NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-043

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-043.

STUDY THE PLASTIC-TO-STEEL TRANSITION PROBLEMS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY ACTION TO CORRECT ANY UNSAFE PRACTICES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-09-15

Adopted Date: 1976-07-07

Overall Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Synopsis: ON JANUARY 10, 1976, GAS WHICH WAS LEAKING INTO THE PATHFINDER HOTEL, IN FREMONT, NEBRASKA, IGNITED. THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM A 2-INCH PLASTIC PIPE WHICH HAD PULLED OUT OF ITS COMPRESSION COUPLING; THE GAS SEEPED INTO THE HOTEL BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN CAPPED ABOVE BY FROZEN EARTH AND A CONCRETE ROAD SURFACE. THE HOTEL EXPLODED AND FIRE ENSUED; THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED THE HOTEL, DAMAGED NEARBY BUILDINGS, AND BROKE WINDOWS WITHIN A ONE-BLOCK RADIUS. THIRTY-NINE PERSONS WERE INJURED AND 20 PERSONS WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA76MP013

Report Number: PAR-76-06

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-09-29

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1977-03-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU: THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR MAKING PLASTIC-TO-STEEL JOINTS SAFELY. OPSO WILL INITIATE WORK VERY SOON ON DEVELOPMENT OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES AND WORKMANSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONNEL INSTALLING PLASTIC PIPELINES. OPSO IS ALSO ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR USE OF COMPRESSION FITTINGS WITH PLASTIC PIPE UNDER A JOINT EFFORT OF THE PLASTIC PIPE INSTITUTE, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING MATERIALS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1983-03-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY OBJECTIVES DEALING WITH PLASTIC-TO-STEEL TRANSITION PROBLEMS AND COMPRESSION COUPLINGS (P-73-3, P-76 43, P-76-44, AND P-76-45) HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DOT TECHNICAL REPORT CITED ABOVE, AND BY SECTION 192.273(A) WHICH REQUIRES THAT COMPRESSION COUPLINGS AND OTHER JOINTS SUSTAIN THE LONGITUDINAL PULLOUT OR THRUST FORCES CAUSED BY THE CONTRACTION OR EXPANSION OF THE PIPE OR BY ANTICIPATED EXTERNAL OR INTERNAL LOADINGS IN THE AREA WHERE THE PIPE IS LOCATED; AND BY SECTION 192.283(B), WHICH IDENTIFIES PROCEDURES WHICH PERMIT THE SAFE USE OF COMPRESSION COUPLINGS.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1988-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence