# 255.181 Distribution line valves.

**Citation:** 16 NYCRR 255.181  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** New York State Public Service Commission  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** Not stated

Transmission and Distribution of Gas. (a) Each high pressure distribution system must have valves spaced so as to reduce the time to shut down a section of main in an emergency. The valve spacing is determined by the operating pressure, the size of the mains, and the local physical conditions as well as the number and type of consumers that might be affected by a shutdown.

(b) Each regulator st

## Document text

(a) Each high pressure distribution system must have valves spaced so as to reduce the time to shut down a section of main in an emergency. The valve spacing is determined by the operating pressure, the size of the mains, and the local physical conditions as well as the number and type of consumers that might be affected by a shutdown.

(b) Each regulator station controlling the flow or pressure of gas in a distribution system must have a valve installed on the inlet piping at a distance from the regulator station sufficient to permit the operation of the valve during an emergency.

(1) Such distance must be at least 50 feet (15.2 meters) but no more than 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) from the regulator.

(2) Under unique circumstances which make it impractical to locate the valve at least 50 feet (15.2 meters) from the regulator, a lesser, approved spacing may be used.

(c) Except for single feed systems, regulator stations reducing the pressure from pounds to pounds must also have an emergency valve installed on the station's outlet piping in compliance with paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section.

(d) Each valve on a main installed for operating or emergency purposes must:

(1) be placed in a readily accessible location so as to facilitate its operation in an emergency;

(2) have an operating stem or mechanism that is readily accessible; and

(3) if the valve is installed in a buried box or enclosure, be installed so as to avoid transmitting external loads to the main.

(e) Each station bypass valve or valve that separates systems operating at different pressures must be identified to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent operation, or be equipped with a device designed to prevent unauthorized operation.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Document/I505c96f6cd1711dda432a117e6e0f345?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default)>
- Source ID: `ny-dps-nycrr`
- SHA-256: `6731cf82374a413d7874fd5d9769646210830a441e2d805f6c38402414dd82a0`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-12T06:20:40.894Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T12:54:58.599Z
- Document slug: `ny-nycrr-255-181`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "jurisdiction": "US-NY",
  "title": 16,
  "part": "255",
  "partTitle": "Transmission and Distribution of Gas",
  "scopeKind": "gas-pipeline-safety",
  "tocPath": [
    "Part 255 Transmission and Distribution of Gas",
    "Design of Pipeline Components"
  ],
  "legalScope": "Complete current terminal legal unit exposed by the DPS-designated Title 16 NYCRR pipeline-safety part inventory.",
  "applicabilityCaveat": "Applicability depends on the part and section, Commission jurisdiction, commodity and facility type, intrastate or interstate status, operator and activity, exemptions, waivers, federal preemption, Commission orders, and incorporated law. DPS inspects portions of interstate systems for PHMSA, but PHMSA retains federal enforcement authority. DPS states that all jurisdictional Part 256 gas-holder and Part 257 LPG-plant facilities have been decommissioned even though those regulations remain unrepealed.",
  "incorporationCaveat": "These parts incorporate or rely on federal pipeline regulations, federal and New York statutes, Commission rules and orders, and privately authored technical standards. Part 10 supplies incorporation details. References metadata preserves explicit citations but does not reproduce external material, determine licensing rights, or decide whether a particular incorporation is static or dynamic.",
  "publicationCaveat": "The New York Department of Public Service identifies these eleven Title 16 NYCRR parts as its state pipeline-safety regulations and links to the public DOS/Westlaw NYCRR reading copy. That site labels the online text unofficial and directs users needing evidentiary accuracy to the Official NYCRR maintained by the Department of State Division of Administrative Rules. Each section's 'Current through' date is the most recent official NYCRR supplement covering that section, not a uniform corpus-wide amendment date.",
  "rights": "New York government-edict text is preserved with DPS, Department of State, and publisher attribution. The public reading site's presentation and enhancements, agency marks, forms, annotations, and incorporated federal or privately authored standards require separate rights review; this connector does not claim rights in those materials.",
  "rightsReviewRequired": true,
  "currentThrough": "2024-05-31",
  "historyEvents": "No event is emitted because the section reading copy does not supply an explicit adoption, filing, or effective-date history.",
  "publisherCitation": "16 CRR-NY 255.181",
  "identityAnomaly": null,
  "references": [],
  "region": "NY"
}
```