Piping in excess of 5 million BTU must be designed by which professional?

• A. Mass P.E.
• B. Local inspector
• C. Fire marshal
• D. Gas supplier

Answer: (A)

Large fuel-gas piping systems require a licensed professional engineer to design them. When the input load exceeds a high threshold, like 5 million BTU per hour, the design becomes safety-critical and must be done by a qualified engineer who is legally authorized to perform engineering work. A Professional Engineer (P.E.) brings the necessary calculations, standards, and code compliance to ensure the piping is sized correctly, uses appropriate materials, supports are adequate, and pressure drop and other performance factors are properly addressed. In the Massachusetts context, this is a Mass P.E.—a licensed professional engineer in that state.

Local inspectors, fire marshals, or gas suppliers play important roles in enforcement, safety oversight, or supply, but they do not perform the initial engineering design for large fuel-gas piping.