NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-025

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-025.

COMPLETE THE REVIEW OF ITS PLASTIC PIPE SYSTEMS BEFORE THE 1978-79 WINTER SEASON FOR OTHER UNANCHORED INSERTIONS MORE THAN 100 FEET LONG, AND RECTIFY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOUND.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 15, 1977, A 2-INCH PLASTIC GAS MAIN UNDER AN ALLEY IN DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE, KANSAS, PULLED OUT OF A COMPRESSION COUPLING WHICH JOINED IT TO A STEEL GAS MAIN. NATURAL GAS ESCAPED FROM THE MAIN AND MIGRATED THROUGH THE STONE FOUNDATION WALLS OF TWO NEARBY BUILDINGS. THE ACCUMULATIONS OF GAS IN THE TWO BUILDINGS IGNITED. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE DESTROYED ONE BUILDING, SEVERELY DAMAGED THE OTHER BUILDING, AND BROKE NEARBY WINDOWS. TWO PERSONS WERE KILLED AND THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78MP005

Report Number: PAR-78-04

Addressee Name: Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-04-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: KANSAS PUBLIC SERVIE COMPANY LTR: ALL PLASTIC PIPE, EITHER BY INSERTION OR DIRECT BURIAL OF LENGTHS OVER 75 FEET AND TIED TO STEEL AND/OR CAST IRON AND STEEL, USING ANY TRANSI TION FITTING SUCH AS DRESSER THE DRESSER POSI-HOLD TRANSITION FITTING.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-08-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence