NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-004

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-004.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: REVISE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES FOR GAS METER SET ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED INSIDE OF A BUILDING TO REQUIRE THAT THE SHUTOFF VALVE IS LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT FOR NEW INSTALLATIONS AND ROUTINE REPLACEMENTS, AND WHERE POSSIBLE, FOR PRIORITY RETROFITTING OF INSTALLATIONS SERVING SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 9, 1980, A 2-INCH-DIAMETER COMPRESSION COUPLING LOCATED ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF A GAS METER SET ASSEMBLY IN THE BOILERROOM OF THE SIMON KENTON HIGH SCHOOL IN INDEPENDENCE, KENTUCKY, PULLED OUT OF ITS CONNECTION WITH A 2-INCH-DIAMETER GAS SERVICE LINE. NATURAL GAS AT 165-PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED THROUGH THE 2-INCH-DIAMETER OPENING AND, SECONDS LATER, EXPLODED AND BURNED. A BASEMENT WALL WAS BLOWN DOWN, AN ADJACENT CLASSROOM WAS DAMAGED, AND ONE STUDENT WAS KILLED. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURED, WHICH INJURED 37 PERSONS AND EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED THE SHCOOL. THE GAS SERVICE LINE WAS CONNECTED TO A 4-INCH-DIAMETER GAS MAIN OWNED BY THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY (GAS COMPANY), A SUBSIDIARY OF THE CINCINNATI GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, WHICH WAS UPRATING THE GAS MAIN BY CONTROLLED PRESSURE INCREASES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA81AP001

Report Number: PAR-81-01

Addressee Name: Union Light, Heat and Power Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-02

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY LTR: UNION LIGHT HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO INSTALL OUTSIDE SHUTOFF COCKS/VALVES AND BOXES ON ALL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINES, REGARDLESS OF THE LOCATION OF THE GAS METER SET. UNION LIGHT HAS FOR MANY YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE ALL NEW METER SETS TO BE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING SERVED, WHEREVER PRACTICAL. SEE P-81-3 FOR UNION LIGHT'S PROGRAM TO ASSURE ACCESSIBILITY, OPERABILITY AND ACCURATE RECORDS OF SHUTOFF COCKS/VALVES.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence