(1) All welds and fusions on a gas pipeline must be inspected prior to installation or use of the pipeline. Such inspections must be performed by a qualified construction inspector, who may be designated or employed by either the utility or the contractor performing the installation. The inspector may be a person performing welding or joining on the gas pipeline.

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    (2) All gas mains must be inspected prior to installation of the main. Such inspections must be performed by a qualified construction inspector employed or designated by the utility to maintain quality control on the gas main installation project. The qualified construction inspector may be a person performing welding or joining on the gas main project, but may not be employed or designated by the contractor performing the installation. The utility may determine the frequency of such inspections, which must be sufficient in extent and number to insure proper installation and joining.
    (3) Randomly selected welds must be subjected to destructive or x-ray testing during construction of any pipeline that is at least two inches in diameter and over five thousand feet in length. At least two welds must be tested from each five thousand feet of the pipeline under construction. The result of the test must be evaluated according to a written procedure which has been established in writing, tested and found to produce joints of a strength that meet or exceed, as a minimum, one of the strength standards listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 192, Appendix B – Qualification of Pipe.
    (4) Each operator shall establish and maintain for the life of the system a record of each test and inspection required in subsections (1), (2) and (3) above, and each main tie-in weld when any one pipeline is greater than two inches in diameter. The record shall include as a minimum:
    (a) The name of the person or persons performing the joining;
    (b) The name of the person or persons performing the testing or inspection;
    (c) The size of pipe;
    (d) The type of material;
    (e) The location of construction;
    (f) The date of test or inspection; and
    (g) The defects, if any.
Rulemaking Authority Florida Statutes § 368.05(2). Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 368.03. History-New 1-7-92.