Report of the Actions Taken at the October 7-9, 2025, Second Draft Meeting for the Development of the 2027 National Fuel Gas Code (NFGC).

The National Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 Second Draft joint committee meeting was held October 7-9, 2025, to discuss and resolve public comments and committee inputs on the NFGC. The committees approved a second revision based on Public Comment #29 that requires plastic pipe venting materials be listed and labeled to UL 1738, Venting Systems for Gas-Burning Appliances, Categories II, III and IV. The committees stated materials certified to the UL 1738 standard are specifically designed to vent products of combustion as a complete venting system, which will prevent the use of materials from different manufacturers with different tolerances be used interchangeably. The committees also approved a second revision to modify D.2 to remove the reference to NFPA 715, stating that its reference is inappropriate in an annex on emergency procedures for fuel gas leak detection used by emergency responders while NFPA 715 is on the installation of fuel gas detection equipment. The committee also approved a second revision to add a new 1.1.1.2(19) and A.1.1.2(19) to read:

1.1.1.2(19) Selection, design, application, installation, location, performance, operation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fuel gas detection and warning equipment in buildings and structures.

A.1.1.1.2(19) NFPA 715 is the standard that covers fuel gas detection and warning equipment in buildings and structures. Requiring fuel gas detection is outside the scope of this Code and is under the scope of the relevant building, fire, and life safety codes. The enforcement of fuel gas detection requirements is more applicable to the enforcers of those codes rather than the enforcers of the fuel gas code. Fuel gas detection installation is similar to smoke or carbon monoxide detection.

Additionally, the committees approved a second revision to the definition of Piping system to read: “All pipe, tubing, valves, and fittings from the point of delivery up to and including the outlets of the appliance shutoff valve(s).” The committee’s rationale for this change is that the removal of the term outlet removes the specificity as it relates to leak and pressure tests, and it removes the positioning of the valve as it relates to those tests. It was reported that some Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) were requiring valves to be opened to leak test or pressure test the systems and this was not the intent of the provision.

Finally, the committees:

• Approved a second revision to include annex material for appliances certified for use with >5% hydrogen must include indication of permissible fuel type on the rating label.
• Approved a second revision to use NFPA’s boilerplate language for section 1.4 Equivalency without modification. This section had previously been modified by the committees for the first revision draft. The committees approved the proposals to update the code’s language and formatting to meet the NFPA Manual of Style.

A task group was formed to draft a proposal for a new chapter in the NFGC to address industrial applications/installations for consideration in the 2030 edition of the code.

The next steps in the process include the issuance of the second committee ballots in early January 2026 with a closing date at the end of January. Second ballot report will be posted no later than March 3, 2026. The date for submitting objections to NFPA on any recommendations approved by the committees  (NITMAN’s) is March 31, 2026.To speak at the NFPA annual meeting in June 2026, you must be a NFPA member in good standing at least 180 days prior to the start of the meeting. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions you may have on this matter.

DOE Cancels Funding for Projects on Energy Building Codes.

For your information, attached is an October 7, 2025, article published by S&P Global Market Intelligence announcing the DOE cancellation of “funding for projects that would help cities and states update energy-saving building codes — and more cuts could be coming.” The article identifies “ at least 23 building code-related grants worth $73.5 million among the DOE’s latest round of loan and grant terminations. A DOE list of terminations included 321 awards for 223 projects spanning a wide range of clean energy applications totaling $7.6 billion in funding.”

AHRI Releases August 2025 Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data.

For those interested in shipment trends for residential and commercial gas and electric storage type water heaters, residential gas and oil furnaces, electric heat pumps and air-conditioners, click here for the October 10, 2025 Air-Conditioning Heating, & Refrigeration (AHRI) Press Release that provides the August, 2025 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data. For previous monthly shipment releases and historical data, please click here . You may also wish to share this information with other groups or individuals within your organization that would be interested in this shipment data.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.

The American Gas Association represents more than 200 local energy companies committed to the safe and reliable delivery of clean natural gas to more than 73 million customers throughout the nation.

2026 BECS Committee Meeting Schedule

January 14-15, 2026, San Diego, California Hotel TBD

May 13-14, 2026, Portland, Maine Hotel TBD

September 16 -17, 2026, Wilmington, NC Hotel TBD