Current through Reg. 49, No. 12; March 22, 2024
(a)
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to implement the requirements of Texas
Utilities Code, §§
RSA
121.5005 -
RSA
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 person responsible for a school facility specifying the date and
result of each test as provided by subsection (c) of this section.
(2) terminating natural gas service to a
school facility in the event that:
(A) the
natural gas supplier receives notification of a hazardous natural gas leak in
the school facility piping system pursuant to this rule; or
(B) the natural gas supplier does not receive
written notification specifying the date that testing has been completed on a
school facility as provided by subsection (c) of this section, and the results
of such testing.
(3) A
natural gas supplier may rely on a written notification complying with this
rule as proof that a school facility is in compliance with Texas Utilities
Code, §§
RSA
121.5005 -
RSA
121.507, and this rule.
(4) A natural gas supplier shall have no duty
to inspect a school facility for compliance with Texas Utilities Code,
§§
RSA
121.5005 -
RSA
121.507.
(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:
(A) a licensed plumber;
(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.
(d) Records.
Natural gas suppliers shall maintain for at least two years a listing of the
school facilities to which it sells and delivers natural gas as well as copies
of the written notification regarding testing, Form PS-86, and hazardous leaks
received pursuant to Texas Utilities Code, §§
RSA
121.5005 -
RSA
121.507, and this rule.