The information in this booklet is provided to assist in planning your meter area requirements. Actual field conditions may result in additional requirements. For more information, please contact the ATCO Gas office in your area. Contents General Requirements 1 Location 1 Size 1 Inlet and Outlet Piping 4 Protection 4 Security 5 Electrical 5 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) 5 For Additional Information 6
General Requirements Legal description and service address of the property/building to be serviced is required. An adequate meter area must be provided at no cost to ATCO Gas to install metering and regulating equipment, regardless of whether it is a new facility or an expansion to an existing facility. A meter area is the space set aside outside the building for metering and regulating equipment. The meter area must not be used for any other purpose. The meter area must be accessible at all times to authorized ATCO Gas personnel. The installation of the meter, regulator and house line must conform to the Alberta Building Code, CAN/CSA-Z662, CAN/CGA-B149.1, the Alberta Safety Codes Act and the Alberta Gas Code Regulations. Prior approval must be obtained from ATCO Gas when a Header Set is required. All meters, regulators, reliefs, bypasses, pipe and fittings installed by ATCO Gas remains the property of ATCO Gas. Location Meter must be outside The meter area must be adjacent to the building within the customer s property. Clear, unobstructed access is required to the meter area at all times. Location of the meter area at final grade is critical. Suitable provision, if required, must be made by the Mechanical Contractor to extend the regulator and/or relief vent lines to meet the specifications in the CAN/CSA B149.1,Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code. Size The minimum size of the meter area will be determined by ATCO Gas for each installation, based on gas load, inlet and outlet pressure, regulation equipment, and the number and type of meters. Special applications require consultation with ATCO Gas prior to continuing with the installation. Using the meter size for the appropriate flow rate, the required meter area size can be determined. 1
Meter Area Size (Elevated Pressure) Total Load Distance Between Service Riser and House Line K Unobstructed Area Required Length G Width H Width of Space to Right of House Line /Left of Riser J House Line Distance from Finished Wall I Height of House Line from Finished Grade 28 m³/h (1,000 cfh) 24-36 (0.6-0.9 m) 48-60 36 (1.2-1.5 m) (0.9 m) 12 (0.3 m) 6 (0.15 m) 28-142 m³/h (1,001-5,000 cfh) 36 - (0.9-1.2 m) 88 36 (2.2 m) (0.9 m) 142-228 m³/h (5,001-8,000 cfh) 72-84 (1.8-2.1 m) 112-124 60 (2.8-3.1 m) (1.5 m) Requires site visit by ATCO Gas 228-651 m³/h (8,001-23,000 cfh) 96-144 (2.4-3.6 m) 136-184 60 (3.5-4.7 m) (1.5 m) 24 (0.6 m) Requires site visit by ATCO Gas Meter Area Size (Low Pressure) Total Load Distance Between Service Riser and House Line K Unobstructed Area Required Length Width G H Width of Space to Right of House Line/Left of Riser J House Line Distance from Finished Wall I Height of House Line from Finished Grade 0-13 m³/h (0-450 cfh) 16 (0.4 m) 40 24 (1.0 m) (0.6 m) 12 (0.3 m) 4 (0.1 m) (1.2m) 13-21 m³/h (451-750 cfh) 44 24 (1.1 m) (0.6 m) 12 (0.3 m) 4 (0.1 m) (1.2m) 21-28 m³/h (751-1,000 cfh) 24 (0.6 m) 36 (0.9 m) 12 (0.3 m) 6 (0.15 m) 28-142 m³/h (1,001-5000 cfh) 80 36 (2.0 m) (0.9 m) 16 (0.4 m) 142-228 m³/h (5001-8,000 cfh) 84 (2.1 m) 132 60 (3.4 m) (1.5 m) Requires site visit by ATCO Gas 228-651 m³/h (8,001-23,000 cfh) 108 (2.7 m) 1 60 (3.7 m) (1.5 m) 24 (0.6 m) Requires site visit by ATCO Gas 2
Outside Set Area INSIDE BUILDING WALL HOUSE LINE OUTSIDE SERVICE RISER I J K J H G METER AREA REQUIRED The above meter space requirements are for one meter and one outlet pressure per location. Special applications including loads over 651 m³/h (23,000 cfh) or twin regulator runs require a mandatory site visit for specific spacing requirements. A concrete pad is required before the installation of any meter with a minimum capacity greater than 28 m³/h (1,000 cfh) or if any part of the meter set has to rest on the ground. The concrete pad must be finished, ground level and tied into the building foundation. Using the minimum space requirements for the meter set, required size of the concrete pad can be determined. 3
Meter Site Specifications Total Load 0-13 m³/h (0-450 cfh) 13-28 m³/h (451-1,000 cfh) 28-142 m³/h (1,001-5,000 cfh) 142-651 m³/h (5,001-23,000 cfh) Riser & Meter Protection Unobstructed Distance from Wall 24 (0.6 m) 36 (0.9 m) 36 (0.9 m) 60 (1.5 m) Concrete Pad Required Roof Chain Link Fence Required No No No No No No Yes No May be required Yes May be required May be required Inlet and Outlet Piping The customer must indicate the desired meter location on a plan to be submitted to ATCO Gas. The final location of inlet and minimum outlet pipe sizes will be determined by ATCO Gas. The inlet piping must enter directly into the meter area on special applications. If the house line is larger than two inches, install a two-inch threaded-one end (TOE) fitting to allow for the connection of regulating and metering equipment. Protection ATCO Gas metering and regulating equipment must be protected from potential physical damage. Where there is potential for vehicular damage (including forklifts and other moveable equipment), the customer must provide a vehicle barrier or fencing. The meter area must be in a location that is free from falling ice or snow hazards. Snow must not be piled directly in front of or on the meter set. ATCO Gas will provide protection for piping, meter and regulating equipment where applicable. When a meter is located on a building, where the exterior is stucco or corrugated metal siding, ATCO Gas requires backing support on the inside wall (i.e. plywood) to attach riser brackets to keep single and multi-header meters secure. 4
Security ATCO Gas reserves the right to require a security enclosure to prevent tampering and vandalism. Enclosures must be closed and locked at all times when not occupied by ATCO Gas employees. The gates of these enclosures need to be six inches (0.15 m) above the finished grade for access during winter months. Enclosures may be locked by means of a conventional lock set, provided by ATCO Gas to ensure that employees can obtain access at all times to the area. Warning signs provided by ATCO Gas shall be attached to the outside of the enclosure. Electrical There must be a minimum of three feet (0.9 m) separation between any part of the gas meter/regulation installation and any sources of ignition (i.e. open flames, electrical panels, switches, meters, etc.). Automated Meter Reading (AMR) ATCO Gas may supply and install an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) device for your natural gas meter. This is simply a modem which may connect to the telephone system. A telephone line may be required for AMR purposes. A common analog loop start extension from an existing in house line is adequate; a dedicated service is not required. The telephone line must terminate as close as possible to the meter, but no closer than three feet (0.9 m) from the meter set equipment and piping. The cable is to be encased in weatherproof mechanical protection. It is recommended, where possible, that the cable be routed from the main phone panel in half-inch conduit. After telephone service has been provided to the meter area, ATCO Gas may install and commission the AMR device. 5
The information in this booklet is provided to assist in planning your meter area requirements. Actual field conditions may result in additional requirements. For more information, please contact the ATCO Gas office in your area. Notes 6
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