Article 7. Seismic Gas Shutoff Devices of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 13. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 7.

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.

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).

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.

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).

Any new seismic gas shutoff device sold by any person in this state shall, prior to sale, be certified by the State Architect.

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.