A-ONE/Ware Plumbing recommends the installation of seismic gas shut off valves for all residential and commercial buildings. Currently there are about eight approved valves for our area. Please contact us about the installation of a valve for your safety. We can inspect the installation site and make recommendations as to which valve will best suit your needs.

About Natural Gas Earthquake Shut-off Valves
A natural gas earthquake shut-off valve automatically shuts off your gas service when an earthquake of a sufficient magnitude occurs at your home's location. After the quake has stopped and you have determined that it is safe to do so, follow the manufacturer's instructions for restoring your gas service. You will need to make sure no gas leaks exist and re-light your pilot lights. You must ensure that your appliances are safe before operating them. The Gas Company or a service agency can restore your gas service, but remember that it may take many days or even weeks before someone can come to your location in a major emergency. (The Gas Company charges a fee to reset valves and re-light pilot lights.)

Earthquake Valve Installation Requirements
If you choose to have an earthquake gas shut-off valve installed, or are mandated to have one by your insurance company or the local building code, the valve must be installed on the downstream side of the meter. The downstream side is the customer side of the meter. See pictures:

NOTE: When you hire a licensed contractor to install your valve, it is important that you ensure that the valve is installed on the downstream side (that is, the customer side of the meter), not on The Gas Company's. Earthquake valves are not permitted in utility curb meter vaults. Earthquake valves are not permitted in utility curb meter vaults.

In the United States, natural gas has been a factor in up to 50 percent of fires following earthquakes. There were 110 reported fires and over 14,000 natural gas leaks caused by the1994 Northridge Earthquake. The Northridge Earthquake occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m., when most people were at home and able to respond to the needs of their family and their property. A much more serious situation could develop should an earthquake strike during a time of the day when most people are at work and away from home. We learned from the Northridge Earthquake that the combination of an uncontrolled release of natural gas, damaged water supply lines, and an inundated fire department creates a very dangerous situation that needs to be mitigated. SGSVs are mechanical devices mounted near the gas meter that are designed to automatically shut off the flow of gas during a significant seismic event. There are generally two types of SGSV: one-piece flow through (or in line) and two-piece systems that have a remote sensor and separate valve.

It is vital that the SGSV is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The installer must pay close attention to the gas flow direction of the valve, the leveling of the device, and the proper securing of the SGSV to the structure. Securing the SGSV to the structure with a brace is a requirement of the installation and will help prevent false or nuisance activation. In 1997, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) developed a standard for SGSVs (ASCE 25-97). This standard is currently the accepted standard by most independent approval and government agencies. One of the many improvements made by the ASCE standard was that it increased the minimum actuation levels of the SGSV. This combined with improved bracing of the installed SGSV and educated inspectors have made false activation of the device a thing of the past.
The installations of SGSVs for the single-family resident will generally range from $300 on up. The installation cost will vary because of the variations related to the gas meter set and gas piping size. Gas meters located under or away from the structure will be more expensive because of the labor involved and the added complication of constructing adequate bracing. Commercial property will usually be more expensive because of the larger valve needed and the additional labor involved with working on the larger pipes.