NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-012

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-012.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION: ADVISE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES TO CHECK UNRESTRAINED COMPRESSION COUPLINGS ON GAS METER SET ASSEMBLIES IN BUILDINGS FOR CONFORMANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-05-13

Adopted Date: 1981-04-28

Overall Date Closed: 1982-08-16

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: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-16

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-08-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LTR: RECOMMENDATION P-81-12 COULD BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN OPERATORS SHOULD CHECK ALL INSIDE GAS METER SET ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN UNRESTRAINED COMPRESSION COUPLINGS. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT WARRANTS THAT SUCH AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY BE PERFORMED. IN LIEU OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, AGA RECOMMENDS THAT THESE COUPLINGS BE CHECKED FOR PROPER INSTALLATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, WE RECOMMEND THAT WHEN A SYSTEM OPERATION IS PERFORMED, THE COMPANY EVALUATE ITS POTENTIAL EFFECT ON ALL UNRESTRAINED COMPRESSION COUPLINGS.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-12-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LETTER TO ALL MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES DATED 12/11/81: AGA FORWARDED A COPY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, A COPY OF THEIR LETTER DATED 8/13/81, AND NTSB REPLY DATED 9/25/81 TO ALL MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES. PER THEIR LETTER -- THE COORDINATING GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY HAS REVIEWED THE NTSB RESPONSE AND ASKED THAT WE DISTRIBUTE THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE SUPPORTING CORRESPONDENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL IN OUR MEMBER COMPANIES IN KEEPING WITH OUR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-09-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-08-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence