# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-045

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** P-78-045
- **title:** NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-045
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** National Transportation Safety Board
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 1978-08-21
- **effective on:** 1978-08-21
- **summary:** INSTALL PRESSURE GAUGES TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY ALL GAS MAINS TO BE TAPPED WHENEVER THERE ARE TWO OR MORE MAINS IN THE SAME EXCAVATION THAT CANNOT BE POSITIVELY VERIFIED BY LOCATION, SIZE, KIND, OR TYPE OF COATING, ETC. (URGENT)
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- **source url:** https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-78-045
**body:**

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-045.

INSTALL PRESSURE GAUGES TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY ALL GAS MAINS TO BE TAPPED WHENEVER THERE ARE TWO OR MORE MAINS IN THE SAME EXCAVATION THAT CANNOT BE POSITIVELY VERIFIED BY LOCATION, SIZE, KIND, OR TYPE OF COATING, ETC. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-08-21

Adopted Date: 1978-08-08

Overall Date Closed: 1988-02-23

Synopsis: ON MAY 17, 1978, A COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO, INC., CONSTRUCTION CREW, MISTAKING AN 8-INCH, LOW-PRESSURE STEEL GAS MAIN FOR AN 8-INCH, HIGH-PRESSURE STEEL GAS MAIN, DRILLED A SMALL PILOT BIT HOLE THROUGH THE WALL OF THE LOW-PRESSURE GAS MAIN AND BEGAN TO CUT INTO THE PIPE WALL WITH A LARGE DIAMETER BIT. GAS FROM THE HIGH PRESSURE GAS SYSTEM ENTERED THE 14-INCH WATER COLUMN LOW-PRESSURE GAS MAIN AND RAPIDLY INCREASED THE PRESSURE IN THE LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM IN A 4.8-SQUARE-MILE AREA OF MANSFIELD. THE MANSFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT BEGAN RECEIVING REPORTS OF FIRES CAUSED BY EXCESSIVELY HIGH APPLIANCE FLAMES ON GAS APPLIANCES. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION. PROPERTY DAMAGE TO 16 HOUSES RESULTED FROM THE IGNITION OF NEARBY COMBUSTIBLES BY HIGH PILOT FLAMES; 5 OF THESE HOUSES WERE EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA78FP019

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: NiSource, Inc. (formerly Columbia Gas)

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-02-23

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO LTR: COLUMBIA GAS AGREES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO SEE THAT A PRESSURE GAUGE IS UTILIZED WHENEVER THERE ARE TWO OR MORE MAINS IN THE SAME LOCATION THAT CANNOT BE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-02-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-12-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-02-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence
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