what is this in my garage? (floor, furnace, water heaters, vacuum)

[sheenie2000]

I'm referring to that pipe coming from the garage floor.

[jimboburnsy]

I think that is a 3" steel post filled with concrete.

No telling what it's doing there but it could have been a workbench leg in a previous life or maybe a dog-kennel post or maybe it simply protected a stack of boxes. No idea, but if you are thinking about cutting it I seriously doubt you will blow up, FWIW.

[sheenie2000]

I edited the post afterwards, i'm referring to the pipe.

[superk]

Most modern garages have a concrete-filled pipe (similar to a lally column) in the floor that acts as a barrier between vital systems (water heaters, gas lines, water mains (which it looks like it does in your case) and an errant vehicle.

[sheenie2000]

Originally Posted by superk

Most modern garages have a concrete-filled pipe (similar to a lally column) in the floor that acts as a barrier between vital systems (water heaters, gas lines, water mains (which it looks like it does in your case) and an errant vehicle.

Thanks. There is a central vac unit near there. But the pipe is far away from the unit. Can we remove that pipe?

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by sheenie2000

Thanks. There is a central vac unit near there. But it's kinda far away. Can we remove it?

It will be a booger to remove, but it isn't going to be full of natural gas or anything.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by superk

Most modern garages have a concrete-filled pipe (similar to a lally column) in the floor that acts as a barrier between vital systems (water heaters, gas lines, water mains (which it looks like it does in your case) and an errant vehicle.

This would be correct. It is a new code requirement from IRC (International Residential Code). Some Counties/municipalities are inforcing this code- and others don't.

Originally Posted by sheenie2000

Thanks. There is a central vac unit near there. But the pipe is far away from the unit. Can we remove that pipe?

You are obviously in an area that inforces this mandate. So, remove at your own risk. You may have to have one reinstalled (much more $$$) when you sale. And depending what maybe inside the wall of that area- if an "accident" were to happen (car into or through wall) and the house went up in flames, the insurance company may not pay!

[QIS]

This is called a bollard! There is NOTHING behind or beside it like laundry hookups or a water heater? There is no (general)code requirement for a bollard to protect a central vacuum.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by QIS

This is called a bollard! There is NOTHING behind or beside it like laundry hookups or a water heater? There is no (general)code requirement for a bollard to protect a central vacuum.

That's why I stated "what maybe inside the wall".

[QIS]

The placement of a bollard is only for appliances inside the garage ; not inside walls. These would be freestanding appliances such as a water heater, furnace and some times attended appliances such as clothes dryers. There is no code requirement for bollards to protect anything inside of a wall for type u or r occupancies ( the occupancies in the op).Obviously there are exterior bollard requirements such as the protection of a gas meter beside a driveway...nuther topic...