NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-012

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-012.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION, AS SUCCESSOR TO THE ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY: OPERATE THE SECTIONS OF ITS SYSTEM USING ABS PLASTIC PIPE AT THE LOWEST FEASIBLE PRESSURE UNTIL ALL OF THE ABS PLASTIC PIPE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

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.

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: THE OPERATING PRESSURE FOR THE ABS PLASTIC PIPE SYSTEM HAS BEEN KEPT AT THE LOWEST FEASIBLE PRESSURE AND WILL BE KEPT THIS WAY UNTIL THE PROGRAM IS COMPLETED.

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