earthquake safety valve quotation

While it"s possible to manually shut off your natural gas, the following specialized valves are available that can automatically shut off your service in case of an emergency:

Earthquake natural gas shut-off valve (also known as a seismic natural gas shut-off valve) automatically shuts off your natural gas service when an earthquake of a sufficient magnitude occurs at your home.

An excess-flow valve (EFV) automatically closes and restricts the flow of natural gas in the event an underground pipe is damaged or if there is a significant increase in the flow of natural gas to the meter.

If you want to have an earthquake natural gas shut-off installed, or are required to have one by your insurance company or the local Department of Building and Safety, the valve must be installed on your house line.

Under the regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), General Order 112-E, only SoCalGas® or its certified contractors are authorized to operate the natural gas service shut-off valve.

When you hire a qualified professional to install your earthquake valve, you"ll need to make sure that the valve is installed on your house line, not on SoCalGas" facilities. SoCalGas" facilities include all of the pipe fittings installed and maintained by SoCalGas, up to and including the last elbow or tee connecting to your house line. See the diagram below for to see where your house line starts.

All unauthorized valve installations found on SoCalGas" facilities will be removed. In addition, earthquake valves are not permitted in utility curb meter vaults.

If an earthquake or other significant event causes your earthquake shut-off or excess-flow valve to close, you can follow the manufacturer"s instructions for resetting the valve so that natural gas flows again. However, we recommend that you contact a qualified professional or SoCalGas to reset the valve, and to perform a safety check of your natural gas appliances before they are placed back in operation to verify that no natural gas leaks exist, and to re-light your pilot lights.

Remember that following a major emergency it may take many days or even weeks before someone can come to your location. (SoCalGas charges a fee to reset valves and re-light pilot lights when your earthquake shut-off valve has closed due to a non-earthquake occurrence.)

Price: The cost of the valve is going to vary based on the type and size of the valve, as well as the installation requirements and the company installing it.

Choosing a valve: In order to choose the right valve size and manufacturer, contact your local Department of Building and Safety to find out their earthquake valve requirements.

Where to buy a valve: You can purchase an earthquake valve at supply retailers, licensed plumbing contractors, or directly from the valve manufacturer.

Using a contractor: You can hire a qualified professional to install the earthquake or excess-flow valve on your house line. SoCalGas will not install a valve for you.

Effective February 10, 2002, California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) Decision 01-11-068 prohibits installation of an earthquake valve on SoCalGas" facilities. In addition, SoCalGas no longer installs earthquake shut-off valves for its customers, and does not allow any customer owned equipment, including excess-flow valves, be installed on SoCalGas" facilities.

If you have an earthquake valve that was installed by SoCalGas or one of its authorized contractors on or before the February 10, 2002 cutoff date, that is located on SoCalGas" facilities, with proper documentation your installation may be allowed to remain in place. Authorized contractors are those who participated in SoCalGas" earthquake program and were trained by SoCalGas to work on their facilities.

Additional information regarding earthquake valves and natural gas service restoration after a valve activates can be found in Tariff Book, Rule 10, Section G, "Earthquake Valve Service."

An Excess Flow Valve, or EFV, is a safety device installed on natural gas distribution pipelines to automatically close and restrict the flow of natural gas in the event an underground pipe is damaged or if there is a significant increase in the flow of natural gas to the meter. These conditions are typically caused by digging or construction but can also be caused by damage to your natural gas meter by a vehicle impact.

EFV can reduce the risk of explosions, fires, and personal injury because they close or restrict any unplanned or excessive natural gas flow. Installation of an EFV will not protect a customer from household appliance malfunctions, small punctures in underground pipelines, and pipeline damage from earthquakes or flooding. It is

An Earthquake Shut-off Valve is a Gas Safety Device that is installed on your gas meter and automatically shuts-off the gas supply entering the structure in a 5.2 or greater earthquake.

Earthquake valves are important because they help mitigate damage caused by earthquakes. Earthquakes may break gas lines and cause gas leaks. An earthquake valve will stop the gas supply entering the structure. This will help prevent explosive fire caused by gas leaks. Earthquake valves protect your home, property and loved ones from harm in the event of an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 or higher.

Depending on the municipality, earthquake valves are required in different situations. Cities, with a high risk of earthquakes, are adopting new codes requiring earthquake valves to be installed in order to help protect their communities. Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Culver City are just a few of the cities which require earthquake valves. These cities require professional earthquake valves to be installed whenever you are building a new home, selling a home, or renovating your property in excess of $10,000.

​Seismic shut-off valves are a simple, but effective way to ensure you never experience a gas fire after an earthquake. They are designed for earthquakes, accidents and any event of impact. We have installed thousands of automatic gas shut off valves to the manufacture’s specification to ensure safe, trouble free use.

The seismic valves work on a simple, consistent and accurate principle. A sensor moves when the valve is subjected to a 5.4 magnitude or larger earthquake, releasing the valve float which blocks the line and prevents gas going in to the building. The valve is then manually reset once a safety inspection has been done and you’re sure there are no leaks in the building.

Each valve is tested and certified before leaving the factory to meet approval from the State Board of Architect and LA Counties stringent requirements. They are tested to ASCE 25-97, State of California 12-23-1 & ANSI Z21.70-1981 Standards for Seismic Gas Valves.

Some cities and counties in California have regulations that require the installation of automatic gas shut-off devices, which may include excess flow gas shut-off valves and/or seismic gas shut-off valves. Regulations vary, but generally apply to new building construction, or significant alterations or additions to existing buildings.

If a customer installs an automatic gas shut-off valve, it should be one that is certified by the State of California and it should be installed by a licensed plumbing contractor in accordance to the manufacturers instructions.PG&Edoes not install or service seismic actuated or excess flow gas shut-off valves, or recommend specific contractors for customer applications.

​Non-emergency shut-offs will occur if the automatic gas shut-off is not installed according to manufacturer’s specifications. For example, the impact of heavy vehicles can trigger a non-emergency shut-off. They operate on movement and shut off the supply of gas to a building, when triggered by a 5.4 magnitude or larger Earthquake.

Like most states, Washington has guidelines designed to help reduce the risk of fire from open gas lines. These regulations include the types of safety features and equipment that can be incorporated into gas fuel lines. The most common device that home and business owners can install to protect their property is earthquake shut-off valves – also called seismic valves.

More than 1,000 earthquakes occur in Washington annually, most in the west of the Cascades. While only a handful makes the headlines, all of these events have the potential to risk lives and damage property. Earthquakes can have both immediate and long-lasting effects. Hence, installing an automatic gas shutoff valve that shuts off the flow of natural gas to a home in the event of an earthquake or line rupture is the best possible safety precaution for the homeowners.

There are two types of Earthquake Gas Shut off Valves installed: seismic (or earthquake-actuated) valves and excess flow valves. These available Earthquake valves can manually or automatically shut off the flow of regulated gas to a home through meters or pipes that can be damaged due to an earthquake or other heavy tremors. This is accomplished either by motion sensing, which response to tremors caused by earthquakes, or a type of valve that senses a gas flow that is higher than normal and seals off the flow completely. These earthquake valves can be installed in lines that carry either natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The type of valve installed will be subject to an inspection (i.e., what will be the better fit).

If you smell gas after an earthquake, gas supply companies instruct homeowners and operations engineers in commercial buildings to shut off their gas supply immediately. Escaping gas has the potential to cause even more problems than an earthquake itself, either through fire or severe damage to your gas system. This is why the gas needs to be shut off as soon as possible when a quake has occurred. However, sometimes that isn’t feasible and other times no one is around to smell escaping gas. That’s when your unattended earthquake valve goes into action and instantly cuts off the gas to protect your property.

Seismic Gas Shutoff valves (also known as earthquake valves) can automatically shut off the flow of gas from the meter to the house. It works when the earthquake movement reaches 5.4 or more higher scale according to its in-built meter.

It"s obvious that Seismic Gas Shutoff valves need to be installed properly with the correct settings. An incorrect installation and activation of a seismic valve result in potential damage to the gas lines themselves – and to your property – they can result in life-threatening accidents.

The installation of an earthquake valve is a complicated project and is also a difficult thing to test once the job has been completed. If it becomes a DIY project, there’s no guarantee that the valve will actually work in the event of an earthquake.

An earthquake valve must be installed on equipment owned by your gas utility company, and the technicians you hire must have good working relationships with utility technicians and government engineers. They must also be savvy regarding permits and the condition of geological terrain.

That is why you want to call Fischer Heating and Air Conditioningwhen you decide to protect your property with seismic valves. We have a solid reputation for safe and successful installations of earthquake valves under many different conditions and guarantee our work.

After any natural disaster like an earthquake, an earthquake, or other significant event causes your earthquake to shut off or the excess-flow (EVF) valve gets close. To reset it back to work you can use the manufacturer"s resetting manual guide. If you"ll find it difficult to reset the valve then our recommendation is to call a certified professional from Fischer Plumbing to do the reset and adjust the valve settings and to perform safety checks to measure the gas flow and re-lit the pilot light.

Price: The cost of the earthquake valve will vary on the type, size, as well as installation requirements & earthquake gas shut-off valve installation cost charges of different companies.

Choosing A Perfect Valve: Before finalizing the valve size and manufacturer, you need to consult with the local department building and safety department to find out their initial requirement for the earthquake valve.

Where to Purchase A Valve:After finalizing the valve, to buy it, you can contact trusted plumbers around your area or go to the local certified supplier.

Installing A Valve through Contractor: Installing an earthquake valve or excess flow valve (EFV) is not an easy job hence it is required to hire a professional and certified contractor who is well experienced and can set it properly on your house line.

If you wish to install an Earthquake Valve or EFV, Fischer Plumbing can help you instantly. We will coordinate with you and will fulfill your requirement from choosing the valve to installing it properly on your house line. In some cases, the natural gas service line can gap intersperse to install the EFV.

Please take a moment to understand the simplicity of our valves’ operation. It has been our experience, that the simpler the operation, the more accurate the function is when needed. Each valve is tested and certified before leaving our factory ensuring it meets Los Angeles Counties’ strict approvals.

Seismic Shutoff installs residential, commercial and industrial seismic gas shutoff valves (SGSV) in Washington Oregon and California. Earthquake Valves are designed to stop the flow of natural gas when earthquake activity strikes. Call for a quote.

Fires associated with broken gas and electrical lines are a frequent result of moderate to major earthquakes. Water supply line damage is also likely in these situations and fire departments are obligated to first serve public facilities in the event of disaster. It is estimated that over 90% of damage sustained during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was due to inextinguishable gas line fires.

Team up with Safety Valve Installation Inc. and invest in the cost-effective solution to earthquake protection - a seismically activated gas shut-off valve. Our installed valves are rated for 30 years of uninterrupted use - an average cost of less than $2 per month over rated valve life.

SVI is an industry leading Safety valve installer.Safety Valve Installation Inc puts safety first. We use the proper equipment and tools to make sure the job gets done right.

What They Think About Us“I highly recommend an auto gas safety shutoff valve installed by Safety Valve Installation Inc. to help protect your home from the risk of fire resulting from an earthquake.”

“A couple years ago we had Safety Valve Installation Inc install an automatic natural gas shutoff device in my home.  We have always regarded this as one of the best home improvement investments we could have made.  The knowledge that in the event of an earthquake our house will be protected from the possibility of a gas leak and subsequent fire has given us immense peace of mind.  Living in an earthquake prone region, this extra measure of safety can make all the difference in the world.  We would not hesitate for one minute to recommend the installation of this safety valve by Safety Valve Installation Inc to all homeowners.”

Mark and Sue S., Paso Robles, CA“We hired Safety Valve Installation Inc to install a seismic gas shut off valve.  The installation was quick and easy.  We have taken every precaution we can to protect our home from fire caused by leaking gas lines in the event of an earthquake.”

“California living does come with a few drawbacks, one of which is the dreaded earthquake.  So, when Safety Valve Installation Inc told us about the automatic gas shut-off valve, it seemed like a great idea to have it installed on our home.  The installation was prompt, and the technicians were happy to explain how it worked and how to re-set it.  The very reasonable cost more than compensates not only for the safety it provides us, but also for the protection of our home in the event of a major and or not so major earthquake.  The sense of security it gives us is immeasurable and we can’t thank them enough.”

Bianca S., Templeton, CASafety Valve Installation Inc installed one of these clever devices on my home several years ago.  Since then I have recommended it to all my clients.  As a Real Estate Broker I want to help my clients protect their biggest investment.  Even if I am away from home it gives me peace of mind knowing that if an earthquake were to occur, my home will be protected.”

As good as it gets service, installation and professionalism. The real test is when we have an earthquake! We were pleased with installer finding an existing gas leak in our meter which he repaired along with the installation. He also did touch-up paint on meter, leaving it looking clean and new. Having the safety valve in place makes us feel like we"ve got much less to worry about in case of an emergency.

Home: TestimonialsTHE SUGGESTION IN ILLUSTRATIONS INCLUDED ON OUR WEBSITE ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS; HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR A STRUCTURE. PLEASE FOLLOW EARTHQUAKE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES:

Our seismic valves are intended to close in the event of an earthquake thus preventing gas flowing into a structure where damage may have occurred. The valve minimizes the potential of a fire or explosion due to the release of natural gas into a commercial or industrial building. These valves are designed to be mounted around meter sets and remain closed until manually reset. A viewing port is built into the valve so that the open or closed indicator can be seen.

When you are living in California, experiencing earthquakes could be very common. Earthquakes are one of the most dangerous natural disasters, and can cause a lot of damage to your home, especially a high magnitude one. When an earthquake occurs, your home may be damaged; they can break a gas line or shut-off your gas valve, causing it to fail to operate. It can also create a potentially lethal explosion that can destroy your home and cause burns, injuries, or even death.

On the year 2000, the California Building Standards Commission approved the Division of the State Architect’s emergency regulations, requiring all newly constructed buildings in California to install earthquake shut-off valves or also known as a seismic natural gas shut-off valve.

Though it is impossible to foretell when the next earthquake might happen, you don’t want to be taken by surprise. Installing an earthquake shut-off valve could save your life and can guard your home against earthquake damage. Most homeowners understand the dangers of natural gas and do not want to experience a natural gas leak or explosion. The risk of a natural gas leak is why it is essential that you have an automatic earthquake shut-off valve installed at your home or business. However, considering the level of safety involved in this process, it is essential that you only contact a professional plumbing repair expert. Here are the necessary things to know about earthquake shut-off valves.

If your valve closes due to an earthquake or other significant events, you can always follow the instructions on your manufacturer’s manual in resetting your gas valve for the natural gas to flow again. But, it is important that you contact a qualified professional to reset the valve, and to conduct a safety check of your natural gas appliances before they are placed back in operation as this is to verify that no natural gas leaks exist.

Choosing a valve: To determine what valve size you should use, you can contact your local. Department of Building and Safety office to find out their earthquake valve requirements.

You can have an earthquake shut-off valve installed in your home right away! All you have to do is call Caccia Plumbing at any time. We have our certified technicians that can install earthquake shut-off valves in your home that works correctly and do its job accurately.

In California, earthquakes are unavoidable. Caccia Plumbing can help keep you and your family safe from dangerous gas leaks caused by earthquakes with earthquake shut-off valves installed in your home. Ourlicensed and professional technicians will work swiftly and efficiently to install your valve and guarantee you that it is working accurately. We offer earthquake valve installation on both residential and commercial properties to keep you, your family, and others safe.