NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-049

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-049.

DEVELOP WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND AN INSPECTION PROGRAM TO INSURE THAT ALL PLASTIC PIPE JOINTS MEET THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION PROVISIONS OF 49 CFR 192(F), "JOINING OF MATERIALS BY MEANS OTHER THAN WELDING."

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-09-15

Adopted Date: 1976-07-07

Overall Date Closed: 1980-08-12

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: Nebraska Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1980-08-12

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-05-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: WE PRESENTLY FOLLOW A POLICY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WITHIN A FEW DAYS FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT OF CONNECTING PLASTIC DISTRIBUTION MAINS AND SERVICES TO STEEL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. WE FUSE A TRANSITION (PLASTIC TO STEEL) FITTING TO THE PLASTIC PIPE. WE THEN WELD THE STEEL TO STEEL OR CONNECT THE STEEL TO STEEL WITH A COMPRESSION COUPLING. IF A COMPRESSION COUPLING IS USED, WE, IN ALL APPLICATIONS, SPOT WELD, ELECTRICALLY, A 3/4" STEEL STRAP FROM THE EXISTING STEEL MAIN TO THE STEEL PORTION OF THE TRANSITION FITTING, THUS PROVIDING A POSITIVE ANCHOR TO ELIMINATE EVERY LIKELIHOOD OF A JOINT SEPARATION. THE JOINT IS CATHODICALLY BONDED AND WRAPPED TO INSURE ITS LONGEVITY. WE HAVE CHECKED 99 PERCENT OF THE CONNECTIONS IN OUR SYSTEM COMPANY-WIDE ON PIPE SIZES ABOVE 1" TO INSURE THAT NO FURTHER PULLOUTS OCCUR. 6/19/80 - NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS COMPANY LTR: THE NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS COMPANY HAD DEVELOPED WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND AN INSPECTION PROGRAM IN WHICH THE PROCEDURE OF JOINING PLASTIC TO PLASTIC AND PLASTIC TO STEEL BY MEANS OTHER THAN WELDING ARE COVERED AND HAS AND IS CURRENTLY UPDATING THEM. UNDER NEW MINIMUM SAFETY RULES TO BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER 49 CFR 192, (JULY 1, 1980) THE COMPANY HAS FURTHER DEVELOPED WRITTEN PROCEDURES FOR QUALIFICATION OF ALL PERSONNEL WHO WILL BE JOINING PLASTIC TO PLASTIC OR PLASTIC TO STEEL.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1980-08-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence