NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-038

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-038.

ENCLOSE STRONGLY WORDED WARNING LITERATURE IN EACH BOX OF STYLE 90 COUPLINGS SHIPPED INDICATING THAT THIS STANDARD COMPRESSION COUPLING IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CONNECTING LONG LENGTHS OF INSERTED PLASTIC PIPES OR THE ANCHORING OF PLASTIC PIPE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1983-01-04

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: Dresser Industries, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-01-04

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: DRESSER MANUFACTURING COMPANY LETTER: RECOMMENDATION P-78-38 SUGGESTS STRONGLY WORDED WARNING LITERATURE BE INCLUDED IN EACH BOX OF TYPE 90 COUPLINGS, INDICATING THAT THIS PRODUCT "IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CONNECTING LONG LENGTHS OF INSERTED PLASTIC PIPES OR THE ANCHORING OF PLASTIC PIPE." FOR MANY YEARS PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT, WE HAVE INCLUDED ON THE PRINTED INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FURNISHED IN EACH CARTON OF DRESSER PRODUCTS THIS NOTE: "WHERE PIPE MOVEMENT OUT OF THE COUPLING MIGHT OCCUR, PROPER ANCHORAGE MUST BE PROVIDED." WE ARE NOW PRECEDING THIS NOTE WITH THE WORD "CAUTION" IN LARGE BOLD TYPE AND ENCLOSING THE ENTIRE STATEMENT IN HEAVY BLACK OUTLINE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-01-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence