FUELS SAFETY BRANCH INFORMATION BULLETIN July 1994 Guidelines fr Maintenance and Inspectin Prgrams fr Natural Gas and Prpane Appliances and their Fuel Features In Schls The Ontari Gas Utilizatin Cde states that the wner f every building* where a natural gas appliance is installed shall ensure that: the appliance and its fuel features** are maintained in accrdance with the manufacturer s recmmended maintenance prcedures. an evaluatin f the maintenance prcedures, referred t abve, is carried ut at least nce every ten years and where necessary new r upgraded prcedures are established. an inspectin f the appliance and its fuel features is carried ut by a prperly certified persn at least nce every ten years t ensure that the appliance and its fuel features are in safe perating cnditin and that the installatin is in cmpliance with the Energy Act and Gas Utilizatin Cde. a recrd is maintained fr each inspectin until the next inspectin. * Fr definitin purpses in the Cdes, a schl is cnsidered t be "a building ther than". ** Fuel features as defined in the cde means the piping, venting, manual valves, autmatic valves r ther related devices required fr the safe peratin f an appliance. The Prpane Strage Handling and Utilizatin Cde requires a similar maintenance and inspectin prgram under Sectin 4(2) O/Reg 250/94. In this case the respnsibility t carry ut the inspectin lies with the prpane supplier. The fllwing guidelines recmmend mre frequent inspectins and utline pints f particular cncern fr varius parts f the installatin in schls. These suggestins are based n the results f the extensive surveys cnducted by all Schl bards in 1993.
These guidelines are nt a handbk and the exercise f cmpetent judgement is a necessary requirement t be emplyed cncurrently with their use. It is nt the intent f these guidelines t supersede the applicable requirements f the Ontari Gas Utilizatin Cde nr the Ontari Prpane Strage, Handling and Utilizatin Cde, and any ther applicable cdes and regulatins. BOILERS AND ROOF- TOP UNITS Bilers shuld be inspected annually. Rf-tp units shuld be inspected at least nce every three years. Inspectin t include: Appliances recrd make, mdel, serial numbers and apprvals. clean and inspect integrity f heat exchanger. check fr prper installatin and peratin f all safety and perating cntrls. check clearances t cmbustibles and fr serviceability. check supply f cmbustin and ventilatin air. visually inspect flame characteristics. cnduct flue gas analysis tests (ptinal). check fr prper installatin and peratin f all shut ff valves. check fr prper regulatr vent and relief valve piping and terminatins. check that explsin relief mechanisms are free t perate (where equipped). Chimney r Vent ensure chimney r vent is in gd perating cnditin and is clear and unbstructed. check fr prperly lined chimney. check vent terminatin clearances.
Vent Cnnectrs check fr signs f crrsin and spillage at the draft hd. ensure cnnectr is prper material. ensure cnnectr is prperly sized, supprted and graded with n dips r sags. check fr clearances t cmbustibles. Husekeeping check fr ptential fire hazards such as strage f gasline, paint thinners and ther cmbustible material (i.e. dirt, lint) near gas appliances. OTHER APPLIANCES Water heaters, ranges, etc., shall be inspected at least nce every ten years as per cde Requirements. Inspectin shuld include all applicable items listed under Bilers and Rf Tp Units. SCIENCE LABS, SHOPS AND OTHER CLASSROOMS WITH GAS PIPiNG It is recmmended that all piping and tubing systems in this categries be inspected at least nce every year. visually inspect piping r tubing fr prper installatin, materials and cnditin. Cver plates ver trughs t be remved. Prhibited materials include: galvanized piping and fittings; sft slder jints in tubing; white tefln tape; valves ther than f the plug, ball r eccentric type. check fr crrsin and replace if deterirated t 50% f riginal wall thickness. ensure that piping r tubing is nt lcated where crrsive chemicals r atmspheres exist. check fr prper supprts n piping r tubing. check fr piping r tubing in direct cntact with masnry r cement and take apprpriate actin, i.e. piping/tubing encased in cement shall be remved frm service; piping/tubing in cntact with masnry r cement where it passes thrugh r inside a blck wall shall be prtected frm cntact with masnry / cement.
check fr prper installatin, accessibility, identificatin and peratin f all shut ff valves. Nte: Main shut-ffs at teacher s lcatin shall be prvided with an installed handle and the lcatin clearly marked with an enamelled metal, substantial fibre r ther permanent tag, s that the piping system it cntrls can be readily identified. It is further recmmended that where a keyed slenid valve is used that a extra key and a manual shut ff be readily available. a leak test shuld be perfrmed. Leak detectin prcedures may include dial tests, pressure tests, liquid leak detectin slutin and leak detectin devices such as sensitive hydrcarbn detectrs r any cmbinatin f the freging. any piping systems n lnger in use shall be discnnected, purged and either plugged r capped. OTHER PIPING OR TUBING SYSTEMS It is recmmended that all ther piping r tubing systems be inspected at least nce every ten years as per cde requirements except that all manual shut ff valves be perated (and lubricated if applicable) at least nce every three years r as recmmended by the manufacturers. Inspectin shuld include all items listed under Science Labs, Shps and Other Classrms as well as the fllwing: check fr crrsin n all abve grund exterir piping. Replace if deterirated t 50% riginal thickness and paint r cat all exterir piping. ensure that all metallic piping r tubing laid undergrund dwnstream f the meter is prtected against crrsin. A brehle leak detectin survey is als recmmended. Check fr insulated fittings between piping at meter and building lines if undergrund gas lines are lcated dwnstream f meter. Existing unprtected steel undergrund lines shuld be visually inspected t determine extent f crrsin, prir t installing an ande. Crrsin cntrl recrds shuld be maintained and a survey frequency f nce every 3 years is recmmended by the utilities. Nte: There shall be n undergrund piping under the building. check fr prper supprts n piping and tubing. Rf tp piping and supprts shall allw fr adequate expansin, cntractin and flexible supprt. check fr prper identificatin f piping and tubing. RECORDS The Natural Gas Cde requires that every wner maintain a recrd f the maintenance and inspectin prgram until the next inspectin and frward a cpy t the distributr. A recrd f the inspectin cnducted by the prpane supplier shall be kept by the wner until the next
inspectin. The Fuels Safety Branch may audit the recrds at any time but des nt receive cpies. Attached are tw examples f checklist style recrds which cmply with cde requirements. It is nt required that yu emply these particular frmats but it is required that a recrd is kept. Piping diagrams shuld be updated after each inspectin with a cpy available at each schl. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED Where an immediate hazard exists the appliance and/r piping system shall have the supply f gas turned ff. The distributr shall be ntified as per cde requirements. Where a cde infractin * is identified but n immediate hazards exists, the distributr shall be ntified as per cde requirements. Crrect replace r repair imprperly installed, leaking, crrded r damaged appliances and their fuel features. Make repairs r replacement accrding t the current cdes. * i.e. a cntraventin f the applicable Act, regulatin r cde as it read when the appliance r wrk was installed. If yu have any questins, please cntact ne f the undersigned Fuels Safety Inspectrs. Yurs sincerely, Rd Crea Ernie Stewart Fuel Safety Inspectrs Schl Gas Piping Prject C-rdinatrs