Dirt Pockets and placement

[scarey8]

Pretty straight forward installation of drip pockets.... or so I thought. 

Inspectors in my area (kingston)  Union gas in the surrounding areas and Utilities kingston have two different expectations of drip pocket installation.

Problem I am running into is particularly with RTU installs, code states drip pockets to be installed at the bottom of a piping system or on the final drop to an appliance.  Logically the lowest point on a RTU piping system would be at the meter.  I will usually pipe off the meter with a 90 with a nipple into a tee and install a drip leg at the meter area to service the total piping system.  I have been failed for inspection numerous times, inspectors want the drip pockets in conditioned space incase of any moisture freezing in the dirt pocket is one excuse I am given.  the other inspector just wants them at the RTUs.  strangely enough at the highest point.  often times its easier to not argue with an inspector cause you won't win.  But am I right in the placement of drip pockets?/

[Admin]

You could have Dirt (Dust) Pockets and Drip Pockets in certain gas piping systems.  See Section 6.13 Drip and Dirt pockets, in the B149.1-10 code.

Dirt pocket (dust pocket) — a pocket in a piping system designed for the collection of dirt and from which the dirt can be removed.

Drip pocket (drip) — a pocket in a piping system designed for the collection of condensate and from which the condensate can be removed.

code states drip pockets to be installed at the bottom of a piping system or on the final drop to an appliance.

Your code reference is similar to Clause 6.13.1 which pertains to dirt pockets, not drip pockets and remove the word "or" out of your sentence.  The dirt pocket would still be installed at the appliance, even though you don't technically have a final drop.  In your case the dirt pocket could be lower than the final section of piping feeding the RTU.  See Clause 6.13.1.

6.13.1
A dirt pocket shall be installed at the bottom of any piping or tubing on the final drop serving an appliance other than
(a) an illuminating appliance;
(b) a range;
(c) a clothes dryer;
(d) an outdoor grill;
(e) a portable appliance or equipment;
(f) a decorative appliance;
(g) a gas log;
(h) a room heater; and
(i) an appliance incorporating a sediment trap.

I'm not sure how relevant drip pockets are these days.  Most natural gas distributors have made improvements to their refining process and already eliminate alot of the moisture.  See Clause 6.13.5.

6.13.5
A drip pocket shall be provided at all points in a piping system where condensation can collect, such as points where the piping is exposed to either wide ranges or sudden changes in temperature.

It sounds like the inspectors want you to install a dirt pocket at the appliance but due to the freezing temperatures in your area they don't want a drip pocket installed at the gas meter.

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