2005 California Health and Safety Code Sections 19200-19205 Article 7. Seismic Gas Shutoff Devices

19200.  The Legislature finds and declares that  existing law does
not require that any new seismic gas shutoff valve sold  by any
person in this state shall, prior to sale, be certified by the State
Architect.
19201.  As used in this article:
   (a) "Seismic gas shutoff device" means a seismic gas shutoff
device installed on customer-owned gas piping certified by the State
Architect pursuant to Section 19202.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, "seismic gas shutoff device" does not include any
device installed on a gas distribution system owned or operated by a
public utility.
   (b) "Excess flow gas shutoff device" means a gas shutoff device
installed on customer-owned gas piping described in paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) of Section 19202 that has been certified by the State
Architect pursuant to that section.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, "excess flow gas shutoff device" shall not include
any device installed on a gas distribution system owned or operated
by a public utility.
   (c) "Customer-owned gas piping" means all parts of the gas piping
system downstream of the gas utility point of delivery, including,
but not limited to, downstream of the gas utility meter and service
tee (also known as a bypass tee).
19201.5.  The State Architect shall establish a certification
procedure for earthquake sensitive gas shutoff devices and shall
establish a fee for the certification.  Fees imposed pursuant to this
section shall be equal to the costs associated with making the
certification and are continuously appropriated to the State
Architect for administering the certification program.
19202.  The State Architect shall certify seismic gas shutoff
devices which, as determined by the State Architect, comply with
Chapter 12-23 (commencing with Section 12-23-101) of Part 12 of Title
24 of the California Code of Regulations, and which meet all of the
following requirements:
   (a) (1) The design of the device shall be operationally simplistic
with an integral process design for assuring an optimum level of
control and trouble-free functional operation.
   (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), automatic gas shutoff devices
that are not activated by motion, but are activated by significant
gas leaks or overpressure surges, shall be certified by the State
Architect, if they otherwise meet the requirements of this section.
   (b) The design of the device shall provide a proven method to
automatically provide for expedient and safe gas shutoff in an
emergency.
   (c) The design of the device shall minimize or preclude the
disruption to the flow of gas from erroneous vibrations, alien
forces, or both erroneous vibrations and alien forces.
   (d) The design of the device shall provide a capability for ease
of consumer or owner resetting without concern for safety.
   (e) The operational and functional design of the device shall be
at least equal to the device certified by the State Architect
pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 19180).
19203.  Any new seismic gas shutoff device sold by any person in
this state shall, prior to sale, be certified by the State Architect.
19204.  This article is limited to the service connections of
individual structures to main gas lines and to connections of
appliances to gas lines and does not apply to devices within gas
lines.
19205.  In the next annual code adoption cycle that begins after
January 1, 2003, the Department of Housing and Community Development,
in consultation with the Office of the State Architect and the State
Fire Marshal, shall consider whether or not to propose for adoption
and approval by the Building Standards Commission the requirement
that seismic gas shutoff devices or excess flow gas shutoff devices
be installed in all or a portion of dwelling units, hotels, motels,
and lodginghouses.  If the department makes such a proposal to the
commission, the commission shall take action in that annual code
adoption cycle to adopt and approve or to not adopt and approve the
proposal.  If the department decides to not make such a proposal, the
department shall explain in writing the reasons for its decision.
It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section that the
department include in any proposal to the commission an analysis of
the cost and safety benefits of the proposal.