(c) Testing.
(1) A natural gas piping pressure test
performed under a municipal code in compliance with paragraphs (4) and (5) of
this subsection shall satisfy the testing requirements.
(2) A pressure test to determine if the
natural gas piping in each school facility will hold at least normal operating
pressure shall be performed as follows:
(A)
School facility pipe testing includes all gas piping from the outlet of the
purchase meter to each inlet valve of each appliance.
(B) For systems on which the normal operating
pressure is less than 0.5 psig, the test pressure shall be 5 psig and the time
interval shall be 30 minutes.
(C)
For systems on which the normal operating pressure is 0.5 psig or more, the
test pressure shall be 1.5 times the normal operating pressure or 5 psig,
whichever is greater, and the time interval shall be 30 minutes.
(D) A pressure test using normal operating
pressure shall be utilized only on systems operating at 5 psig or greater, and
the time interval shall be one hour.
(3) The testing shall be conducted by:
(B) a qualified employee or agent of the
school who is regularly employed as or acting as a maintenance person or
maintenance engineer; or
(C) a
person exempt from the plumbing license law as provided in Texas Occupations
Code, Chapter 1301.
(4)
The testing of public school facilities shall occur as follows:
(A) for school facilities tested prior to the
beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, at least once every two years
thereafter before the beginning of the school year;
(B) for school facilities not tested prior to
the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, as soon as practicable thereafter
but prior to the beginning of the 1998-1999 school year and at least once every
two years thereafter before the beginning of the school year;
(C) for school facilities operated on a
year-round calendar and tested prior to July 1, 1997, at least once every two
years thereafter; and
(D) for
school facilities operated on a year-round calendar and not tested prior to
July 1, 1997, once prior to July 1, 1998, and at least once every two years
thereafter.
(5) The
testing of charter and private school facilities shall occur at least once
every two years and shall be performed before the beginning of the school year,
except for school facilities operated on a year-round calendar, which shall be
tested not later than July 1 of the year in which the test is performed. The
initial test of charter and private school facilities shall occur prior to the
beginning of the 2003-2004 school year or by August 31, 2003, whichever is
earlier.
(6) The firm or individual
conducting the test shall immediately report any hazardous natural gas leak as
follows:
(A) in a public school facility, to
the board of trustees of the school district and the natural gas supplier;
and
(B) in a charter or private
school facility, to the person responsible for such school facility and the
natural gas supplier.
(7)
The school pipe testing shall be recorded on Railroad Commission Form
PS-86.