NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-045

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-045.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ATLANTIC GAS LIGHT COMPANY: TAKE WHATEVER REMEDIAL ACTION IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS. THIS ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE SECTIONS OF CAST-IRON MAIN SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-24

Adopted Date: 1973-08-16

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Synopsis: A GAS EXPLOSION OCCURRED ON AUGUST 31, 1972 IN THE ANNEX BUILDING OF AN ATLANTA, GA., HIGH SCHOOL. GAS HAD LEAKED INTO THE BUILDING FROM A CRACKED CAST-IRON MAIN LOCATED BENEATH THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE ANNEX. ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY (AGL) PERSONNEL ARRIVED AT THE LEAK SITE APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AFTER AGL WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE LEAK AND APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. ONE PERSON DIED AND SEVEN OTHERS WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-03

Addressee Name: Atlanta Gas Light Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Addressee Acronym: AGL

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1974-07-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM ATLANTA GAS LIGHT COMPANY: AGL HAS FOR YEARS EVALUATED ITS EXISTING CAST-IRON SYSTEM AND WHEREVER FEASIBLE THE CAST-IRON MAIN HAS BEEN ABANDONED. FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ALL LEAKS HAVE BEEN PLOTTED ON A MAP TO DETERMINE IF ANY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS HAVE MORE LEAKS THAN OTHERS. (CORROSION OR CAST-IRON BREAKS.) REPAIR RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED AND, IF A PATTERN OF BREAKAGE OF CAST-IRON MAINS IS EVIDENT, THE MAIN IS REPLACED. RECORDS WILL BE REVIEWED TO INSURE THAT ANY MAINS WHICH INDICATE ABNORMAL LEAKAGE WILL BE REPLACED.