NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-044

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-044.

REVISE 49 CFR 192.281(E)(2), "MECHANICAL JOINTS," TO REQUIRE THAT STIFFENERS BE DESIGNED TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH COMPRESSION COUPLINGS SO THAT PIPES CANNOT PULL OUT OF THE COUPLINGS.

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 MTB: SECTIONS 192.273(A), 192.281(A), AND 192.281(E) (2) REQUIRE THE COMPATABILITY OF THE STIFFENERS USED WITH THE COUPLING TO MEET THE STRENGTH REQUIRED. 8/9/78 - MTB LTR: MTB BELIEVES THAT PRESENT REGULATIONS ARE ADEQUATE. ASTM IS DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE INSTALLATION AND TESTING CRITERIA TO PREVENT FAULTY INSTALLATION OF COUPLINGS. THIS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY LATE 1978. MTB EXPECTS TO INCORPORATE THE CRITERIA INTO SUBPART J OF THE REGULATIONS.

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

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1979-01-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence