Sec. 599.16. Installation of piping

(a) General requirements.

All piping must be installed in accordance with generally accepted engineering practices. All joints must be liquid and air tight.

(b) Backfill.

All new piping that is placed underground and is backfilled must be provided with a backfill material that is a non-corrosive, porous, homogeneous substance, which is installed so that the backfill is placed completely around the piping and compacted to ensure that the piping is uniformly supported. Backfill of at least six inches in depth must be placed underneath the piping.

(c) Burial depth.

All new piping buried underground must be placed so that the top of the piping is at least 18 inches below the surface of the ground. Should conditions make compliance with this requirement impracticable, precautions must be taken to prevent physical damage to the piping. It is not necessary to cover the portion of the piping to which an access port is affixed.

(d) Corrosion protection.

The installation of a corrosion protection system that is field fabricated must be supervised by a corrosion expert to ensure proper installation.

(e) Inspection of new piping.

(1) Prior to covering, enclosing, or placing new piping in use, the piping must be inspected by a qualified inspector in accordance with a consensus code, standard or practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory which meets the standards of this section. This must include an inspection for the presence of any of the following items:

(i) weld breaks;

(ii) punctures;

(iii) scrapes of protective coatings;

(iv) cracks;

(v) corrosion;

(vi) structural damage; and

(vii) improper installation.

(2) Piping must be tested for tightness. If a pneumatic test is used, all fittings, welds and joints must be coated with a soap solution and inspected for air leaks.

(3) If piping is found not to be tight or to be defective in any way, all repairs necessary to remedy the leaks or deficiencies in the piping must be performed prior to its being placed in use.

(4) Upon completion of the test and inspection, the inspector must sign and date a certification statement verifying that to the best of his or her knowledge, the installation was properly conducted on the date(s) shown.

(5) The inspector's statement and records of the test and repairs must be kept for five years following the date of installation and made part of the spill prevention report.

(f) Installation instructions.

In addition to the above requirements, all piping must be installed in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and a consensus code, standard or practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory consistent with the standards of this section such as API 1615. (See section 598.1[j] of this Title). This includes repair of any damaged coatings prior to backfilling.