# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-009

**Citation:** P-81-009  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1981-05-13  
**Published:** 1981-05-13

TO THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Initiate rulemaking to require the installation of excess flow valves on all newly installed or renewed high-pressure gas distribution system service lines with priority given to service lines supplying schools, churches, and other places of public assembly. (Superseded by P-81-38 through P-81-39)

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-009.

TO THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Initiate rulemaking to require the installation of excess flow valves on all newly installed or renewed high-pressure gas distribution system service lines with priority given to service lines supplying schools, churches, and other places of public assembly. (Superseded by P-81-38 through P-81-39)

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Superseded

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1982-10-25

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 9, 1980, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER COMPRESSION COUPLING LOCATED ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF A GAS METER SET ASSEMBLY IN THE BOILERROOM OF THE SIMON KENTON HIGH SCHOOL IN INDEPENDENCE, KENTUCKY, PULLED OUT OF ITS CONNECTION WITH A 2-INCH-DIAMETER GAS SERVICE LINE. NATURAL GAS AT 165-PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED THROUGH THE 2-INCH-DIAMETER OPENING AND, SECONDS LATER, EXPLODED AND BURNED. A BASEMENT WALL WAS BLOWN DOWN, AN ADJACENT CLASSROOM WAS DAMAGED, AND ONE STUDENT WAS KILLED. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURED, WHICH INJURED 37 PERSONS AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED THE SHCOOL. THE GAS SERVICE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 4-INCH-DIAMETER GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY (GAS COMPANY), WHICH WAS UPRATING THE GAS MAIN BY CONTROLLED PRESSURE INCREASES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Keywords: Excess Flow Valves

Ntsbnumber: DCA81AP001

Report Number: PAR-81-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Superseded

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-10-25

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-08-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA (MTB) LTR: THIS RESPONSE WAS DIRECTED AT P-81-38 AND 39 BUT IT APPLIES TO P-81-9 IN THAT IT ADDRESSES PLANS BY RSPA FOR HANDLING THE EXCESS FLOW VALVE ISSUE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-81-009>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `64517563d63c13beb9c2aaeb483404eb199f4959cd88418a93e0203096e9b142`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T11:16:52.899Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-81-009`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-81-009",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA81AP001",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Superseded",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CS",
  "overallDateClosed": "1982-10-25",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-81-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA81AP001.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P81_8_10.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "RSPA",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CS",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Superseded",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1982-10-25",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1982-08-11",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "RSPA (MTB) LTR:  THIS RESPONSE WAS DIRECTED AT P-81-38 AND 39 BUT IT APPLIES TO P-81-9 IN THAT IT ADDRESSES PLANS BY RSPA FOR HANDLING THE EXCESS FLOW VALVE ISSUE."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1982-10-25",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```