Is 2 PSI lp-gas allowed inside buildings?

[Alan Waterman]

Looking a replacing my 23 year old water heater with a tankless. I have a 1" I.D gas line running about 130 feet from the second stage regulator to the other side of the house where it tees off for the 2 furnaces about 5 feet away and then the other T is 3/4" about 20 more feet before it tees off again...1/2" to the dryer about 10 feet and 3/4" to the hot water heater about 10 feet. There are no other gas appliances in the house. Cooking is all electric.

A local plumber thinks it will be sufficient for a 199 BTU tankless but agrees it will be marginal.

I asked about changing the second stage regulator to one that outputs 2 psi and installing Maxitrol 325 series regulators further downstream. The response was that 2 psi is not legal inside residential buildings in California.

I find no mention of this is chaper 12 of the California plumbing code. The code says that for 2 psi systems that inline regulators that are CSA certified be installed to reduce the pressure back down to 14" before appliances.

Is this not relevant or am I misinterpreting the code?

The first plumber said that 2psi gas is not allowed inside homes anywhere in the US. The second plumber said it's just California.

 

[WorthFlorida]

This article explains the pressures but not your specific question. The two plumbers are correct for the pressure at the appliance. Since residential appliances cannot be feed with more than a 14" water column, most never go over that for a home. You should ask your propane supplier. They should know the locals codes.

https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Pressures.php

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Alan Waterman]

This article explains the pressures but not your specific question. The two plumbers are correct for the pressure at the appliance. Since residential appliances cannot be feed with more than a 14" water column, most never go over that for a home. You should ask your propane supplier. They should know the locals codes.
https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Pressures.php
https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Gas_Pressures.php

That's what the Maxitrol inline regulators are for is to reduce the 2 psi back down to 14". But the two plumbers said that it's not legal to have 2 psi in any part of the gas piping system inside the home. I wanted to replace my second stage regulator which outputs 14" and replace it with one that outputs 2 psi and then reduce the pressure to 14" with the inlines downstream but both of them said it's not legal.

 

[FDNY/RETIRED]

I do not know if this helps you out. But I believe these are from 2019 for codes in I believe Merced Calf. I have no formal knowledge of the use of propane. Except on my Travel Trailer and what I did with propane when living in it. While my house was being rebuilt after Sandy. I could be way off for what you are looking for.

https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2019/chapter/12/fuel-gas-piping#1208.5

https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2019/chapter/12/fuel-gas-piping#1208.8

 

[Alan Waterman]

I do not know if this helps you out. But I believe these are from 2019 for codes in I believe Merced Calf. I have no formal knowledge of the use of propane. Except on my Travel Trailer and what I did with propane when living in it. While my house was being rebuilt after Sandy. I could be way off for what you are looking for.

https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2019/chapter/12/fuel-gas-piping#1208.5

https://up.codes/viewer/california/ca-plumbing-code-2019/chapter/12/fuel-gas-piping#1208.8

Thanks. I spent several hours this afternoon reading through chapter 12 hence the reason for my post. The code lists provisions and requirements for what is needed when interior line pressure is greater than 2 psi. I saw nothing that outlaws higher pressure.....just what needs to happen if you have higher pressure.