Installing LP gas line through earthen floor?

Hello all!

First time poster, so not sure if this is the proper sub forum to post this question in...

Anyway, what I am wondering is if anyone here knows if it is possible to install a propane gas line through an earthen floor?

The plan - I would create a penetration through my wall to connect a small tank outside my cabin, then elbow down to a buriable gas line that would run approx. 10' through my earthen floor, and back up to an island propane range.

Considerations - The line will be buried shallow, about 4-5". The floor will be finished with multiple layers of boiled linseed oil and gum spirits (both 100% natural with no added chemical agents). So the buried line will need to be impact resistant, chemical resistant, and moisture resistant. The earthen floor in my cabin is built on-grade, and the layers underneath (bottom to top) are: compacted dirt, sand, vapor barrier, 2" polystyrene hard foam, cardboard, then the cob on top.

Ideally I would like to avoid having any fittings installed in the buried portions to minimize the possibility of any leaks forming in areas that would require removing sections of floor to access (the run of pipe will require two 90°s/bends in the buried section). My first idea for protecting the buried pipe would be to maybe sleeve it in ABS pipe since it has medium-high impact resistance as well as being resistant to exposure to natural oils (mineral, vegatable, animal), acids, and alkalis.

Mostly looking for any advice on installing buried lines, or if anyone has potentially done this before in their own earthen floors

Thank you all in advance!

Dave

Even if you don't have to follow code, it's worth using it as a suggestion. Several of the sections on this page relate to your scenario:

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFGC2018P4/chapter-4-gas-piping-installations#IFGC2018P4_Ch04_Sec404

Christopher Weeks wrote:Even if you don't have to follow code, it's worth using it as a suggestion. Several of the sections on this page relate to your scenario:

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFGC2018P4/chapter-4-gas-piping-installations#IFGC2018P4_Ch04_Sec404

Thank you for the suggestion and prompt reply! Don't "technically" need to follow code because of where I live (remote island), but they are definitely helpful and exist for a reason. :-)

I have no idea as to what the code calls for. I would certainly go by it …or better.   My default strategy whenever laying water, electricity or gas lines where failure could result in disaster is to lay a line inside a line. …such as running the gas lines through another pipe for added protection.  If nothing else, it makes replacing the line much easier. In a city to the east of me, a residential block vanished due to a gas leak a couple of years ago. Yes, the hospitals were very busy.

Welcome to Permies! This was a great choice of forum to ask this question.

I am not an HVAC technician, so I don't know how helpful this will be...

I can say that I have seen bendable copper pipe used for propane lines so there is no elbow to speak of.

As long as you are not in an area where freezing or earthquakes would make the floor move... I suspect it would be fine. Professionals install underground propane tanks to connect to houses all the time. So there must a rugged enough pipe to handle what you are talking about.

Definitely sleeve it.  PVC electrical conduit or PEX water pipe is what I usually see.

Avoid fittings at all costs. This is part of why conduit or pex are used, they have sweeping bends that allow flexible line to make a 90 bend without a fitting.

Make sure you use a large enough pipe. Propane is under really low pressure and long runs will have significant loss.