NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNION LIGHT, HEAT AND POWER COMPANY: CONDUCT A SYSTEM-WIDE INSPECTION OF UNRESTRAINED COMPRESSION COUPLINGS ON GAS METER SET ASSEMBLIES FOR CONFORMANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALL PERTINENT REGULATIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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 CONDUCTED A FIELD SURVEY OF ALL CUSTOMERS, APPROXIMATELY 63,000, TO ASCERTAIN THAT NO UNRESTRAINED PRESSURE COUPLINGS REMAIN UP-STREAM OF CUSTOMER'S METERS. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED MAY 11, 1981, AND THE SURVEY WAS COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 11, 1981. AS OF DECEMBER 4, 1981, UNION LIGHT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GAIN ENTRANCE OF 698 LOCATIONS WHERE CUSTOMERS RECEIVE GAS SERVICE ABOVE STANDARD PRESSURE. ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS WERE VISITED ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. UNION LIGHT IS CONTINUING TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GAIN ENTRANCE USING RECALLS, TELEPHONE CONTACT, DOOR HANGER NOTICES REQUESTING CUSTOMER TO CALL, AND THE U.S. MAIL. AS OF OCTOBER 20, 1982, ONLY 11 LOCATIONS REMAINED UNRESOLVED.

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