 20001 , and the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, PO Box 9101 , Quincy, Massachusetts MA 02269-9101,.-aHEl. The Code is available from them both entities and may be ordered online at www.aga.org or www.nfpa.org. Telephone order may be placed by calling toll-free -!--800-344-3555 or 866-816-9444 (3 30 01)( 02. Utility Compliance.All gas corporations subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission are required to abide by applicable provisions of the National Fuel Gas Code and to connect for service and light only those installations that: a. Have been inspected and approved by authorized agencies; or (4-98) b. When inspecting agencies do not exist, to require their customers to abide by applicable provisions of the National Fuel Gas Code as a condition of receiving service or continuing to receive service.(4-98) 203.UNIFORM MECHANICAL CODE (UMC) (Rule 203). 01. Adoption By Reference. The Commission adopts by reference those portions of the Uniform Mechanical Code 200GJ Edition and the undated first errata explicitly referring to gas or gas-burning appliances; provided, however, that unvented room heaters not meeting the requirements of Section 807(c) 924.of the Uniform Mechanical Code may be connected for service if they comply with Sections 6.24 and 7.2 9.23 of the National Fuel Gas Code. The 2003 Edition of the Uniform Mechanical Code 2000 Edition is published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials 20001 South 'llalnut Drive, 'Na1nut California 91789 2825 5001 E. Philadelphia Street, Ontario, CA 91761-2816 and may be ordered by calling 800-284 4406854-2766 or online at www.publications.iapmo.org (3 30 01)( 02. Utility Compliance. Gas Gforporations subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission are required to abide by applicable provisions of the Uniform Mechanical Code and to connect for service and light only those installations that: (3 30 01)( a. Have been inspected and approved by authorized agencies; or (4-98) b. When inspecting agencies do not exist, to require their customers to abide by applicable provisions of the Uniform Mechanical Code; provided, however, that unvented room heaters not meeting the requirements of Section 807 ( c) 924.of the Uniform Mechanical Code may be connected for service if they comply with Sections 6.24 and 7.2 9.23 ofthe National Fuel Gas Code as a condition of receiving service or continuing to receive service. (4 1 98)(