NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-016

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-016.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES, INC.: PROVIDE A MEANS TO ENSURE THAT THE USE YOUR TAPPING TEES AT PLASTIC PIPE CONNECTIONS TO STEEL MAINS DOES NOT COMPROMISE CORROSION PROTECTION FOR THE CONNECTION.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-04-30

Adopted Date: 1998-04-23

Overall Date Closed: 1999-07-13

Synopsis: DESPITE THE GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF PLASTIC PIPING AS A SAFE & 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 & FIRE IN WATERLOO, IOWA, DESTROYED A BUILDING & DAMAGED OTHER PROPERTY. SIX PERSONS DIED & 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: Continental Industries, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1999-07-13

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1998-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: (Letter Mail Controlled 6/11/98 11:19:38 AM MC# 980751) WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST "SAFETY RECOMMENDATION" REGARDING THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE USE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVES WITH THE TAPPING TEES AT PLASTIC PIPE CONNECTIONS TO STEEL MAINS DOES NOT COMPROMISE CORROISON PROTECTION FOR THE CONNECTION, WE INTEND TO REVISE OUR PLASTIC COMPRESSION OUTLET ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS TO INDICATE THAT "SUCH DEVICES SHOULD ALLOW A MINIMUM OF 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SLEEVE & THE TEES SUFFICIENT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CORROSION PROTECTION COATING ON THE TEE." IN ADDITION TO ABOVE, CONTINENTAL WILL INCLUDE, IN OUR PRODUCT PROFOLIO, SLEEVES WITH THE PROPER CLEARANCE FOR ALL INSTALLATIONS. SECOND "SAFETY RECOMMENDATION" REGARDING THE DEVELOPING & PUBLISHING OF RECOMMENDATIONS & INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIMITING SHEAR & BENDING FORCES AT LOCATIONS WHERE OUR STEEL TAPPING TEES ARE USED TO CONNECT PLASTIC SERVICE PIPE TO STEEL MAINS, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NTSB REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT IS A PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY FOR US TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE INFINITE NUMBER OF INSTALLATION SITUATIONS AN INSTALLER MAY ENCOUNTER IN THE FIELD. WE SUGGEST THAT THE MOST PRUDENT COURSE WOULD BE FOR CONTINENTAL TO REVISE ITS PLASTIC COMPRESSION OUTLET ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS TO INCLUDE A STATEMENT THAT CONTINENTAL RECOMMENDS THAT THE INSTALLER OF THE GAS SERVICE CONSIDER ADOPTING PROCEDURES CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT AGA, ASTM & D.O.T. RECOMMENDATIONS TO LIMIT SHEAR & BENDING FORCES ON STEEL TEES WITH COMPRESSION OUTLETS BASED ON THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS. PRESENTED AT THE INSTALLATIN SITE. CONTINENTAL WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE AVAILABLE PROTECTIVE SLEEVES FOR OUR PRODUCTS & WILL NOTIFY OUR CUSTOMERS THAT THESE CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THEIR CONTINENTAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ADDITIONAL INFO WITH RESPECT TO THESE ITEMS. WE THEREFORE, SUGGEST A TASK FORCE, INCLUDING THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY, THE TEE MANUFACTURERS & SELECTED REPRESENTATION FROM THE GAS DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES & PIPE MANUFACTURERS, BE COMMISSIONED TO DEVELOP A STANDARD.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1998-10-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 10/14/98 6:10:52 PM MC# 981237 CONTINENTAL WILL CHANGE ITS CATALOG IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED TABLE LABELED "EXHIBIT A". THIS TABLE PROVIDES A MINIMUM OF 0.4375" CLEARANCE BETWEEN CONTINENTAL'S STEEL TEES AND THE APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE SLEEVE. THIS CLEARANCE SHOULD PROVIDE ADEQUATE ROOM FOR CORROSION PROTECTION WRAPPING. COPIES OF THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS ARE ATTACHED TO THIS LETTER. WE BELIEVE THESE ACTIONS ADDRESS THE SUBJECT RECOMMENDATIONS. CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES REMAINS VERY CONCERNED THAT ITS PRODUCTS ARE USED IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER. WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS TO ADVISE INSTALLERS OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AIMED AT LIMITING SHEAR AND BENDING FORCES IN A VARIETY OF SITE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1999-04-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 4/12/99 5:14:46 PM MC# 990393 CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES, INC. HAS COMPLIED WITH P-98-16 AND -17. ENCLOSED YOU WILL FIND AN UPDATED CATALOG SHEET LISTING OUR PROTECTIVE SLEEVES AND AN UPDATED INSTRUCTION SHEET.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1998-08-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE FROM RESPONSE FROM CONTINENTAL, P-98-17 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE." IF AFTER REVIEWING THIS LETTER & THE REFERENCED SPECIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT, CONTINENTAL WISHES TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION P-98-17, THE BOARD IS CERTAINLY WILLING TO PARTICIPATE. P-98-16 WILL REMAIN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--AWAIT RESPONSE," PENDING INFO FROM CONTINENTAL ON WHAT ACTION IT WILL TAKE TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDED ACTION.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1998-12-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES WILL CHANGE ITS CATALOG TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE REGARDING THE USE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVES WITH ITS TAPPING TEES AT PLASTIC PIPE CONNECTIONS TO STEEL MAINS SO THAT CORROSION PROTECTION IS NOT COMPROMISED. ACCORDINGLY, P-98-16 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE." THE BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A COPY OF CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES' REVISED CATALOG ONCE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1999-07-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD IS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIES HAS CHANGED ITS CATALOG, PROVIDING GUIDANCE REGARDING THE USE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVES WITH ITS TAPPING TEES AT PLASTIC CONNECTIONS TO STEEL MAINS SO THAT CORROSION PROTECTION IS NOT COMPRISED. ACCORDINGLY, P-98-16 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."