During the ICC hearings this spring in Dallas, the Plumbing Code hearing (discussed in last month’s column) was straddled by the Fuel Gas and Mechanical Code hearings. The first hearing was on the Fuel Gas Code.
Very few code changes were proposed to the Fuel Gas Code. The most exciting part of the Fuel Gas Code hearing was what was not accepted, as opposed to what was accepted. There were many proposed changes – some good, some terrible – that were recommended for denial by the Committee. In the grand scheme of things, the Fuel Gas Committee accepted very few major changes to the code.
The two changes that might have an impact on the engineering community are the changes to the hydrogen fuel piping section. One change adds requirements for hydrogen generating stations. One such method of generating hydrogen for fuel purposes is the electrolysis of water. The change requires such systems to conform to ISO 22734-1 or 22734-2. The other change to hydrogen fuel requirements is in regard to the piping. The change will add reference to ASME B31.12, which is the newer standard on hydrogen piping and pipelines.
Some of the changes that did not receive favorable consideration were the prohibition of installing water heaters or other appliances below a stair, the protection of tubing throughout the entire area of a wall cavity and the protection of insulation installed outdoors.
One of the perennial changes was a prohibition of unvented fuel-fired appliances in residential buildings. This change seems to come up every cycle. Once again, the Committee recommended denial for the very obvious reason that these appliances are listed for unvented use. Fortunately, this year the change did not take the typical two hours of discussion. The change was discussed and voted on very quickly.