DBI lays out plan to check gas‑line safety after soft‑story retrofits; report due before October hearing

DBI presented an update July 21 on steps to ensure gas‑line safety for buildings in the city's mandatory soft‑story retrofit program.

Policy and public affairs director Jess Buckley described a cross‑departmental methodology: MIS pulled inspector codes and notes to identify soft‑story buildings where grade beams or new concrete pours were recorded; DBI is matching that list to PG&E records to determine whether utility‑side gas‑line upgrades (for example, sleeving or casing) occurred. Where records or plan review suggest an intersection between a new grade beam and an older gas line, DBI inspectors will flag the address for manual plan review and a site visit; DBI will ask PG&E to confirm line locations and collaborate on mitigations.

Buckley said DBI is seeking input from the structural engineering community and from SEANC to refine quality‑control and field‑inspection criteria. The department emphasized caution: where sleeving or replacement is confirmed in PG&E records the immediate safety concern is reduced, but DBI will prioritize addresses where plans indicate a possible crossing and will conduct on‑the‑ground checks. The department expects to deliver a final report ahead of an October Board of Supervisors hearing tied to the soft‑story retrofit program.

Commissioners asked procedural questions about who is responsible for ensuring a line is wrap‑protected at the time of a pour (the contractor bears primary responsibility on the parcel side; PG&E is responsible up to the meter) and about DBI’s plan to coordinate with PG&E and to flag private‑property line locations. DBI said it will flag sites early for review and educate contractors and design professionals about protective options such as sleeving or approved wraps.