Sediment trap location w/ gas flex line

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Taken from Ashi Reporter
by
Bruce Barker, ASHI Member

Drips (also called drip legs and drip tees) and sediment traps are components in a
fuel gas system that help remove impurities from fuel gas. They look similar and are
installed in the same place, but they serve different functions. A drip helps remove
moisture from fuel gas, whereas a sediment trap helps remove particulate impurities
from fuel gas.
Both drips and sediment traps begin with a tee fitting into which a short-capped
pipe (about 3 inches long and called a nipple) is inserted and turned toward the
ground. The difference between these components is where the gas connector enters
the tee fitting. With a drip, the gas connector enters the tee fitting at a 90-degree
angle to the nipple and in line with the gas line entering the appliance. With a sediment
trap, the gas connector enters the tee fitting in line with the nipple and at a
90-degree angle to the gas line entering the appliance. The theory is that particulate
impurities will more easily fall into the nipple if the gas flow is in line with the nipple
and must change direction to enter the appliance.
IRC G2419.2 requires drips only if the gas supplier advises that wet gas exists. This
condition is rare in modern gas systems. IRC G2419.4 requires independent sediment
traps unless one is incorporated as part of the appliance. Exceptions are
gaslights, ranges, clothes dryers and outdoor grills.

Drip legs in gas piping are usually located at every vertical drops of the system.

Hope this helps. ? 

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Minnesota seems to be a little different. Must be why Jeff is there. 


The basic requirements. Sediment trap requirements are fairly consistent across the country, but Minnesota is a little more strict.  Minnesota requires the following for a sediment trap:
•Must be installed as close to the inlet of the equipment as practical
 •Must be installed ahead of all pounds-to-inches pressure regulators
 •Must be made of a tee fitting with a capped nipple, a minimum of 3 inches in length, in the bottom opening of the run of the tee
 •Provide a 90-degree change of direction of gas flow (the photo at right is an improper installation, because it does not provide this)
 •The cap shall be at an elevation lower than the tee fitting.
 
Minnesota requires sediment traps at all automatically controlled gas utilization equipment, but good luck getting a straight definition of what "automatically controlled" is.  I've been trying for the past four years, and I've received different answers from different authorities.  Some jurisdictions say that any appliance that automatically controls the flow of gas is 'automatically controlled', such as a clothes dryer or a range.  Other jurisdictions say that only appliances that turn on and off by themselves are automatically controlled, such as a furnace and water heater.  That's the definition I prefer to use.

http://www.trulia.com/blog/inspectorreuben/2010/09/sediment_traps

[Joe Keresztury]

Qoute from the Caveman- "Minnesota seems to be a little different. Must be why Jeff is there."
Agreed

[Jeffrey R. Jonas]

Qoute from the Caveman- "Minnesota seems to be a little different. Must be why Jeff is there."
Agreed

Perhaps Minnesota is different because Jeff is here!

[Joe Keresztury]

Kinda goes hand in hand. Don't ya think? I am not shocked.

[Marcel R. Cyr]