NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-005.

TO THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: Revise the guidance manual for operators of small gas system to include more complete guidance for the proper installation of plastic service pipe connections to steel mains. The guidance should address pipe bending limits and should emphasize that a protective sleeve, in order to be effective, must be of the proper length and inner diameter for the particular connection and must be positioned properly.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-04-30

Adopted Date: 1998-04-23

Overall Date Closed: 2003-10-09

Synopsis: Despite the general acceptance of plastic piping as a safe and economical alternative to piping made of steel or other materials, the board notes that a number of pipeline accidents it has investigated have involved plastic piping that cracked in a brittle-like manner. For example, on 10/17/94, an explosion and fire in Waterloo, Iowa, destroyed a building and damaged other property. Six persons died and seven were injured in the accident. The board investigation determined that natural gas has been released from a plastic service pipe that had failed in a brittle-like manner at a connection to a steel main.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA95MP001

Report Number: SIR-98-01

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2003-10-09

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1998-10-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE BEING ADVISED OF ANY ACTIONS THAT RSPA HAS TAKEN OR PLANS TO TAKE ON EACH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. COPIES OF OUR 1/6/98, & OUR 4/30/98, CORRESPONDENCE ARE ENCLOSED.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2000-07-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 11/15/99, BASED ON INFORMATION IN THE RSPA LETTER OF 3/17/99, P-98-1 THROUGH -5 WERE CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING FURTHER REPLY FROM RSPA. COPIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS P-87-34, P-90-21, P-95-4, P-96-1, P-97-6, P-97-7, P-97-8, P-98-1, P-98-2, P-98-3, P-98-4, P-98-5, AND P-98-25 AND ASSOCIATED CORRESPONDENCE ARE ENCLOSED. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING OF ANY ACTION TAKEN OR PLANNED TO COMPLY WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, ESPECIALLY P-97-7 AND -8, WHICH MAY BE DISCUSSED AT A BOARD MEETING.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2003-10-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board concurs with RSPA that the addendum approved by the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives and RSPA's Transportation Safety Institute addresses the Board's concerns about the proper installation of plastic service pipe connections to steel mains. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-98-5 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-11-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD NOTES THAT THE GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR OPERATORS OF SMALL GAS SYSTEMS WAS LAST REVISED IN AUGUST 1997 AND THAT THE NEXT PRINTING WILL INCLUDE THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDED GUIDANCE. ACCORDINGLY, PENDING PUBLICATION OF THE REVISED MANUAL, P-98-5 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE." THE BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A COPY OF THE REVISED MANUAL WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 2003-07-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 8/7/2003 10:23:37 AM MC# 2030380 Since our last correspondence of November 15, 1999, the SGO Manual was updated as planned. However, a comparison of the August 1997 edition to the June 2002 edition revealed that the added information on installing plastic service pipe connectors to steel mains was inadvertently left out. RSPA’s Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) has since drafted an addendum to correct this omission. On June 26, NAPSR approved the addendum and RSPA’s TSI is forwarding a copy to each of the original recipients of the SGO Manual. In addition, the addendum will be posted on the TSI web site, along with the downloadable version of the 2002 SGO Manual. The document can be found at httn://www.tsi.dot.gov/divisions/nineline/niu nubhtm. I have enclosed a copy of the "Guidance Manual for Operators of Small Gas Systems" (June 2002) and a copy of the approved addendum. Also enclosed are copies of the correspondence exchanged between RSPA and NAPSR for inclusion in your records. In light of the actions taken, we request the NTSB reclassify this recommendation as "Closed - Acceptable Response."

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1999-03-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 9/17/1999 3:30:10 PM MC# 990813 THE GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR OPERATORS OF SMALL GAS SYSTEMS (MANUAL) WAS LAST REVISED IN AUGUST 1997. RSPA WILL UPDATE THE MANUAL TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON PLASTIC PIPE INSTALLATION AS RECOMMENDED BY NTSB. THIS REVISION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OPS' INTERNET PAGE BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1999. THE GUIDANCE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT PRINTING OF THE MANUAL IN 1999. RSPA REQUESTS THAT P-98-5 BE CLASSIFIED AS "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE ACTION" UNTIL THE REVISION OF THE MANUAL IS COMPLETED, AT WHICH TIME WE REQUEST THAT IT BE RECLASSIFIED AS "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."