NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-041

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-041.

ENCLOSE WARNING LITERATURE AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN EACH CARTON OF INTERNAL STIFFENERS INDICATING THAT THE STIFFENERS DO NOT PROVIDE ANY ANCHORING PROPERTIES, AND THAT IT IS THE GAS COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY DESIGN AND INSTALL PLASTIC PIPELINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF 49 CFR 192.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-07-19

Adopted Date: 1978-07-05

Overall Date Closed: 1978-11-09

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: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-11-09

Addressee Acronym: DuPont

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM DU PONT: STARTING OCTOBER 15, DUPONT WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING WARNING IN EACH BOX OF METAL INSERT STIFFENERS: "WARNING: STANDARD COMPRESSION FITTINGS USED WITH THESE METAL INSERT STIFFENERS TO JOIN ALDYL-A PIPE ARE NOT DESIGNED TO RESIST AXIAL PULL-OUT FORCES IN BURRIED SERVICES THAT CAN RESULT FROM THERMAL CONTRACTION, EARTH LOADING, OR MECHANICAL IMPACT. CONFORMANCE WITH 49 CFR 192 (192.273), WHICH RELATES TO LONGITUDINAL FORCES WHEN USING THESE FITTINGS WILL NORMALLY REQUIRE ANCHORING TO PREVENT PULL-OUT." THESE METAL INSERT STIFFENERS DO NOT PROVIDE ANY ANCHORING PROPERTIES AND IT IS THE GAS COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY DESIGN AND INSTALL PLASTIC PIPELINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF 49 CFR 192.

Addressee Acronym: DuPont

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-11-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence