NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-040

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-040.

INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SETTING UP A TESTING LABORATORY WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN SEND IN SAMPLES OF PLASTIC PIPE AND INSERTS TO BE TESTED WITH COUPLINGS AND THEN BE PROVIDED CERTIFIED RESULTS OF THE TESTS AND APPLICATION RECOMMENDATIONS.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate 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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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 MANUFCTURING COMPANY LETTER: WE DO MAINTAIN A MODERN LABORATORY FOR THE TESTING OF OUR PRODUCTS, AND THESE TESTS PROVIDE THE BASIS OF OUR PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS. THE TEST REPORTS PRODUCED HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO ANY USER UPON REQUEST. IN THESE TESTS, WE HAVE ALWAYS USED STIFFENERS OF OUR OWN MANUFACTURE, AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY SHOULD BE CONTINUED. SINCE WE HAVE NO QUALITY OR DIMENSIONAL CONTROLS OVER MATERIALS MANUFACTURED AND SOLD BY OTHERS, WE FEEL WE CANNOT ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF APPROVING A PART FOR USE IN ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS WHICH IS OFTEN CRITICAL IN ASSURING ITS RECOMMENDED PERFORMANCE UNLESS WE MANUFACTURE THAT PART OURSELVES. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT, PAST AND FUTURE, WILL ALWAYS BE EXPENDED IN THE INTEREST OF INSURING THE PROPER APPLICATION OF DRESSER PRODUCTS. THE LACK OF PIPE END RESTRAINT FOR STANDARD PRODUCTS DESIGNED FOR SEAL ONLY HAS BEEN CLEARLY STATED IN DRESSER LITERATURE, INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, SALES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, ETC., AS WELL AS IN THE UNIQUE "DRESSER GAS PRODUCT INSTALLATION MANUAL" WHICH WAS PRINTED TO AID GAS UTILITIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH DOT REGULATIONS. IN THE PROMOTION OF PRODUCTS WHICH DO PROVIDE RESTRAINT, WE HAVE ALSO CONSISTENTLY POINTED OUT THE LACK OF HOLDING STRENGTH IN PRODUCTS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SEAL ONLY.

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