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Tool Hound

Gas shut-off valves for seismic areas

By Justin Fink
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When the ground and the house shake, so do the pipes within. So it’s no surprise that the most common cause of earthquake related fires is gas leaks. All it takes is a ruptured pipe and a spark for ignition.

If you live anywhere in the UBC’s “Extreme” (red) or “High” (orange) risk zones – shown in the map above- and have natural gas appliances, you are at risk.

Many houses in the affected portions of the country are required by building code to have an automatic gas shutoff valve. Installed as an in-line component on the house side of the meter, these valves are anchored to the structure of the building (or to the ground, in some cases) and, when disturbed by an earthquake of a predetermined magnitude, close off to stop incoming gas.

 

THE BAD NEWS:  These valves are only being enforced in new construction and major renovations, so many existing houses are unprotected.

THE GOOD NEWS:  These valves aren’t that expensive (usually around $100-$150), and are relatively simple to install. 

 

A more extensive list of devices approved by the State of California,

 

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  1. InspectorDude | Sep 06, 2010 12:21pm | #1

    A couple of corrections, if I may. These seismic gas shut-off valves have to be installed at the point-of-sale in most real estate transactions in the Los Angeles area. The minimum cost (including installation) is $400.00 and must be inspected by the city.

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