Beginning in the new year, New York City buildings will have to make sure their gas lines are up to code.
On January 1st, the city’s Local Law 152 (passed in 2016) will go into effect. It means that gas piping systems of all buildings other than those classified as R-3 occupancy (a one- or two-family dwelling, for instance) must be inspected at least every five years by a licensed master plumber (An exception would be for newer buildings, in which case the initial inspection would take place in the 10th year, after a letter of completion, a Certificate of Occupancy, or the date the building was completed as determined by the Buildings Department rule).
Of the scope of the inspection, the law states:
“At each inspection, in addition to the requirements prescribed by this article or by the commissioner, all exposed gas lines from point of entry of gas piping into a building, including building service meters, up to individual tenant spaces shall be inspected for evidence of excessive atmospheric corrosion or piping deterioration that has resulted in a dangerous condition, illegal connections, and non-code compliant installations. The inspection entity shall also test public spaces, hallways, corridors, and mechanical and boiler rooms with a portable combustible gas detector to determine if there is any gas leak, provided that such testing need only include public spaces, hallways and corridors on floors that contain gas piping or gas utilization equipment.
When does my building need to be inspected? Here is the inspection cycles rule LL152 enforces.
