NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-009

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-009.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR TO THE ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: PERIODICALLY CHECK FOR LIQUIDS ACCUMULATED AT THE LOW SPOTS IN ITS GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, REMOVE ANY LIQUIDS FOUND, AND CHEMICALLY ANALYZE THE LIQUIDS TO DETERMINE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR DETERIORATING ABS OR OTHER TYPES OF PLASTIC PIPE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-07-01

Adopted Date: 1985-06-12

Overall Date Closed: 1989-05-12

Synopsis: AT 3:30 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1984, AN EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY AN INTENSE NATURAL GASFED FIRE DESTROYED TWO APARTMENTS AT 3022 NORTH 37TH STREET IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OF THE 12 PERSONS INJURED IN THE FIRE, 5 PERSONS LATER DIED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE 1 1/4-INCH-DIAMETER PLASTIC GAS MAIN SUPPLYING GAS TO THE DESTROYED APARTMENTS WAS EXCAVATED AND A 3-INCH-LONG LONGITUDINAL SPLIT WAS DISCOVERED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE 18 FEET FROM THE GAS METERS ON THE APARTMENT BUILDING. GAS AT 30 PSIG HAD ESCAPED THROUGH THE LONGITUDINAL SPLIT, MIGRATED INTO AND UNDER THE APARTMENTS, IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED.

Keywords: Hazmat

Ntsbnumber: DCA84AP026

Report Number: PAR-85-01

Addressee Name: Southwest Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-05-12

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-01-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALL PERSONNEL WERE INFORMED WHO WORKED ON THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF OUR NEED TO EVALUATE ALL ENTRAPPED LIQUIDS IN THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND PARTICULARLY THE ABS SYSTEM. WE HAVE FOUND A SMALL AMOUNT ENTRAPPED WHICH HAS BEEN ANALYZED AS CONSTRUCTION WATER WITH NO CHEMICAL POTENTIAL TO DETERIORATE THE ABS PIPE. PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL END OF THE ABS REMOVAL AT WHICH TIME IT WILL BE REEVALUATED AND THE NECESSARY ACTION TAKEN.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-05-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-10-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence