Shared Gas/Hydro Trench (Non Utility)

Virginia is still the only State to establish firm standards for the separation of buried electrical and gas lines, and that was twelve years ago.

At that time, according to this section of the document referenced above,

"H. RESEARCH OF REGULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES
"The research of existing regulations was accomplished via several avenues. First, a survey was disseminated to the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives ("NAPSR"). The NAPSR is an organization comprised of the program managers for each state with a natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline safety program certified by the Federal Office of Pipeline Safety ("OPS"). The survey did not identify any state regulations specific to the separation distance between gas and electric utility facilities."

By the way, that report is available as a 30-page PDF not encapsulated in a Google Doc HERE.

The deadly natural gas fire in San Bruno, CA last September would seem to show that underground gas lines can still present a considerable hazard whether or not they are located near a buried electrical service.

Yeah, I just did the quick view, since I didn't need it on my computer. Both gas and electricity can be very dangerous.

This is available throughout the US, and makes much more sense than a standard of separation. Apparently Virginia didn't think a 30% cost increase in laying and burying lines was significant.

Fortunately, both the gas companies and electric companies have some political clout, otherwise this would be the national standard.

Just speaking in general terms, I think it would be best to place one above the other, rather than side by side..............it lessens the risk of both being broken simultaneously during any future digging on site.

Try Inter Plant Steel Standards for piping, valves and piping layout. Refer oxygen and fuel gases.