| (a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when
used in this section, have the following meanings, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Leakage test--An operation performed on a school
LP-gas system using LP-gas as the test medium at not more than normal
operating pressure and a gauging instrument measuring gas pressure
in psig, ounces/square inch, or inches of water column to verify there
is no gas leakage.
(2) School district--An entity created under the laws
of this state and accredited by the Texas Education Agency under Texas
Education Code, Chapter 39, Subchapter D; a private elementary or
secondary school, other than a school in a residence; or a state or
regional school for the blind and visually impaired or the deaf created
under Texas Education Code, Chapter 30.
(3) School district facility--Each building or structure
operated by a school district and equipped with a school LP-gas system
in which students receive instructions or participate in school sponsored
extracurricular activities, excluding maintenance or bus facilities,
vehicle fueling facilities, administrative offices, and similar facilities
not regularly used by students.
(4) School LP-gas system--All piping, fittings, valves,
regulators, appliance connectors, equipment, and connections supplying
fuel gas from the outlet of the shutoff valve at each LP-gas storage
container or upstream of each meter to the shutoff valve(s) on each
appliance in a school district facility.
(5) Supplier--An individual or company that sells and
delivers LP-gas to a school district facility. If more than one individual
or company sells and delivers LP-gas to a school district facility,
each individual or company is a supplier for purposes of this section.
(b) School district requirements. A school district
shall ensure that a leakage test is performed on each school LP-gas
system as specified in this section.
(1) The leakage test shall be performed by an LP-gas
licensee, an individual registered with the Commission pursuant to
§9.13 of this title (relating to General Installers and Repairman
Exemption), or an employee of the school district who is a certificate
holder.
(2) If a leak is found in a school LP-gas system, the
school district shall immediately remove the affected school district
facility from LP-gas service until repairs are made and it passes
a subsequent school LP-gas system leakage test. If an employee of
a school district performs the initial test, then the subsequent test
may not be performed by a school district employee.
(3) Each school district shall provide the district's
supplier with a copy of the most current LP-Gas Form 30 as proof the
school LP-gas system has been tested in accordance with this section.
(4) A school district shall retain LPG Form 30 specifying
the date and result of the leakage test performed on each school LP-gas
system for a minimum of five years from the date each test was performed.
A school district shall make LPG Form 30 readily available for review
by the Commission or its authorized representative upon request.
(c) Leakage test requirements.
(1) The results of the leakage test for each building
or structure shall be immediately documented on LPG Form 30.
(2) LP-gas shall be used as the test medium.
(3) Leakage test pressure shall not exceed normal operating
pressure.
(4) Leakage test duration shall not be less than 30
minutes.
(5) Test pressure shall be monitored with a manometer
or with a pressure-measuring instrument designed and calibrated to
read, record, or indicate a pressure loss caused by leakage during
the test period. Mechanical gauges used to measure test pressures
shall have a range such that the highest end of the scale is not greater
than five times the test pressure.
(6) The manual shutoff valve installed in the piping
upstream of each appliance must be open and must supply pressure to
the appliance. To prove the integrity of the 100 percent pilot shutoff
valve on each appliance so equipped, the manual control on the 100
percent pilot shutoff valve must be turned to the on position. Pilots
not incorporating a 100 percent pilot shutoff valve and all manual
gas valves not incorporating safety shutoff systems shall be in the
off position prior to the leakage test.
(d) Methods for conducting a leakage test.
(1) Upstream of first stage regulator. Insert a pressure
gauge between the manual shutoff valve on the container(s) and the
first stage regulator. Admit full container pressure to the system,
and then close the manual shutoff valve on the container(s). Release
gas from the system to lower the pressure gauge reading by 10 psig.
If there is no decrease or increase in gauge pressure after the minimum
test duration of 30 minutes, the system has no leakage and may remain
in service.
(2) Between first stage and second stage regulators.
Insert a pressure gauge with a 30-psig scale downstream of the first
stage regulator, pressurize the system to normal operating pressure,
and then close the manual shutoff valve on the container(s). Release
LP-gas from the system to lower the pressure gauge reading by at least
one-half the inlet pressure to the second stage regulator. If there
is no decrease or increase in gauge pressure after the minimum test
duration of 30 minutes, the system has no leakage and may remain in
service.
(3) Downstream of final stage regulator(s). For systems
serving appliances that receive gas at pressures of 1/2 psig or less,
insert a water manometer or pressure gauge into the system downstream
of the final system regulator. Pressurize the system to normal operating
pressure and close the manual shutoff valve on the container(s). To
ensure that all regulators in the system are unlocked and a leak anywhere
in the system is communicated to the gauging instrument, release enough
gas from the system, through a range burner or other suitable means,
to drop the pressure to 9 (plus or minus 1/2) inches of water column.
If there is no decrease or increase in gauge pressure after the minimum
test duration of 30 minutes, the system has no leakage and may remain
in service.
(e) Supplier requirements. A supplier shall terminate
LP-gas service to a school district facility if:
(1) the supplier receives official notification from
the school district or the person conducting the leakage test that
there is leakage in a school LP-gas system;
(2) the leakage test performed on a school LP-gas system
was not performed in accordance with the requirements of this section;
or
(3) the supplier has not received a copy of LPG Form30
from the school district verifying that the school LP-gas system has
been tested in accordance with this section.
(f) Commission requirements.
(1) At the request of a school district, the Commission
shall assist the district in providing for the certification of an
employee of the school district or school, as applicable, to conduct
a leakage test.
(2) AFS shall initiate any enforcement proceedings
necessary under Texas Natural Resources Code, Chapter 113.
(g) Compliance deadlines.
(1) Each school district shall ensure a leakage test
is performed as required by this section at least once every two years.
(2) School districts shall complete the leakage tests
before the beginning of the school year. In the case of a year-round
school, a school district shall ensure that a leakage test in each
school district facility is conducted and reported not later than
July 1 of the year in which the test is performed.
(3) A school district may perform the leakage tests
on a two-year cycle provided that at least one-half of the school
district's facilities are tested each year.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §9.41 adopted to be effective April 10, 2002, 27 TexReg 2815; amended to be effective September 1, 2005, 30 TexReg 4810; amended to be effective February 1, 2008, 33 TexReg 122; amended to be effective December 28, 2009, 34 TexReg 9405; amended to be effective December 24, 2012, 37 TexReg 9913; amended to be effective January 6, 2020, 45 TexReg 127 |
