earthquake safety valve price

​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.

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

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.

To stop the flow of gas into a building during an emergency, turn your gas off at the service shut-off valve. View instructions. Visit Turn Your Gas Off. PG&E installs gas service shut-off valves at all gas meter locations.

Keep a 12- to 15-inch adjustable pipe wrench or crescent wrench available to close the valve in an emergency. Earthquake wrenches with fixed openings may not fit your valve, so an adjustable type is ideal. To minimize the possibility of an unauthorized person tampering with the valve, do not keep wrenches near the gas meter. Shut-off the flow of gas only if you:

To turn off the gas, rotate the valve one-quarter turn in either direction. The valve is closed when the tang (the part on which the wrench is placed) is crosswise to the pipe.

Most gas appliances have a gas shut-off valve located near the appliance that lets you turn off only the gas to that appliance. Find out which of your appliances use gas and where the appliances’ gas shut-off valves are located. In some cases, you need only turn off the gas at the appliance’s shut-off valve.

Some city and county regulations require the installation of automatic gas shut-off devices. This installation may include excess flow gas shut-off valves and/or earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves. The regulations can vary, but generally apply to:

If a customer installs an excess flow gas shut-off valve or earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valve, the valve must be certified by the State of California. A licensed plumbing contractor must install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We do not install or service seismic-actuated or excess flow gas shut-off valves. We do not recommend specific contractors for installation.

Excess flow gas shut-off valves and earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves must be installed on the building’s gas houseline piping. This pipeline is the gas pipe that connects your appliances to the gas meter downstream of the utility point of delivery. It is located after the PG&E gas shut-off valve, pressure regulator, meter and the service tee. No attachments or connections of any kind are allowed on the utility facilities before the point where the service tee connects to the gas houseline piping. After installation, the valve must not obstruct any gas operations or PG&E services in or around:

The State of California requires approval for all excess flow gas shut-off valves and earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves used within the state. A list of approved valves is available. Visit DSA Gas Shut-off Valves Certification Program.

A closed gas service shut-off valve or automatic gas shut-off device can delay the restoration of your service by PG&E. Please do not turn the gas on, yourself. Ask a PG&E representative or another qualified professional to perform a safety check, restore gas service and relight your appliance pilots, even if an earthquake did not cause the closure.

Homes that are equipped with a gas line that runs from the utility line to the home should have an automatic gas shut-off valve (ASV) (Figure 1), which is a valve that shuts off the flow of gas into a home due to an earthquake or other event that causes a rupture of the gas line, thus reducing the chance of explosion or fires from leaking gas. Shaking or movement of a building or the appliances in the home in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster can cause damage to the gas piping and appliances, causing the accidental release of natural gas, which can lead to fires or explosions. Structural weaknesses, the absence of appliance anchors, and lack of flexible pipe connectors can all contribute to a greater possibility of gas leaks (Danville 2021).

All homes that have natural gas have a manual shutoff valve located on the gas meter that can be closed using a wrench to stop the flow of natural gas into the home in the event of an emergency (Figure 5). However, the home’s occupants may not be available to close the line in the event of a natural disaster or may not be aware of a rupture of the line due to some other cause such as digging. If an automatic gas shutoff valve is installed on the line, it can stop the flow of gas quickly in the event of an emergency with no human intervention needed, preventing large gas spills from occurring and potentially causing fires or explosions.

There are two types of automatic gas shut-off devices: earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves (also known as seismic valves) and excess flow valves. The differences between the two valves are summarized in Table 1 and described below. Requirements for shutoff valves for natural gas lines vary by jurisdiction. The requirement typically applies to new building construction and significant alterations or additions to existing buildings (PG&E 2021). Because an earthquake valve is triggered by movement, not an actual line break, while it will prevent gas leakage from the initial quake or aftershocks, it will shut off the gas even if no rupture occurs to the gas line. In contrast, an excess flow valve is triggered by sudden high flow on the line, indicating a leak has occurred; earthquake movement alone won"t trigger it. Utilities note that restoration of utility gas service after an emergency will take time, whether the gas valve has been shut manually or automatically, because the utility may require that its crews inspect the gas meter and equipment to verify there are no leaks in the line, clear active lines of residual gas, restore service to the lines, and relight pilot lights (PG&E 2021).

Stops flow of gas on the service line between the main line and the meter when it detects high gas flow and/or loss of line pressure depending on valve model.

Sensors on the gas line detect a large increase in gas flow rate due to a rupture of the service line (for any cause, such as earthquakes, tree roots, excavation equipment, severed line in house)

An earthquake-actuated gas shutoff valve (also known as an earthquake valve or a seismic valve) is a simple mechanical device installed just downstream of the meter on the pipe between the meter and the house (Figures 1 and 2). If the valve is subjected to significant movement, a ball or “float” in the valve drops into place to block the flow of gas through the pipe and into the building. If an earthquake does impact the home, gas flow will be stopped by the valve so gas will not continue to flow into the home, where it could potentially leak from any ruptures in the line downstream of the meter and possibly catch fire or explode. Earth movement equivalent to an earthquake registering approximately 5.4 or greater on the Richter scale will activate the locking mechanism. (The Richter scale ranges from 1.5-barely detectable to 9.5-catastrophic; a 5.4 quake could cause considerable damage.) Many utilities require the installer to attach a stabilizing bracket to the piping near the valve to minimize the likelihood that an accidental bump will activate the valve.

Seismic valves can be required by insurance companies or local departments of building and safety in areas prone to seismic activity. Some city, state, and/or county regulations require the installation of seismic valves; some leave this up to the owner’s discretion. Seismic valves are typically located on the homeowner’s side of the meter, on the pipeline leading from the meter into the house, which is usually located in an easily accessed location outside, above ground on the side or front of the house. The seismic valve is located downstream of the utility manual gas shut-off valve, pressure regulator, meter, and the service tee (see Figures 1 and 2).

Seismic valves are purchased by the homeowner and installed by either the homeowner or a licensed plumber or contractor who has been certified to do so. Most utilities do not install seismic valves (for example, SoCalGas 2021). Some utilities offer assistance in purchasing the valves. For example, the City of Berkeley, California, offers free seismic valves to homeowners who complete a training program (City of Berkeley 2018). The City of Malibu, California, requires a plumbing permit to install valves but waives fees for the permit process (City of Malibu). Utilities do not typically allow attachments or connections of any kind on the utility’s piping and equipment before the point where the service tee connects to the gas houseline piping. After installation, the valve must not obstruct any gas operations or utility services in or around their piping, gas service shut-off valves, gas meters, or gas pressure regulating equipment (PG&E 2021).

Seismic valve products should meet the requirements of ASCE 25-97 and ANSI Z21.70-1981 Standards for Seismic Gas Valves. Some locales require that installers use a state-approved model for excess flow gas shut-off valves and earthquake-actuated gas shut-off valves. Seismic valves installed in California should be certified by the California State Architect"s Office as meeting California Standard No. 12-23-1 for Earthquake-Actuated Automatic Gas Shutoff Systems. The State of California’s Division of the State Architect (DSA) oversees the certification of both types of gas shutoff valves as required by the Health and Safety Code and lists approved models on the website of the DSA Gas Shut-off Valves Certification Program. Products used in Los Angeles need to be approved by the City of Los Angeles. Examples of seismic valves approved for use in California are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Seismic valves will operate to shut off the gas when they sense enough earth movement, whether a line rupture occurs or not. If the gas is shut off by a seismic valve, some utilities specify that the homeowner is not to turn the gas back on themselves but should notify the utility to have a utility representative perform a safety check, restore gas service, and relight appliance pilot lights. For this reason, some utilities do not encourage the installation of seismic shutoff valves for residential service due to the time required to go around and reset all of the valves following an earthquake. Some jurisdictions require excess flow valves instead. Check the applicable jurisdiction for specific requirements in your area (FEMA E-74, 2011).

The valve is manually reset once a safety inspection has been done to verify there are no leaks in the building.  Some jurisdictions allow homeowners to reset their own automatic shutoff valves. This is one reason some homeowners prefer to have an earthquake-actuated shutoff valve even if not required to do so by the local building department or their homeowner’s insurance company. In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake-actuated valve will shut off gas flow as soon as significant earth movement is detected without waiting to sense a gas leak. If, after the quake, no leaks are detected, the homeowner may be able to reset the valve or hire a plumber to reset the valve and re-establish gas service. Many homes have both types of valves.

Excess flow valves automatically stop the flow of gas on the service line between the main gas line at the street and the customer"s meter (on the "utility side" of the meter) if excess flow or loss of pressure is detected, indicating a rupture of the gas line (American Gas Association 2011), whether the rupture is caused by an earthquake, or some other natural cause such as a sinkhole or a washout, or damage from digging or drilling equipment, or motor vehicle impact to the meter, or line breakage in the home.

In 2006, Congress mandated the use of excess flow valves on all new or replaced gas distribution lines serving single-family residences (49 CFR 192.383(a)). By the end of 2014, an estimated 9 million excess flow valves were in service and over 800,000 new valves were being installed every year (P&GJ 2016). In a Final Rule published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) made changes to 49 CFR Part 192 to expand the requirement to include multifamily residences and small commercial buildings, and required gas utilities to notify customers who had existing homes without excess flow valves of their right to request installation of one. For new homes, the cost of installation is included in the charge for the new line.

Dates at which utilities began installing excess flow valves for new homes vary by utility, although many pre-date the 2006 Congressional mandate. For example, all homes with gas service built in Oregon after 1993 have an excess flow valve installed by the utility at construction. With an existing home, if you are unsure if an excess flow valve is already installed, contact the gas utility. In  existing homes without an excess flow valve, the customer can request that the utility install one, at the homeowner’s expense (Colorado Springs Utilities). The utility or their service contractor will install the excess flow valve on the underground service line pipe running from the street to the meter. Costs vary depending on location and difficulty of the installation, with reported costs ranging from $400 to $7,000. For example, the City of Ellensburg, Washington, estimates $500 to $1000 (City of Ellensburg). TECO Peoples Gas in Florida estimates $1,200 to $1,800 (TECO Peoples Gas). PG&E estimates $2,500 to $6,000 or more, based on the specific site (PG&E 2017).

In an emergency, some utilities tell their homeowners that the gas can be turned off at the main gas service shutoff valve, with the following guidelines (for example, PG&E 2021, SoCalGas 2021).

Locate the main gas shutoff valve. It is typically next to the gas meter. It may be on the side of front of the house, or in a cabinet meter outside of the house, under the house, or underground.

Give the valve a quarter turn in either direction. The valve is closed when the tang (the part of the valve you put the wrench on) is crosswise (perpendicular) to the pipe. See Figures 5 and 6.

Manually turn off the gas shutoff valve at each appliance. For safety, a shut-off valve should be installed at every natural gas appliance. If a leak happens at a specific appliance, the valve allows you to turn off the natural gas at the appliance rather than shutting off the natural gas service line to the whole house. Some valves require a wrench. See Figure 7.

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.

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.