Which meter serves who? I have no idea!

Started by Porcupinepuffer, November 15, 2018, 12:54:27 PM

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Porcupinepuffer

Not recently, but in the past couple of months I was on a job where we were changing a furnace and some other crew showed up to change a hot water tank... The guys doing the tank had to turn off the gas and had no idea which of the 4 meters goes to what residence... And this particular area was full of 50+ homes that were all designed this way. The meters would be found in groups of 4 and you had no way of knowing who's was who's... So the tank guys took a guess and guessed wrong. So I happened to be outside and just listened for when they'd open the gas to the house to see which meter was running. We quickly found the right one...
Now a good month later I ran into this similar situation in another area of Ottawa where there didn't seem to be any way of knowing who's meter was who's to turn off.
Now I just randomly found 6.17.4
"Every piping or tubing system that enters a building that has two or more gas meters shall be permanently
identified with the room number, apartment number, or the area of the building it serves."

Should I have been red tagging this entire neighborhood?

Admin

Technically the person who replaced the furnace or water heater should be making sure the entire job is Code compliant.

The same way you would install bonding to bring older installations up to Code you would be required to properly label that gas meter.

Keep in mind Enbridge won't except a label using paper, tin or marker.  Princess Auto sells a stamp kit that you can embose onto a proper tag approved for outdoors that won't rust or fade.  Noble Trade or any plumbing supplier will carry the tags.

As per Ontario Regulation 212/01 you can issue non immediate warning tags on the other properties with no gas meter identification.  You would have to notify the homeowner in writing and verbally notify the distributor as well give them written notice within 14 days.

Quote14. (3)  Where a holder of a certificate or ROT finds that an appliance or work is in an unacceptable condition but that it does not constitute an immediate hazard, he or she shall,
(a) immediately give oral notice of the condition to the distributor who supplies gas to the appliance or work;
(b) immediately give written notice to the user of the appliance or work describing the condition and advising that notice of the condition has been given to the distributor;
(c) give written notice of the condition to the distributor within 14 days of finding it; and
(d) affix a notice containing the information required in clause (b) to the appliance or work.  O. Reg. 212/01, s. 14 (3).


Attavior

This has come up recently again with my circle of business. What exactly is considered permanent?  Another HVAC company has written recently in "permanent" marker, but that fades in the sun and weather. What exactly does the TSSA mean by permanent in this case? 

tenletters

Quote from: Attavior on October 01, 2022, 05:08:05 PMThis has come up recently again with my circle of business. What exactly is considered permanent?  Another HVAC company has written recently in "permanent" marker, but that fades in the sun and weather. What exactly does the TSSA mean by permanent in this case? 

We hang little sheet metal tags and also write on the meter in super permanent sharpie.
https://www.hvactechgroup.com/hvacforum/index.php?topic=2742 - Free Online Tech Course - HVAC Basics

Attavior

I like the idea of a stamped sheet metal tag. Usually that is what I see, or the cow tags from Peaveymart.

I emailed the TSSA, maybe they'll actual specify what they consider to be permanent.

Admin

Regardless of what the TSSA says it is the distributor who dictates this rule.

In Ottawa, Enbridge will only accept stamped tags outside at the meter.  They will argue the marker will fade.

Attavior

Hey Admin,

Do you have anything written from Enbridge or is it what their inspectors will accept?   

Admin

Nothing in writing.  I deal with them in residential new construction where they enforce these stamped tags.  We only stamp the numbers from the address and that is accepted.

hvactech83

if Code clearly says so then  yes its a red tag ! what if ther is an emergency situation say a  tech  some how damaged a gas pipe or whatever reason maybe ,, if u cant figure out wich meter u shutting off then thats definitely will make matters worse ..