earthquake safety valve supplier

​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

Pacific Seismic Products is the world’s leading manufacturer of earthquake/seismically actuated gas shutoff valves. The California Valve, formerly known as the Koso Valve, is proudly Made In America in Lancaster, CA.

Pacific Seismic Products proudly manufactures PSP Valves, which are the industry-leading standard in seismic-actuated valves for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Protect your home and family by installing a Northridge valve by Seismic Safety Products. Our valve automatically shuts off your gas during an earthquake giving you peace of mind.

The Northridge 2000 valve is a simple patented design with only one moving internal part. A stainless steel ball rests on a pedestal inside the valve when it is in the ON position allowing gas to flow. During a seismic disturbance of approximately 5.2 or greater on the Richter scale, the stainless steel ball falls from the pedestal and plugs the outlet passage stopping the flow of gas. The gas can only be turned back ON by manually resetting the valve. The faceplate has a magnet concealed behind it that lifts the stainless steel ball back onto the pedestal when it is slowly rotated one full turn counterclockwise.

The Northridge earthquake on January 17, 1993 was 6.7 on the Richter scale. 72 individuals lost their lives. 11,846 inured. Over $25 billion dollars in damage. 114,039 buildings damaged. Over 12,500 after shocks, ten of which were over 5.0 on the Richter scale. 185 mobile homes burned from gas fires. 700,000 claims filed with F.E.M.A. for gas appliance damage. Up to 50% of post earthquake fires are caused by gas leaks.

ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer & designer of dump, dust, earthquake & emergency fail-safe system valves including two-way single seat cage-balanced valves, -way mixing valves & 3-way diverting valves. Control valves have stem wipers, cage-balanced plugs, stainless steel or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) trim, minus 20 degrees F to 800 degrees F temperature & can be applied on dirty fluids, high pressure drops & corrosive fluids. Valves with rigid connection have zero backflash, minimum dead band & hysteresis. Specifications include 1/2 in. to 4 in. size, adjustable graphite packing & bonnet with nitronic bearings, 32 degrees F to 800 degrees F temperature & 50:1 rangeability

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.

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.

In the event of seismic activity or an earthquake of 5.4 or higher, your seismic earthquake shut off valve automatically closes the gas line from your meter to your home. This valve is generally installed right after your city’s gas meter before it enters your home. Because even a very small earthquake can cause the foundation of your home to shift and damage pipes in your home, we do recommend adding Excess Flow Valves along with your automatic seismic earthquake shut off valve. Anytime there is a significant earthquake or break in your homes plumbing systems, it is important that flammable substances like natural gas be immediately restricted to protect your family and home.

Endorsed by the City of Los Angeles & JAPA our valves the Little Firefighter is UL Tested and Approved. Our valves are manufactured using state of the art CNC machining equipment that allows us to build consistent and reliable valves you can trust. Quality and safety are paramount in the production of our valves. Your families lives depend on our product working properly and we test every valve that leaves our plant for that very reason.

Koso valves are earthquake-sensitive gas shut-off valves. They are intended to close in the event of an earthquake to prevent gas flow into a structure where earthquake damage may have occurred. This will greatly reduce potential risk of explosion or fire due to loss of gas line integrity or uncontrolled flow of gas after a major earthquake.

SGS is trained and certified in earthquake activated gas shut off valve installations and has installed over 50,000 earthquake valves. SGS has installed earthquake vales in single family homes, apartments, commercial and industrial properties. Protect your family, pets and properly with an earthquake activated gas shut off valve.

An earthquake activated gas shut off valve shuts off your gas automatically in the event of a 5.2 magnitude or greater earthquake. Stopping gas from entering the structure where it can become confined and deadly creating gas fires or explosions.

It may not always be possible to shut off the gas valve manually before an impending earthquake, the gas shut off valve is usually installed to help overcome this uncertainly and to ensure preventive measures are in place.

Due to our established relationship with earthquake valve manufacturers, SGS is able to provide customers with quality products and savings. All earthquake valves installed include a 30 year manufacturer’s warranty.

SGS Plumbing and Retrofitting is a well known company that provides these services at a very competitive cost. We are experienced and ensure the installations meet the Universal Plumbing Code requirements. Following all building and safety ordinances, SGS Plumbing and Retrofitting company has been able to build up a good and strong reputation in this business. We are also eager to address all your question and concerns about the valve installation process and the benefits and servicing aspects of having an earthquake gas shut off valve system on your premises.