Pa gas lines

[USER=236]@Paul in PA[/USER]
He may know. Let's see if he is available

As far as I know, there isn't a required depth. I'll do some digging but fairly confident it's variable depending on the line and other utilities. I just recently came across a gas line at 32" and have seen them as deep as 42"

I was at a Dig Safety program yesterday, no minimum.

Also the mark out will not advise of a depth. Once installed, the gas company has little control over any regarding.

I have seen a 4" gas line at less than 1'. Also it was not where the mark out said. But this was difficult site, cast iron drainage pipe, multiple abandoned water lines. Multiple call backs for gas and water mark out and giving the utilities an chance to note actual found locations. Frontage streets to the North and South originaly had two different water service providers. Water company had no good idea on what was in the side street. It ended up looking like it had blue chicken pox.

Paul in PA

my question is due to the fact that last November I put a 3/4" rebar through a 4" medium pressure gas line only buried 15" and not marked, nor did they have an easement for it to be there, but I also didn't call to have the utilities marked, Habitat project

DanBarry, post: 340317, member: 653 wrote: but I also didn't call to have the utilities marked, Habitat project

Do they charge for locates in Pa.? Here, there is hardly ever an excuse good enough for not having the locates done. I take it the lesson is expensive.

joabmc, post: 339961, member: 10395 wrote: I'll do some digging...

Nice pun!:-D

vern, post: 340389, member: 3436 wrote: Do they charge for locates in Pa.? Here, there is hardly ever an excuse good enough for not having the locates done. I take it the lesson is expensive.

Not sure about PA, but here they won't mark for setting rods, you have to tell them you are digging test pits or something of that nature.

Here's Federal Regulations.....................

[Title 49, Volume 3]
[Revised as of October1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR192.361]

[Page 59-60]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
   TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED)
PART 192--TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart H--Customer Meters, Service Regulators, and Service Lines
Sec. 192.361  Service lines: Installation.
(a) Depth. Each buried service line must be installed with at least 12 inches (305 millimeters) of cover in private property and at least 18 inches (457 millimeters) of cover in streets and roads. However, where  an underground structure prevents installation at those depths, the service line must be able to withstand any anticipated external load.
(b) Support and backfill. Each service line must be properly 
supported on undisturbed or well-compacted soil, and material used for backfill must be free of materials that could damage the pipe or its coating.
(c) Grading for drainage. Where condensate in the gas might cause interruption in the gas supply to the customer, the service line must be graded so as to drain into the main or into drips at the low points in the service line.
(d) Protection against piping strain and external loading. Each 
service line must be installed so as to minimize anticipated piping 
strain and external loading.
(e) Installation of service lines into buildings. Each underground service line installed below grade through the outer foundation wall of a building must:
(1) In the case of a metal service line, be protected against 
corrosion;
(2) In the case of a plastic service line, be protected from 
shearing action and backfill settlement; and
[[Page 60]]
(3) Be sealed at the foundation wall to prevent leakage into the 
building.
(f) Installation of service lines under buildings. Where an 
underground service line is installed under a building:
(1) It must be encased in a gas tight conduit;
(2) The conduit and the service line must, if the service line 
supplies the building it underlies, extend into a normally usable and accessible part of the building; and
(3) The space between the conduit and the service line must be sealed to prevent gas leakage into the building and, if the conduit is sealed at both ends, a vent line from the annular space must extend to a point where gas would not be a hazard, and extend above grade, terminating in a rain and insect resistant fitting.
[35 FR 13257, Aug. 19, 1970, as amended by Amdt. 192-75, 61 FR 18517, Apr. 26, 1996; Amdt. 192-85, 63 FR 37503, July 13, 1998]