aussies,

The shut off will be on the gas branch piping immediatly after the piping comes thru the wall/floor. Then you have an appliance connector (Yellow corrigated tubing)to the range. This is considered accessible because when you pull the range away from the wall, the valve is now accessible to shut off. Make sure you use pipe dope or teflon tape rated for gas piping (Yellow tape) on the pipe threads, but not on the appliance connector. The appliance connector has flared/tapered connections for sealing.

Dan Martyn

Yep, what Dan said X2.

Accessible by code means you do not have to destroy something to access it. Behind the range is the normal place. This service shut-off is not an emergency shut-off it is a service shut off. The emergency shut-off is at the delivery source i.e. tank/meter. This is what gets most people. They think the valve needs to be somewhere that will allow them to put their hands on it without moving the appliance so they can cut the gas off in an emergency. The first rule to an indoor gas leak is...get out, then cut the gas off at source and call 911 form outside the home. I know this isn't what you asked...I'm just talkative tonight I guess.

To add a bit of emphasis to what Dan & Jcal have previously stated, if you have a gas leak, or suspect a gas leak, get everyone out of the structure immediately and DO NOT turn anything off or on during your egress, especially light switches or electrical devices. Most residential grade switches are not "arc Proof" which means that they can produce a spark when switched on or off and the resultant spark could ignite the gas. Ideally you should have a prearranged emergency game plan worked out with your family where everyone gets out and meets at a predetermined point such as a neighbors house. Call 911 from a cell phone or a neighbors phone once you are clear, and by having a prearranged meeting point you can confirm your whole family got out.

Code actually defines three levels of accessibility

1. Accessible- May require moving the appliance or items stored in an adjacent cabinet or it may require a key or tools to access the valve such as when a valve is located inside a service access panel. (Service panels are typically only found in commercial applications)

2. Readily Accessible- May require moving the appliance or opening a cabinet or service access panel providing the cabinet or panel can be opened without the use of tools or keys.

3. Immediately Accessible- Must be mounted in plain view from the operating or primary service position of the appliance and must have an assured clearance which would permit operating the valve without obstruction while standing at floor level.

Typically a residential gas range installation is done in the manner described by Dan above, however there are some general rules concerning the use of flexible service lines.

1. The minimum diameter of a flex line must be equal to the inlet diameter of the appliance regulator.
2.The flex line must be labeled as approved for the BTU demand of the appliance or greater.
3.The inlet end of the flex line must be connected
immediately after the shutoff valve.
4.Flex lines must initiate and terminate in the same room. They may not be passed through a wall, floor or appliance housing. ( Be careful here, the gas regulator on most freestanding gas ranges is mounted under the cook top on the left side in the front 1/3 of the appliance depth. You must install a pipe nipple from the gas regulator to the rear of the appliance where the flex line can be connected immediately outside the appliance housing).

Some jurisdictions do not permit flex lines, but rather, they require hard piping the complete installation. In this case the gas line is run vertically up to the rear of the cook top, then turned 90deg and a pipe is run through the real housing into the cook top section. We then install a short nipple on the gas regulator with a union on the rear end of the nipple. From the rear end of the union we install a close nipple then the shutoff valve and the pipe from the input side of the shutoff valve is connected to the gas riser behind the appliance. (If you look at the rear housing of the range you will see a large opening that will permit clearance for the gas valve and union when sliding the range into place. Once the union is tightened the gas valve can be opened and for future service the valve is accessible by lifting the range top.)