TSSA – Drip Pocket Requirements

[Admin]

https://www.tssa.org/Modules/News/blogcomments.aspx?keyword=&date=03/01/2016&BlogId=affb9158-0ad8-4ed8-93cd-670267e621e3

The B149-1-10 Natural Gas and Propane Installation Code requires that drip pockets be installed at the bottom of the riser or the final drop line serving the appliance.

Unfortunately, it always isn't possible to place the drip pocket to meet the strict word wording of the code, resulting in red tags being issued for noncompliance.

John Marshall, Director, Fuels Safety Program, provides the following clarification to address this challenge.

Rooftop appliances – where it's not possible to install the drip pocket in the final riser or final drop to the appliance
•It's acceptable to have the drip pocket in the horizontal piping before it enters the appliance casing
•There must be a drip pocket on the riser to the roof
•All other code requirements must be met

Manifolded commercial kitchen equipment
•It's not necessary to have a drip pocket at every piece of equipment, as long as there is one on the drop line or riser to the pipe manifold
•All other code requirements must be met

[harshal]

What about the residential gas range. Any info where should it installed?

[Admin]

What about the residential gas range. Any info where should it installed?

As per Clause 6.13.1(b), a range does not require a dirt pocket.

Clause 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.

Clause 6.13.1 refers to dirt pockets, and the TSSA blog refers to drip pockets.

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.

Clause 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.

Inspectors probably ask for a drip pocket on a rooftop installation because the gas piping is exposed to the elements.

[DaveP]

Pool Heater?  Propane guys red tagged this one 6.13.6
I suppose piping could of come higher vertically off underground riser, over and a drop with a dirt pocket created.
Test  What should he have noticed on the piping?

[Admin]

The union is on the wrong side of the shut off valve. 

Clause 4.4.1 - All work shall be done in a skillful, thorough manner. Careful attention shall be paid not only to the mechanical execution of the work but also to the arrangement of the installation.

I don't see the problem with the dirt pocket though.  I think, given the post above about rooftops, the same thing should apply to this pool heater.

Clause 6.13.6 - When a drip or dirt pocket is required by either Clause 6.13.1 or 6.13.5, it shall be connected to the piping it serves through the bottom opening of a tee, the other two openings of which shall serve as continuity for the piping system.

[DaveP]

Exactly  :clap: :clap: wheres the beer smiley lol
That's what I said to the dirt pocket also

[Admin]

Well it looks like they are working on the TSSA website so I can't post a comment on their article,

https://www.tssa.org/Modules/News/blogcomments.aspx?keyword=&date=03/01/2016&BlogId=affb9158-0ad8-4ed8-93cd-670267e621e3

I did email them and will let you know what they say.

I understand where the confusion comes from with the wording in Clause 6.13.6, but I don't agree that the bottom opening of a tee is either end and not the middle.

A tee is a tee whether it's installed horizontally or vertically.  If the tee is installed horizontally, like yours, the middle opening is the bottom opening.

[Admin]

The article is clear in that is pertains to roof top units, therefore it does not apply to pool heaters and other appliances.

Regards,

TSSA

[walker]

so are they saying that you cannot use the middle of a tee for the dirt pocket, but can on a rooftop unit?

[Admin]

Yes.  :banghead:

I guess we refer the inspector to the TSSA Blog if we ever have a problem with a rooftop dirt pocket. 

At the end of the day Clause 6.13.1 says,

A dirt pocket shall be installed at the bottom of any piping or tubing on the final drop serving an appliance

[Porcupinepuffer]

But what kind of "drop" actually exists on a rooftop connection or a pool heater connection? If it's coming upwards and then horizontal to the unit, I can't see what a dirt/drip pocket is supposed to do... Wouldn't any remaining dirt or oil just sit at the lowest point in the piping by gravity?

[walker]

Like do they want you to bring the riser up extra high and then elbow , elbow it back down to create a drop and then put a tee in vertically and use the bottom of the tee as the dirt pocket.  Seems silly to me.

[Admin]

Yes, exactly.  The only difference I see here is with the rooftop they refer to a drip pocket where as with most other appliances we refer to it as a dirt pocket.  When you look in a Lennox furnace installation manual they call it a drip leg.  When you look at our gas code Annex H Figure H.1 regarding purging they call it a dirt pocket.

Both have different definitions in our code book.

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.

The B149 handbook interprets things a little more clearly.

6.13 Drip and dirt pockets

The requirements of Clause 6.13 are intended to establish wheredrip and dirt pockets are required, and howtheseare to besized, arranged, and connected.

Dirt pockets are required on appliances that are permanently fixed and provide continuous duty so that their operation is not disrupted or impaired by dirt and impurities in the gas supply.

Drip pockets are required at all points in a piping system where condensation can collect, such as points wherethe piping is exposed to either wide ranges or sudden changesin temperature.

When you look in furnace installation manuals like Lennox they call it a drip leg whereas we would call it a dirt pocket.

[DaveP]

Thanks for the update, seems pointless to me also