Black pipe for Radiant

I am installing my radiant heater and I need some help on running the black pipe for the propane.
It needs to pass inspection for insurance purposes. Its 125,000 BTU.

I will have approximately 7 foot of pipe on the ceiling, then down the sidewall. 14 foot side wall, will go though the wall about 3 foot above floor.

I've put in pipe a couple times for projects, just never had to make sure it was "to code".

Heres where I need help, plus any other advice would help too.

1. How long does the drip leg need to be after it comes through the wall from the outside?

2. Do I need a drip leg at the furnace, how long?

3. Shut off valve at the furnace, right?

4. 1/2 or 3/4 inch supply line?

5. Is it ok to use EMT conduit clamps to secure the line to the ceiling?

Thanks,
Rick

If it's for gas service, I'm almost certain it has to be installed by a licensed gas fitter to meet code for the same insurance reasons. They go to school to learn all the questions you're asking. It's money well spent. Dave

Codes will vary....you'll have to check with your town. No drip leg coming in but a drip leg at every appliance ..shut off valve on every appliance....attached to wherever with pipe strap or form pipe attachers...doesn't matter much. Still....your code may vary.
Gas fitter? Have no clue what that is...but if you do it right, soap the joints, there should be no problem and if there is, you'll smell it right off.

Needs to be installed by manufactuers instructions that came with heater. Get a copy of national fuel gas code 2009 and it will explain it. Question #1-4 or 6 inch pipe nipple with cap. #2- Only if manufactuers instructions require it. #3-Yes within reach of the heater. #4- What pressure? 1/2 inch black pipe good for 160,000 btu for 20 feet at 11 inches water column. #5- No problem with ent straps. Other things: Pressure test required on pipe, pipe to be labeled per code. Emergency cutoff required where piping enters building. If you are asking these questions you should get a licensed contractor to do the job even though the owner can do this work in NC.

I am not sure on propane but for nat. gas you would need 3/4 at least, depends on pressure. We have a high pressure ( 2 psi) nat. supply and I ran 1/2 od copper int my new shop and then switched to 1/2 black at the regulator. This is for only 45,000 BTU. I was told to use 4" drip leg and the shut of is right before the regulator.

like 135 says, probably has to be by certified fitter or they won't pass it...

Just verified, I can do all the work, a certified pipefitter is not required as long as I do the work.

I have installed black pipe more than a few times in the past, all the jobs checked out ok. I just didn"t know the specifics as to the latest codes off the top of my head. I don"t think that dis-qualifies me from doing it myself.

I just didn"t want to have to re-do small things, such as if drip legs need to be 12 inch and I put in 6 inch. Or if I am marginal on 1/2 inch for flow for the amount of pipe.

My last experience with "professionals" is why I started doing my own. I stopped by during my lunch hour and the two hacks had every fitting on the truck scattered across my gravel driveway and grass, looking for one fitting. They said at they had been looking for this one reducer fitting for 20 minutes. I asked them why they couldn"t run the pipe farther and use a reducer tee there, they said huh, never thought of that.

I may not be certified, but at that point I knew I could do no worse then these two half-wits.

Thanks for the answers to the questions, it obviously will be pressure checked since it is going to be inspected, so it will be safe.

Rick

I know exactly what you mean about some contractors, maybe not so bad now but when there was a lot of new building going on there were people doing a lot of shoddy work! I prefer to do my own work as long as it's something I feel comfortable with. Where I live I could run my own gas line as the meter was already installed and feeding other appliances. I had one very small leak that it took a while to find, just an occasional bubble, a bad flare fitting, but I could smell it! And my nose doesn't work very well anymore!

Because of the moisture content in Propane/Butane you should run soft copper, type L or K with flare fittings, or galvanized. The black pipe will rust and create debri in the line and eventually rust out. We used 6" nipples on the drip legs. Use galvanized 2 hole straps for the pipe hangers. Our plumbing inspectors will not pass 1 hole emt straps.

Not pipefitter, gas fitter. Some have dual tickets though. Shouldn't be that hard to find a good contractor. A bad water line is one thing. A bad gas line could blow your house up with you and your family inside. Dave

Takes a special pipe joint compound . Easy to find.