SECTION 9.41. Testing of LP-Gas Systems in School Facilities

(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.

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