N.J. Admin. Code § 14:7-1.12

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 14:7-1.12 - Minimum cover over natural gas pipelines

(a) Gas distribution mains shall be installed with a cover of not less than 30 inches above the top of the pipe, except where:

1. Interference with other subsurface structures makes it impracticable to maintain this depth of cover;

2. Short length replacement sections of distribution mains require offsets that could result in the trapping of liquids; or

3. It is not practical to install the main with at least 30 inches of cover.

(b) If a gas distribution main is installed with less than 24 inches of cover in accordance with (a) above, the installed pipe shall be protected with shielding that conforms with gas industry standards, both in respect to material and manner of installation. No shielding shall be required for a gas distribution main with 24 to 30 inches of cover.

(c) Gas transmission pipelines shall be installed with a cover of at least 48 inches above the top of the pipe, except where interference with other subsurface structures makes it impracticable to maintain this depth of cover or where short length replacement sections require offsets that could result in the trapping of liquids. In such cases, if cover is less than 42 inches, shielding shall be installed that conforms with gas industry standards, both in respect to material and manner of installation.

(d) Whenever conditions permit, gas service lines shall be installed with a cover of not less than 18 inches above the top of the pipe, except where interference with other sub-surface structures or the insertion/lining of service lines makes it impracticable to maintain this depth of cover, or where short length replacement sections require offsets that could result in the trapping of liquids. In such cases, shielding shall be installed that conforms with gas industry standards, both in respect to material and manner of installation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:7-1.12

Recodified from N.J.A.C. 14:7-1.14 and amended by R.2009 d.69, effective 3/2/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 4915(a), 41 N.J.R. 1083(a).
Section was "Minimum cover of mains". Rewrote (a) and (b); and added (c). Former N.J.A.C. 14:7-1.12, Blow-offs, repealed.
Amended by R.2009 d.291, effective 10/5/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 997(a), 41 N.J.R. 3844(b).
Recodified (a) in part as (a)1, (a)2 and new (b); in the introductory paragraph of (a), substituted "30" for "36" and a colon for "interference"; in (a)1, inserted "Interference", and substituted a semicolon for "or where short" at the end; in (a)2, inserted "Short", and substituted "; or" for ", in which event"; added (a)3; recodified former (b) and (c) as (c) and (d); in (b), inserted "If a gas distribution main is installed with less than 24 inches of cover in accordance with (a) above," and the last sentence; in (c), inserted "or where short length replacement sections require offsets that could result in the trapping of liquids" and ", if cover is less than 42 inches"; and in (d), inserted ", or where short length replacement sections require offsets that could result in the trapping of liquids".