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What is the Methane Zone?

In the late 1800s, Los Angeles was booming with aggressive oil drilling. More than a century later we are left with thousands of oil wells, most of which are abandoned.

The Methane Zone is predominantly based on the location of these oil wells. The Los Angeles department of building and safety requires Methane Mitigation if a property is located within the Methane Zone.

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What is Methane Mitigation?

If a new construction project is located within a Methane Zone, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety will require a Methane Test. Based on the Methane Test results, the property will be classified as Methane Levels 1 through 5. Each Methane Level has corresponding mitigation requirements that need to be implemented in the methane mitigation design and construction.

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Methane Mitigation Design

Based on the results of a methane test, the Los Angeles Department of building and Safety will require a Methane Mitigation Design. This design must be prepared by a licensed engineer and will consist of a Passive or Active System….

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Methane Mitigation Construction

Once a Methane Mitigation Design is approved by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, the design must be implemented within the construction project…

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Methane Test

During a Methane Test, probes are placed at depths of 5, 10 and 20 feet below the lowest level of the proposed structure. Methane concentrations are measured, and the highest-level is reported to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety…

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Methane Mitigation Contractors

Methane Mitigation Contractors Methane Mitigation Construction is a specialty trade that is required in certain locations depending on historical oil drilling, landfills, or other methane producing sites. This work cannot be completed by a general contractor, it needs to be completed by a certified installer approved by a methane barrier material manufacture. Sway Features recommends

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