Natural Gas Pipeline Safety (Construction, Operation And Maintenance) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2189)

SEVENTH SCHEDULE(Regulations 20, 21, 24 and 37)CUSTOMER METERS, SERVICE REGULATORS AND SERVICE LINESScope7.1 This Schedule prescribe the minimum requirements for installing customer meters, service regulators, service lines, service line valves and service line connections to mains.Protection from damage of customer meters and regulatorsInstallation requirements7.2 A person who installs a customer meter or service regulator inside a building shall ensure that(a) the customer meter or service regulator is in a readily accessible location,(b) the customer meter or service regulator is protected against corrosion and other damage, and (c) the customer meter or service regulator is protected against any likely vehicular damage and the buried upstream regulator.7.3 A service regulator that is installed outside a building required to be installed within a building shall be located as near as possible to the point of the service line entrance.7.4 Each meter required to be installed within a building shall be located in a ventilated peace and at a distance of not less than 914 millimetres from any source of ignition or any source of heat, which might damage the meter.7.5 Where feasible, the upstream regulator in a series shall be located outside the building, unless it is located in a separate metering or regulating building.Protection from vacuum or back pressure7.6 If a customer's equipment is likely to create a vacuum or a back pressure, a device shall be installed to protect the system.Service regulator vents and relief vents7.7 (1) A service regulator vent and relief vent shall terminate outdoors.(2) The outdoor terminal of a service regulator vent or relief vent shall(a) be rain and insect resistant,(b) be located at a place where gas from the vent can escape freely into the atmosphere and away from any opening into the building, and(c) be protected from damage caused by submergence in an area where flooding may occur.Pits and vaults7.8 A pit or vault which houses a customer meter or regulator at a place where vehicular traffic is anticipated, shall be of the capacity able to support the traffic.Installation of customer meter and regulator7.9 A meter or regulator shall be installed to minimise anticipated stress on the connecting piping and the meter.7.10 When a close all-threaded nipple is used, the wall thickness remaining after the thread is cut, shall meet the minimum wall thickness requirements prescribed in this Schedule. 7.11 A connection made of lead or other easily damaged material shall not be used in the installation of a meter or a regulator.7.12 A regulator which might release gas in its operation shall be vented to the outside atmosphere.Operating pressure for customer meter installations 7.13 A meter shall not be used at a pressure which is more than 67% of the manufacturer’s shell test pressure.7.14  A person who intends to install a new meter shall test it to a minimum of 69 kPa gauge. 7.15 A rebuilt or repaired tinned steel case meter shall not be used at a pressure that exceeds 50% of the pressure used to test the meter after rebuilding or repairing.Installation of service linesDepth7.16 Subject to paragraph 7.17 each buried service line shall be installed with at least 305 millimetres of cover in a private property and at least 457 millimetres of cover in a public area.7.17 Where an underground structure prevents installation at the depths specified in paragraph 7.16, the service line shall be installed in a manner that will enable the service line, withstand any anticipated external load. Support and backfill7.18 A service line shall be properly supported on undisturbed or well-compacted soil.7.19 The material used for the backfill for the installation of a service line shall be devoid of any element that is likely to damage the pipe or its coating.Grading for drainage7.20 Where condensate in gas is likely to cause interruption in the gas supply to the customer, the service line shall be graded so as to drain into the main line or into drips at the low points in the service line.Protection against piping strain and external loading7.21 Each service line shall be installed so as to minimise anticipated piping strain and external loading.Installation of service lines into buildings7.22 Each underground service line installed below grade through the outer foundation wall of a building shall(a) be protected against corrosion, in the case of a metal service line,(b) be protected from shearing action and any backfill settlement in the case of a plastic service line, and(c) be sealed at the foundation wall to prevent leakage into the building.7.23 A vent line from the annular space shall extend to a point where gas cannot be a hazard and extend above grade terminating in a rain and insect resistant fitting if the conduit is sealed.Installation of service lines under buildings7.24 Where an underground service line is installed under a building(a) it shall be encased in a gastight conduit,(b) the conduit and the service line shall, extend into a normally usable and accessible part of the building, if the service line supplies the building it underlies, and(c) the space between the conduit and the service line shall be sealed to prevent gas leakage into the building if the conduit is sealed at both ends.Locating underground service lines7.25 Each underground non-metallic service line, which is not encased, shall have a means to locate the pipe requirements in compliance with paragraph 6.25 of the Sixth Schedule.Valve requirements of service line7.26 A service line shall have a service-line valve which meets the applicable requirements of the First and Third Schedules except that a valve incorporated in a meter bar, which allows the meter to be bypassed, shall not be used as a service-line valve.7.27 A person shall not use a soft seat service line valve if its ability to control the flow of gas is likely to be adversely affected by exposure to anticipated heat.7.28 Each service line valve on a high-pressure service-line, installed above ground or in an area where the blowing of gas may be hazardous, shall be designed and constructed to minimise the possibility of the removal of the core of the valve with any special tool. Location of valves of service linesRelation to regulator or meter7.29 A service-line valve shall be installed upstream of the regulator or, if there is no regulator, upstream of the meter.Outside valves7.30 A service line shall have a shut-off valve in a readily accessible location that is outside the building if feasible.Underground service line valves7.31 Each underground service-line valve shall be located in a covered durable curb box or standpipe which permits the ready operation of the valve and is supported independently of the service line.General requirements for connections to main piping of service linesLocation of service line connection7.32 A service line connection to a main line shall be located at the top of the main line or at the side of the mainline if it is not practicable, unless a suitable protective device is installed to minimise the possibility of dust and moisture being carried from the main into the service line.Compression-type connection to main7.33 A person who intends to install a compression-type service line to the mainline connection shall(a) ensure that the line is of the requisite design,(b) install it to effectively sustain the longitudinal pull out or thrust force caused by contraction or expansion of the piping, or anticipated external or internal loading, and(c) ensure that any gasket used in connecting the service line is compatible with the kind of gas in the system.Connection of service line to cast iron or ductile iron mains7.34 A person shall connect a service line to a cast iron or ductile iron mainline by a mechanical clamp, drilling and tapping the mainline, or by any other method that meets the requirements of paragraph 5.3 to 5.6 of the Fifth Schedule.7.35 Where a threaded tap is inserted, the requirements of paragraphs 3.24 and 3.25 of the Third Schedule shall apply.Steel service lines7.36 A person shall construct a pipe that has a design for a minimum of 689 kPa gauge for a steel service line.Cast iron and ductile iron service lines7.37 A cast iron or ductile iron pipe that is not more than 152 millimetres in diameter shall not be installed for a service line. 7.38 Where a cast iron pipe or ductile iron pipe is installed for use as a service line, the part of the service line which extends through a building wall shall be a steel pipe.7.39 A cast iron or ductile iron service line shall not be installed in unstable soil or under a building.Plastic service lines7.40 A person who intends to install a plastic service line outside a building shall install it below ground level.7.41 Despite paragraph 7.40 a plastic service line(a) shall be installed in accordance with paragraph 6.27 of the Sixth Schedule,(b) may terminate above ground level and outside a building if(i) the above ground level part of the plastic service line is protected against deterioration and external damage, and(ii) the plastic service line is not used to support any external load.7.42 A plastic service line inside a building shall be protected against external damage.Copper service lines7.43 A copper service line installed within a building shall be protected against external damage.New service lines not in use7.44 An operator who installs a service line which is not placed in service after completion of installation shall comply with one of the following conditions until the customer is supplied with gas:(a) the valve which is closed to prevent the flow of gas to the customer shall be provided with a locking device or other means designed to prevent the opening of the valve by a person other than a person authorised by the operator;(b) a mechanical device or fitting which will prevent the flow of gas shall be installed in the service line or in the meter assembly; or(c) the customer's piping shall be physically disconnected from the gas supply and the open pipe sealed.Excess flow valve performance standard for service lines7.45 A person who installs an excess flow valve to be used on a single residence service line that would operate continuously throughout the year at a pressure of not less than 69 kPa gauge, shall ensure that each valve(a) functions properly up to the maximum operating pressure at which the valve is rated, (b) functions properly at all temperatures reasonably expected in the operating environment of the service line,(c) at 69 kPa gauge(i) will close at 50% or more above, the rated closure flow rate specified by the manufacturer,(ii) upon closure, for an excess flow valve, designed to allow pressure to equalise across the valve, reduce gas flow to a level not exceeding 5% percent of the manufacturer's specified closure flow rate, up to a maximum of 0.57 cubic meter per hour,(iii) upon closure, for an excess flow valve, designed to prevent equalisation of pressure across the valve, reduces gas flow to no more than 0.01 cubic meter per hour; and(d) does not close when the pressure is less than the manufacturer's minimum specified operating pressure and the flow rate is below the manufacturer's minimum specified flow rate.7.46 Without limiting the effect of the requirements of the First and Third Schedules, a person who installs a valve shall ensure that each valve shall on closure reduce the gas flow.7.47 An operator shall mark or otherwise identify the presence of an excess flow valve in the service line.7.48 An operator shall locate an excess flow valve as near as practical to the fitting that connects the service line to its source of gas supply.7.49 An operator shall not install an excess flow valve on a service line where(a) that operator has prior knowledge of the presence of any contaminant in the gas system, and the presence of the contaminant could reasonably be expected to cause the excess flow valve to malfunction, or(b) the excess flow valve is likely to interfere with the necessary operation and any maintenance activity on the service line.Contents of excess flow valve customer notification7.50 A written notice to a customer shall contain an explanation in respect of the following:(a) that an excess flow valve that meets the performance standards prescribed in paragraphs 7.45 to 7.49, is available for the operator to install if the customer bears the cost associated with the installation;(b) the potential safety benefits which may be derived from the installation of an excess flow valve, including the explanation that an excess flow valve is designed to shut off flow of natural gas automatically if the service line breaks;(c) that if the customer requests the operator to install an excess flow valve, the customer, in addition to the cost of installation may later incur cost for the maintenance and replacement of that excess flow valve, and(d) details of the installation, maintenance and replacement of an excess flow valve.Interpretation7.51 In this Schedule, unless the context otherwise requires,“cost of parts” means the cost of the parts of the excess flow valve required for its installation;“costs associated with installation” includes the costs directly connected with the installation of an excess flow valve, the cost of parts, labour, inventory and procurement but does not include maintenance and replacement costs until they are incurred;“service line customer” means a person who pays the gas bill, or a person who requests for a service yet to be established;“shearing action” means any action that produces forces operating in opposite directions; and“shell test pressure” means the gauge pressure at which the valve pressure was tested which must be at least 1.5 times the maximum allowed pressure at 38°C rounded off to the next highest one bar increment.

Procedures to Follow




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Responsible Institution

Ministry of Energy

Ministries Enclave Accra, Ghana Opposite Pension House, SSNIT
Email:info@energymin.gov.gh
Website:www.energymin.gov.gh

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