NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-013

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-013.

REVIEW THEIR CODES TO INSURE THAT ADEQUATE INSTRUCTIONS ARE LISTED FOR THE LOCATION OF NATURAL GAS SERVICE LINES IN RELATION TO OTHER PLUMBING FACILITIES SUCH AS PRESSURE TANKS AND BOILERS IN INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-04-19

Adopted Date: 1976-02-19

Overall Date Closed: 1997-08-13

Synopsis: ON APRIL 22, 1974, A MASSIVE, LOW-ORDER EXPLOSION DEMOLISHED THE WEST WALL OF A 25-STORY COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 305 EAST 45TH STREET IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK. THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADJACENT BUILDING WAS DAMAGED AND GLASS WAS BROKEN IN OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. GLASS FRAGMENTS AND SLIVERS WERE BLOWN INTO 46TH STREET, WHERE THEY LAY 1 INCH DEEP IN PLACES. NO PERSONS WERE KILLED, BUT MORE THAN 70 PERSONS WERE INJURED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD74XR001

Report Number: PAR-76-02

Addressee Name: International Association of Plumbers and Mechanics Officials

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 1997-08-13

Addressee Acronym: IAPMO

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1997-08-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CLASSIFICATION, STATUS TO IAPMO; "CLOSED-UNACCEPTABLE ACTION-NO RESPONSE RECEIVED" STAFF NOTES THAT IT CONTACTED IAPMO PERSONNEL TO INFORM THE ORGANIZATION ABOUT HOW A SIMILAR ORGANIZATION, THE SOUTHERN BUILDING CODE CONGRESS, CLOSED OUT THE SAFETY RECOMMENDATION. THE BOARD STAFF NOTES THAT IAPMO HAS NEVER RESPONDED TO P-76-3. STAFF REASONS THAT BECAUSE IAPMO STAFF DOES NOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES FROM THE BOARD STAFF, P-76-3 SHOULD BE RECLASSIFIED AS "CLOSED---UNACCEPTABLE ACTION--NO RESPONSE RECEIVED."

Addressee Acronym: IAPMO

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1997-08-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ALSO ISSUED THIS SAME SAFETY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BUILDING OFFICIALS AND CODE ADMINISTRATION INTERNATIONAL, INC., AND THE SOUTHERN BUILDING CODE CONGRESS (SBCC). IN MARCH 1996, OUR STAFF PROVIDED YOUR STAFF WITH COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BOARD AND IAPMO AND COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SBCC. AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD STAFF REQUESTED THAT THE IAPMO REVIEW ITS CODES. BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM IAPMO, P-76-3 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED---UNACCEPTABLE ACTION-NO RESPONSE RECEIVED."

Addressee Name: Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 1997-08-13

Addressee Acronym: BOCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1976-04-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CLASSIFICATION, STATUS TO BOCA: "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION." STAFF NOTES THAT IT CONTACTED BOCA PERSONNEL TO INFORM THE ORGANIZATION ABOUT HOW A SIMILAR ORGANIZATION, THE SOUTHERN BUILDING CODE CONGRESS, CLOSED OUT THE RECOMMENDATION. THE BOARD STAFF NOTES THAT BOCA DID NOT RESPOND TO REPEATED REQUESTS TO COMPLY WITH P-76-3. STAFF REASONS THAT BECAUSE BOCA DOES NOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES FROM THE BOARD STAFF, P-76-3 SHOULD BE RECLASSIFIED AS "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Acronym: BOCA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1997-08-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ISSUED THIS SAME RECOMMENDATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS AND MECHANICS OFFICIALS (IAPMO), AND THE SOUTHERN BUILDING CODE CONGRESS (SBCC). IN MARCH 1996, OUR STAFF PROVIDED YOUR STAFF WITH COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BOARD AND BOCA AND COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SBCC. BOCA RESPONDED BY SENDING A PROPOSED CODE CHANGE SUBMITTAL FORM, BUT IT DID NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF REVIEWING ITS CODES. BECAUSE YOUR STAFF, IN SUBSEQUENT TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARD STAFF, DID NOT INDICATE THAT YOUR CODES WOULD BE REVIEWED AS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD, P-76-3 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--UNACCEPTABLE ACTION."

Addressee Name: Southern Building Code Congress

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-07-03

Addressee Acronym: SBCCI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1976-05-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR FROM SOUTHERN BUILDING CODE CONGRESS INTERNATIONAL, INC ON 5/20/76: A PROPOSED CODE CHANGE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WHICH WILL REGULATE THE PLACEMENT OF PRESSURE TANKS RELATIVE TO GAS LINES IN A BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. THE MOST REASONABLE SOLUTION APPEARS TO BE IN REGULATING THE LOCATION OF THE COMPONENTS. THE USE OF VALVES MAY BE THE ANSWER, BUT NOT UNTIL THEY ARE DEVELOPED FOR LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS. OUR PROPOSED CODE CHANGE WILL BE VOTED ON IN NOVEMBER.

Addressee Acronym: SBCCI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-07-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: SBCCI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-06-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: SBCCI

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1985-09-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence