# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-018

**Citation:** P-85-018  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1985-07-01  
**Published:** 1985-07-01

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROBLEM OF CHEMICALLY INDUCED ABS PLASTIC PIPE FAILURE IS NATIONWIDE. INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE DATA MAINTAINED BY THE PLASTIC PIPE INSTITUTE, THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, AND GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND OTHERS ON ABS PLASTIC PIPE MATERIAL FAILURES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROBLEM OF CHEMICALLY INDUCED ABS PLASTIC PIPE FAILURE IS NATIONWIDE. INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE DATA MAINTAINED BY THE PLASTIC PIPE INSTITUTE, THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, AND GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND OTHERS ON ABS PLASTIC PIPE MATERIAL FAILURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 1986-05-12

Synopsis: AT 3:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN INTENSE NATURAL GASFED FIRE DESTROYED TWO APARTMENTS AT 3022 NORTH 37TH STREET IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OF THE 12 PERSONS INJURED IN THE FIRE, 5 PERSONS LATER DIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE 1 1/4-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN SUPPLYING GAS TO THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE 18 FEET FROM THE GAS METERS ON THE APARTMENT BUILDING. GAS AT 30 PSIG HAD ESCAPED THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SPLIT, MIGRATED INTO AND UNDER THE APARTMENTS, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA84AP026

Report Number: PAR-85-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-05-12

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SEE LOG FOLDER.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1986-05-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-85-018>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `bd97973b66afa349eee7d215954222ca9c3cd023e5aaf8ec386a013e87d717c0`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T01:01:24.781Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-85-018`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-85-018",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "DCA84AP026",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1986-05-12",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-85-01",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA84AP026.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P85_18_19.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "RSPA",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CAA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1986-05-12",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1986-03-17",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "SEE LOG FOLDER."
        },
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": "RSPA",
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "G-Federal Government",
          "isFromNtsb": true,
          "communicationDate": "1986-05-12",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": ""
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```