Installation Guide
35
PROPANE GAS TANKS AND PIPING
A gas detecting warning system is the only reliable way to detect a
propane gas leak. Rust can reduce the level of odorant in propane
gas. Do not rely on your sense of smell. Contact a local propane
gas supplier about installing a gas detecting warning system. If
the presence of gas is suspected, follow the instructions listed in
the Safety Precautions section of this manual.
All propane gas equipment must conform to the safety standards
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, NBFU Manual 58.
CANADA: National Standard of Canada, Natural Gas and Pro-
pane Installation Code (NSCNGPIC) CSA B149.1—2010.
For satisfactory operation, propane gas pressure must be 10” WC + .5” WC at the furnace manifold with all gas appliances in
operation. Maintaining proper gas pressure depends on three main factors:
1. Vaporization rate, depending on temperature of the liquid, and “wetted surface” area of the container or containers.
2. Proper pressure regulation. (Two-stage regulation is recommended for both cost and efficiency).
3. Pressure drop in lines between regulators, and between second stage regulator and the appliance. Pipe size will depend on
length of pipe run and total load of all appliances.
Complete information regarding tank sizing for vaporization, recommended
regulator settings, and pipe sizing is available from most regulator manu-
facturers and propane gas suppliers.
Since propane gas will quickly dissolve white lead and most standard com-
mercial compounds, special pipe dope must be used. Pipe dope used on
propane gas installations must be approved for use with propane
gas.
Refer to the Figure 39 for typical propane gas installations and piping.
I
F
THE
GAS
FURNACE
IS
INSTALLED
IN
A
BASEMENT
,
AN
EXCAVATED
AREA
OR
CONFINED
SPACE
,
IT
IS
STRONGLY
RECOMMENDED
TO
CONTACT
A
PROPANE
SUPPLIER
TO
INSTALL
A
GAS
DETECTING
WARNING
DEVICE
IN
CASE
OF
A
GAS
LEAK
.
S
INCE
PROPANE
GAS
IS
HEAVIER
THAN
AIR
,
ANY
LEAKING
GAS
CAN
SETTLE
IN
ANY
LOW
AREAS
OR
CONFINED
SPACES
.
P
ROPANE
GAS
ODORANT
MAY
FADE
,
MAKING
THE
GAS
UNDETECTABLE
EXCEPT
WITH
A
WARNING
DEVICE
.
•
•
WARNING
200 PSIG
Maximum
5 to 15 PSIG
(20 PSIG Max.)
Continuous
11" W.C.
Second Stage
Regulator
First Stage
Regulator
Propane Gas Installation (Typ.)
Figure 39
3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1/2" 3/4"
10 730 1,700 3,200 5,300 8,300 3,200 7,500
20 500 1,100 220 3,700 5,800 2,200 4,200
30 400 920 2,000 2,900 4,700 1,800 4,000
40 370 850 1,700 2,700 4,100 1,600 3,700
50 330 770 1,500 2,400 3,700 1,500 3,400
60 300 700 1,300 2,200 3,300 1,300 3,100
80 260 610 1,200 1,900 2,900 1,200 2,600
100 220 540 1,000 1,700 2,600 1,000 2,300
125 200 490 900 1,400 2,300 900 2,100
150 190 430 830 1,300 2,100 830 1,900
175 170 400 780 1,200 1,900 770 1,700
200 160 380 730 1,100 1,800 720 1,500
Pipe or
Tubing
Length
Feet
Tubing Size, O.D. Type L
Nominal Pipe Size
Schedule 40
Sizing Between First and Second Stage Regulator*
Maximum Propane Capacities listed are based on 2 psig pressure drop at 10 psig setting.
Capacities in 1,000 BTU/hour.
To convert to capacities at 15 psig settings - multiply by 1.130
To convert to capacities at 5 psig settings - multiply by 0.879
Propane Gas Piping Chart I
3/8" 1/2" 5/8" 3/4" 7/8" 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1-1/4" 1-1/2"
10 39 92 199 329 501 275 567 1,071 2,205 3,307
20 26 62 131 216 346 189 393 732 1,496 2,299
30 21 50 107 181 277 152 315 590 1,212 1,858
40 19 41 90 145 233 129 267 504 1,039 1,559
50 18 37 79 131 198 114 237 448 913 1,417
60 16 35 72 1,211 187 103 217 409 834 1,275
80 13 29 62 104 155 89 185 346 724 1,066
100 11 26 55 90 138 78 162 307 630 976
125 10 24 48 81 122 69 146 275 567 866
150 9 21 43 72 109 63 132 252 511 787
200 8 19 39 66 100 54 112 209 439 665
250 8 17 36 60 93 48 100 185 390 590
Tubing Size, O.D. Type L
Nominal Pipe Size
Schedule 40
Pipe or
Tubing
Length
Feet
*Data in accordance with NFPA pamphlet No. 54
Sizing Between Second or Second Stage Regulator & Appliance*
Maximum Propane Capacities listed are based on 1/2" W.C. pressure drop at 11" W.C. setting.
Capacities in 1,000 BTU/hour.
Propane Gas Piping Chart II