{"operation":"document","citation":"16 TAC § 8.230","title":"School Piping Testing","source_type":"regulation","agency":"Railroad Commission of Texas","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":"2020-01-06","summary":"(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to implement the requirements of Texas Utilities Code, §§121.5005 - 121.507, relating to the testing of natural gas piping systems in school facilities. (b) Procedures. Natural gas suppliers shall develop procedures for: (1) receiving written notice from a","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/tx-tac-16-8-230.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/tx-tac-16-8-230.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/tx-tac-16-8-230","source_url":"https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/rules-and-meetings?chapter=8&interface=VIEW_TAC&part=1&title=16","body":"(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to implement the\nrequirements of Texas Utilities Code, §§121.5005 - 121.507,\nrelating to the testing of natural gas piping systems in school\nfacilities.\n(b) Procedures. Natural gas suppliers shall develop\nprocedures for:\n(1) receiving written notice from a person responsible for\na school facility specifying the date and result of each test as\nprovided by subsection (c) of this section.\n(2) terminating natural gas service to a school facility in\nthe event that:\n\n(A) the natural gas supplier receives notification of a\nhazardous natural gas leak in the school facility piping\nsystem pursuant to this rule; or\n(B) the natural gas supplier does not receive written\nnotification specifying the date that testing has been\ncompleted on a school facility as provided by subsection (c)\nof this section, and the results of such testing.\n(3) A natural gas supplier may rely on a written\nnotification complying with this rule as proof that a school\nfacility is in compliance with Texas Utilities Code,\n§§121.5005 - 121.507, and this rule.\n(4) A natural gas supplier shall have no duty to inspect a\nschool facility for compliance with Texas Utilities Code,\n§§121.5005 - 121.507.\n(c) Testing.\n(1) A natural gas piping pressure test performed under a\nmunicipal code in compliance with paragraphs (4) and (5) of\nthis subsection shall satisfy the testing requirements.\n(2) A pressure test to determine if the natural gas piping\nin each school facility will hold at least normal operating\npressure shall be performed as follows:\n(A) School facility pipe testing includes all gas piping\nfrom the outlet of the purchase meter to each inlet valve of\neach appliance.\n(B) For systems on which the normal operating\npressure is less than 0.5 psig, the test pressure shall be 5 psig\nand the time interval shall be 30 minutes.\n(C) For systems on which the normal operating\npressure is 0.5 psig or more, the test pressure shall be 1.5\ntimes the normal operating pressure or 5 psig, whichever is\ngreater, and the time interval shall be 30 minutes.\n(D) A pressure test using normal operating pressure\nshall be utilized only on systems operating at 5 psig or\ngreater, and the time interval shall be one hour.\n(3) The testing shall be conducted by:\n(A) a licensed plumber;\n(B) a qualified employee or agent of the school who is\nregularly employed as or acting as a maintenance person or\nmaintenance engineer; or\n(C) a person exempt from the plumbing license law as\nprovided in Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1301.\n(4) The testing of public school facilities shall occur as\nfollows:\n(A) for school facilities tested prior to the beginning of\nthe 1997-1998 school year, at least once every two years\nthereafter before the beginning of the school year;\n(B) for school facilities not tested prior to the beginning\nof the 1997-1998 school year, as soon as practicable\nthereafter but prior to the beginning of the 1998-1999 school\nyear and at least once every two years thereafter before the\nbeginning of the school year;\n(C) for school facilities operated on a year-round\ncalendar and tested prior to July 1, 1997, at least once every\ntwo years thereafter; and\n(D) for school facilities operated on a year-round\ncalendar and not tested prior to July 1, 1997, once prior to\nJuly 1, 1998, and at least once every two years thereafter.\n(5) The testing of charter and private school facilities\nshall occur at least once every two years and shall be\nperformed before the beginning of the school year, except for\nschool facilities operated on a year-round calendar, which\nshall be tested not later than July 1 of the year in which the\ntest is performed. The initial test of charter and private\nschool facilities shall occur prior to the beginning of the\n2003-2004 school year or by August 31, 2003, whichever is\n\nearlier.\n(6) The firm or individual conducting the test shall\nimmediately report any hazardous natural gas leak as\nfollows:\n(A) in a public school facility, to the board of trustees\nof the school district and the natural gas supplier; and\n(B) in a charter or private school facility, to the person\nresponsible for such school facility and the natural gas\nsupplier.\n(7) The school pipe testing shall be recorded on Railroad\nCommission Form PS-86.\n(d) Records. Natural gas suppliers shall maintain for at\nleast two years a listing of the school facilities to which it\nsells and delivers natural gas as well as copies of the written\nnotification regarding testing, Form PS-86, and hazardous\nleaks received pursuant to Texas Utilities Code, §§121.5005\n- 121.507, and this rule.","truncated":false,"body_characters":4593}