Pipe Sizing Procedure - Example
The gas supply must be capable of handling the entire gas load at the location. Gas line sizing is based on gas type, the pressure drop in the system, the gas pressure supplied, and gas line type. Refer to the National Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 54, for proper gas line sizing. The below information is provided as an example.
1.Determine the cubic feet per hour of gas required by dividing the gas input (on the rating plate) by the heating value of the gas (available from the local gas company). The gas input needs to include all gas products at the location and the maximum BTU usage at full load when all gas products are in use.
Gas Input of the water heater (BTU / HR)
Cubic Feet per Hour (CFH) -
Heating Value of Gas (BTU / FT3)
2.Use the table for your gas type to find the pipe size required for your cubic feet per hour of gas and your pipe length.
Example: The heating value of natural gas for your location is 1020 BTU/FT 3
The gas input is 199,000 BTU/HR. Additional appliances at the location require 75,000 BTU/HR. Therefore the cubic feet per hour = (199,000 + 75,000) / 1020 = 268.6 FTS/HR.
If the pipe length is 100 ft then the 1 1¼ inch pipe size capable of supplying 304 FT3/HR of natural gas will be adequate.
TABLE 2: Pipe Sizing Table - Natural Gas
cubic feet per hour | Schedule 40 Metallic Pipe |
Inlet Pressure: less than 2 psi (55 inches W.C.)
Pressure Drop: 0.3 inches W.C.
Specific Gravity: 0.60
Length |
| Pipe Size | (inches) |
| |
3/4 | 1 | 1 1/4 | 1 1/2 | ||
| |||||
10 | 273 | 514 | 1060 | 1580 | |
20 | 188 | 353 | 726 | 1090 | |
30 | 151 | 284 | 583 | 873 | |
40 | 129 | 243 | 499 | 747 | |
50 | 114 | 215 | 442 | 662 | |
60 | 104 | 195 | 400 | 600 | |
70 | 95 | 179 | 368 | 552 | |
80 | 89 | 167 | 343 | 514 | |
90 | 83 | 157 | 322 | 482 | |
100 | 79 | 148 | 304 | 455 | |
125 | 70 | 131 | 269 | 403 | |
150 | 63 | 119 | 244 | 366 | |
175 | 58 | 109 | 224 | 336 | |
200 | 54 | 102 | 209 | 313 |
TABLE 3: Pipe Sizing Table - Propane Gas
cubic feet | per hour | Schedule | 40 Metallic | Pipe | |
Inlet Pressure: 11 inches W.C. |
|
| |||
Pressure Drop: 0.5 inches W.C. |
|
| |||
Specific Gravity: 1.50 |
|
|
| ||
Length |
| Pipe Size | (inches) |
| |
1/2 | 3/4 | 1 | 1 1 | ||
| |||||
10 | 291 | 608 | 1150 | 2350 | |
20 | 200 | 418 | 787 | 1620 | |
30 | 160 | 336 | 632 | 1300 | |
40 | 137 | 287 | 541 | 1110 | |
50 | 122 | 255 | 480 | 985 | |
60 | 110 | 231 | 434 | 892 | |
80 | 101 | 212 | 400 | 821 | |
100 | 94 | 197 | 372 | 763 | |
125 | 89 | 185 | 349 | 716 | |
150 | 84 | 175 | 330 | 677 | |
175 | 74 | 155 | 292 | 600 | |
200 | 67 | 140 | 265 | 543 |
12 | 305 & 505 Outdoor Manual |