Posted by MoparNorm on Friday, March 14, 2003 at 6:36PM :
In Reply to: Re: not good enough Norm posted by PwrWgnDrvr on Friday, March 14, 2003 at 4:20PM :
Terry,
I don't think I said anywhere in my post that it was a code issue, the UPC changed in 1970 to not allow the exterior use or burial of black iron AND allow the use of galvanized, underground. The keyword being underground. As a former member of the ICBO, I have sat in on many code writting sessions, it takes years to change codes, due to ignorance, provinciality, special interests etc.
That being said it is foolish to use galvanized pipe for gas. I know that from experience and that doesn't need to be documented. Nothing antedotal or noesensical about first hand experience Here are a few "black and white sources for you to grasp.
From the Kohler web site; Galvanized pipe is steel pipe covered with a protective coating of zinc that greatly reduces its tendency to corrode and extends its life expectancy.
It may be used in residential water supply lines, but not gas lines because natural gas causes the zinc to flake off and clog the system.
From the Concord CA Building code;
All exterior gas lines are required to be galvanized. Painting is not allowed.
From the ICBO (the writers of the UPC)
d. Galvanized pipe will meet the minimum pressure requirement of 125 psi when standard (sch 40) is used.
e. Galvanized pipe not only creates greater friction losses than copper and plastic pipes do, but it also has a greater tendency to scale and thus it reduces flow capacity.
So there you go, black and white sources that say exactly what I already know, galvanized pipe flakes and scales as as such is a poor choice for gas lines. I suspect that if and when there is a loss of life or a cronic problem, the Code will be changed.
MN
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