The inspector said If we had to do it for all homes in San Jose, 90% would fail
Natural gas , downstream of the pressure regulator, which is always outside the house, and normally right by the house, is about 12" to 14" water column pressure. That is the amount of pressure to push water up a straw (for example) 12-14", or about one half pound of pressure.
IIRC from my days as a general contractor, the pressure test the inspectors use requires the system be closed off at all points, (capping the outlet to the stove etc.) then applying more than 60 times as much pressure, 30 pounds, and it has to hold for 2 hours with less than 2 pounds drop in pressure.
You can judge for yourself, but that is a huge margin of safety.
I'd also suspect the 90% number is quite a bit high.
Good info, thanks!