dpb wrote:
RogerT wrote:
...

It's a larger entrance line because it is actually a 3-unit building
with separate gas for each unit. From the point in the photo, the
piping then goes to 3 separte gas meters, rather than one. I left
that part out before because I didn't want to make the post too
complicated. The basement is being remodeled and I want to be able
to get the 3 meters moved about a foot over. Also, each meter has
it's own shutoff valve, but I wanted to be able to also have a main
shutoff valve installed on the main line so all of the gas for all 3
units could be shut off at once if needed during an emergency etc. That
was why I had the gas company out there a couple of times, but
that's a whole other story.

OK, that explains the size...

There isn't an external shutoff??? I'd think that a Code violation of
first order if not.

If there is, why do you need the gas company at all since it's all
inside the building? Or, does NJ have requirement that anything on
upstream side of meter _must_ be done by the utility? (Here, anything
in the residence is fair game for a qualified technician).

There is an external shutoff valve, although there was even a question about
that for a while. Different gas company reps who came out to the property
said different things about what can and cannot be done, who can do it,
whether there should be an internal main shutoff valve, etc. Originally, I
was thinking of having the gas company install a new line coming in at a
different location and having the meters moved to the outside of the
property. That turned out to be prohibitively expensive and not recommended
by the gas company reps who first came out. They did say, however, that I
should have a main shutoff on the inside as a safety feature. They also
said that I could have a plumber relocate the meters a little to accomodate
what I want to do as long as the meters remain right by where the main line
comes into the building. So, that shouldn't be an issue.