NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-037.

DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF POLYMER AGING, OUTDOOR EXPOSURE, AND STACKING OF COILED PLASTIC PIPE ON ITS ULTIMATE USE. SPECIFY TO THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY WHAT TESTS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED ON THE PIPE TO PROVE ITS INTEGRITY IF EXCESSIVE STORAGE IS FOUND TO BE DETRIMENTAL.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1987-01-12

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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-01-12

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1978-08-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR FROM AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: AT ITS NEXT MEETING, THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE PLASTIC PIPE RESEARCH GROUP WILL CONSIDER RESEARCH ON THE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE 1979 RESEARCH PROGRAM. THE GRI HAS AN ONGOING PLASTIC PIPE RESEARCH PROGRAM AT BATTELLE COLUMBUS LABORATORIES. THESE STUDIES INCLUDE AGING AND STRESS EFFECTS. FIELD EXPERIENCE AND LABORATORY TESTS SHOWED THAT FAILURES CAN BE EXPECTED AT JOINTS DUE TO STRESS CONCENTRATION. INCREASED FOCUS ON PLASTIC JOINTS WILL BE A MAIN AGENDA ITEM AT THE NEXT GRI PLASTIC PIPE RESEARCH GROUP MEETING. 3/23/79 - AGA LTR: THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH TOPICS ARE BEING OR WILL BE ADDRESSED BY AGA AND THE GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE RELATED TO OUTDOOR EXPOSURE OF PIPE: (1) ANALYSIS OF FIELD EXPERIENCE WITH POLYETHYLENE PIPE. (2) EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON LABORATORY RESULTS. (3) THE EFFECT OF OUTDOOR STORAGE ON PLASTIC PIPING BEHAVIOR. 11/16/79 - AGA LTR: SAFETY RECOMMEN DATION BEING ADDRESSED IN GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1987-01-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP AND THE FOLLOWING IS A HISTORY OF PAST CORRESPONDENCE. AGA'S AUGUST 24, 1978, AND MARCH 23, 1979, LETTERS AND NTSB'S APRIL 16, 1979, LETTER.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1980-02-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1987-01-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence