What is this on the gas line going to furnace?

[Kevin Luce]

All the years I was in heating and cooling and all the homes I inspected, I have never seen this before. A 9 unit building with all new furnaces and all but one gas line going to furnace had this installed. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Picture is not the greatest. It's black plastic with nothing going to it. You can slide it up and down the gas pipe and the two sides are held on by screws. It does have some weight to it.

[Kevin Luce]

Here are two more pictures.

[Michael Larson]

Magnet?

[Kevin Luce]

No.

It freely moves up and down a pipe but not large enough to slide over a gas shut off valve or a coupling if one was installed.

[Michael Larson]

What's the name on the side?

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by Kevin Luce

All the years I was in heating and cooling and all the homes I inspected, I have never seen this before. A 9 unit building with all new furnaces and all but one gas line going to furnace had this installed. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Picture is not the greatest. It's black plastic with nothing going to it. You can slide it up and down the gas pipe and the two sides are held on by screws. It does have some weight to it.

It looks like a safety clamp that can be used to clamp around the shut off valve in the gas line to prevent the valve from being closed or opened. We use to use red ones like that in my past life. I would have popped those screws out and had a look curiosity will kill the cat but satisfaction will bring it back.

[David P. Valley]

Hmmmmm. It appears to have a wire coming out of the first picture.

I would have removed the 4 screws. Now you've got me curious.

[Bob Elliott]

How odd as my first thought was magnets also.
Anyone notice how the coupling in the first picture appears to be galvanized?
(dis-similar to the black pipe)

[Kevin Luce]

Originally Posted by relliott

How odd as my first thought was magnets also.
Anyone notice how the coupling in the first picture appears to be galvanized?
(dis-similar to the black pipe)

???

Besides the screws, the rest of it is black plastic.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Hmmmmm. It appears to have a wire coming out of the first picture.

I would have removed the 4 screws. Now you've got me curious.

David could not see any wire in the pic maybe my eyes are to old.

Will stay with my first thought a lock out device he did say this was a multiple unit and I was thinking rentals God only knows I don't.
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[Bob Elliott]

Kevin I was refering to the gas pipe coupling.It looks like it is galvinized though it may be the pic.

[klott]

Could it be a bonding clamp of sorts? I noticed the wire also.

[rwand1]

Is it a protective cover which slips over the gas valve to prevent damage and/or someone inadvertently turning the valve off, such as children? Perhaps that is why its plastic, and slides. I think Charley is right.

[klott]

Maybe it is an electronic device to keep up with how much gas each unit uses.

[Kevin Luce]

With the suggestions, I'll have to go with preventing the tenants from turning off the shut off valves. I would think there was a better system then just 4 screws.