Underground/Buried Gas Line

[D45]

Is the black coated, steel (iron?) gas pipe acceptable to bury for underground use?

Don't they make a green or orange coated black pipe, that is rated for underground use?

I need to run an 18-20 foot piece.........underground

Fill in some gravel around it for drainage and fill in the trench Like that Pro-Flex CSST plastic coated steel flexible line?

How do the fittings attach?

It will be twice the money compared to black pipe

No one around here uses csst or suggests it

The old line was plastic with plastic fittings, mated up to a black pipe stub at the meter

Not really concerned about code......I live in unincorporated county

Just want to do it right, that will last

 

[ScottsGT]

Good info here

https://www.gastite.com/us/products/underground.html

 

[James-W]

May I ask why you want to run metal pipe underground rather than plastic pipe? It doesn't really matter to me, you are free to run whatever pipe you feel is best. I am just curious as to why you want to use metal pipe rather than the normal plastic gas pipe.

 

[D45]

The plastic line shown here is brittle, and cracking

The end fittings are plastic also....

CSST is not commonly used around Indiana and most places wont even install it

What plastic line is available to be bought and used?

 

[D45]

I can only find GasTite CSST locally (plastic coated metal), not the plastic

 

[laser3kw]

Not really concerned about code......I live in unincorporated county

The plastic line shown here is brittle, and cracking

I would go by code. The code is usually developed after they see something like your statement about brittle and cracking.
Plus if something goes wrong and an insurance company becomes involved, you will have an easier time proving the install was correct.
also some good reading here:
GJ gas line discussion link

 

[D45]

Link does not work

 

[laser3kw]

GJ gas line discussion link
fixed

 

[D45]

Ok......sounds like I need to find yellow polyethylene plastic pipe

 

[bannerd]

Ok......sounds like I need to find yellow polyethylene plastic pipe

That's what we run here, although there is thousands of miles of steel gas pipe all over the city. Back in the day if the natural gas pipe had a leak we would thread a screw into the hole and weld it. Can't do that now days.

 

[DMaxRocks]

I had my 500 gallon propane tank moved to make room for my shop. The 18 year old copper pipe was still good, but i had the propane guy bury new copper since he had to replace 50% because of the move.

-Mark

 

[6768rogues]

I agree that following the code is the smart thing to do. Codes are reactive, not proactive. Something goes terribly wrong and the code is written to address it. If what you propose is prohibited by the code, there is a reason. Read the code and decide what to use based on it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You didn't mention what state or country you live in so it's difficult to provide advice. In the US at least, the types of gas piping used or allowed can vary depending on where you live. It may also depend on whether you're talking about LP gas or natural gas, but I'm not sure about that. I'd check with your local gas supplier or utility to see what they recommend or require.

 

[D45]

Natural gas

Indiana

 

[Jackfre]

For underground today I run the yellow poly pipe, it meets the NFPA 54 requirements. Sand backfill and do not forget to run a tracer wire.

 

[sixty4]

Natural gas

Indiana

We use a product called mill wrap pipe. It is a piece of black iron pipe (with a light tar coating) with a yellow plastic cover to protect it. You cut the plastic back cut your thread install, then paint open areas and wrap with a rubber type tape. I agree it's a bit of work but I think if not wanting to go with plastic this is what you are after.

One builder we do work for only wants this when we run to generators BBQ's and other stuff outside underground. It takes my supply house a week to get it in though.
.

 

[HoosierMark]

I live in Indiana but in a small town. The gas utility will sell us the plastic line for installation. You might call the utility and see where locals are getting their line from.

 

[D45]

My utility company laughed at me, they do no public sales, said to hire a plumbing company certified in this work

 

[2007ultra]

I just joined the board (cool forums!), and ran across your post. Perhaps this will help.

I ran gas to my garage a couple of years ago. In my area metal pipe is no longer up to code. If you can run metal pipe in your location, it needs to be wrapped and have anodes welded to each exposed riser. I ran Gastite brand PE pipe to Gastite risers for my project. I purchased the Gastite from a local HVAC and plumbing supply warehouse. If that's not an option for you, it appears that you can purchase similar stuff online.

http://naturalgasplumbing.com/Polyethylene-PE-Gas-Pipe/

Always safest to follow the code IMHO.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Those prices are sky high !!

I'm used to 55 cents a foot for the yellow PE plastic pipe (you pickup), and price should not change that much between sizes.

Risers that don't include the coupling should not be that expensive.

OP . . . find a local wholesale supplier and go pickup with a utility trailer . . . BUT . . .
. . . . for SURE go with yellow PE plastic pipe with risers, stablock couplings, shutoffs, & tracer wire.

 

[Kpaige]

I purchased csst from Lowes and the fittings worked awesome instructions for the fittings come with them. I did put mine into 1 1/4 pipe alsp wrapprs with yellow gas line marker surronded in gravel.
We have Gopher issues so hense the extra pipe.

 

[mizzoutrover]

A gas line installation below ground in no time to go off the reservation. The gas companies would use these personal great ideas if they were safe. 25 year industry engineering veteran.... Follow the advice of a couple of the posters here and go to the naturalgasplumbing.com web site and buy the polyethylene pipe system made for underground gas use. The others variations mentioned will eventually fail... houses blow up when these things go bad and these "great ideas" will go bad. I have investigated gas piping failures where people died, you don't want something like that on your conscience.

 

[nadogail]

What does your gas utility recommend?

 

[Tunajoe]

If you use the PE yellow line, just remember that the yellow part is susceptible to UV.
Make sure you buy the Metal riser transition piece and keep all yellow below ground.

 

[Lippyp]

Over here in the UK it's all yellow poly pipe. We replaced the pipework from our bulk LPG tank to the house as the old copper (plastic coated) line was too small for our new gas boiler. Was dead easy, we got someone in with a backhoe to dig the trench, I ran the pipe which the gas company supplied and for a fixed £100 fee they supplied the pipe and came and connected each end after checking the installation. We dug a nice big trench and I ran water and electricity in it to the garage at the same time.

 

[D45]

$50 line, $50 chamfer tool, $60 risers, $36 couplings

NO WAY!

 

[D45]

I cannot believe how hard, and expensive, this is to install a buried line myself

 

[The FIB]

Around here the gas company uses the yellow poly pipe with a wire attached to it so the utility locator can find it, its amazing how shallow they run it, Ive encountered it less than 12" deep.

 

[D45]

Per my Lake County Building Department, black pipe is acceptable to be used for underground natural gas applications

As is, no special coating or wrap is needed........black ole black pipe

 

[tlspeed1]

Just bought my gas line from here

http://www.hdpesupply.com/yellow-mdpe-polyethylene-pipe/

The will cut you any length you desire, but it costs double per foot, which is about $0.63 a foot.

Ordered the risers from them as well. They are expensive, but they eliminate any underground splices

I think the chamfer tool is really only needed if you planning on doing a lot of them.

If you don't need the couplings unless you are splicing under ground. I am just using standard pipe to run in to the building.

Install video here makes it look easy

http://www.chicagofittings.com/xrisersvideo.html

 

[Big Bad Dad]

Even in your area, I would at least get recomendation from the natural gas utility or the propane supplier. One thing I have not seen mentioned in this thread: Does the chemical composition of the local soil have any bearing on the material of the pipe? Some soils may contain different acids or alkilines that react differently to different materials. May make a difference. I have seen and helped install copper lines. I have also had to replace 10 year old copper lines that had hole in them from corrosion....

 

[D45]

Ok I found a place online that will sell me a 20 foot section of yellow MDPE 1/2" poly pipe!!

So, I will also need two risers, two couplers, and a chamfer tool right? That's it?

 

[KenC]

Ok I found a place online that will sell me a 20 foot section of yellow MDPE 1/2" poly pipe!!

So, I will also need two risers, two couplers, and a chamfer tool right? That's it?

Chamfer tool not really needed for one job. You can clean up any burrs with a knife and trim a slight chamfer the same way. Tool just makes it easier/faster.

 

[D45]

Just bought my gas line from here

http://www.hdpesupply.com/yellow-mdpe-polyethylene-pipe/

Thanks for the link

I ended up placing an order with them, everything should arrive tomorrow

Was only $178 shipped for a Constab coupling, 90 degree Constab coupling, 20 feet of yellow poly, a chamfer tool, a riser, and a straight transition

Once it is inside the patio, I will just need to buy a long ******, 90 degree elbow and a valve.......all of which I can get locally

Hope to get everything installed this weekend........trench is about half dug out

 

[Jamie V]

Just make sure you get the right chamfer tool for the fittings used (id chamfer for id seal or od chamfer for od seal)

Ask me how I know....

 

[D45]

un-coiling and relaxing the line, haha

Just need to buy a 90 degree elbow and valve for inside the patio

 

[stihlntime]

It's interesting to see what is standard practice in different areas of the country. In my area the majority of installs are propane in unincorporated county. Plain old black pipe in ground transitioning to copper is the norm.

 

[D45]

I contacted numerous certified plumbing companies, NO ONE said they would do the install with black pipe because it would rust out within 5 years

This poly **** is expensive and interesting at the same time, but it will last

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Great choice OP. That is LIFETIME solution that you'll never have to worry about.

Bury it DEEP and don't forget to backfill some dirt, then add the yellow copper tracer wire. That way the buried plastic can be located later.

 

[Kevin54]

On my propane tank, the propane company buried 3/8" soft copper along the foundation and I bet it isn't 9" deep at the most. Common practice around here. I have to run another line for a secondary heater in my garage off of another propane tank. I'm wondering about the plastic line now.