Okaloosa County Gas District — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

Page 1June 25, 1973 Mr. Jose N. Lozano Engineer Okaloosa County Gas District P. O. Box 548 Valparaiso, Florida 32580 Dear Mr. Lozano: Your letter of May 31, 1973, asks whether cathodic protection is required for couplings used with plastic pipe if the couplings are adequately coated and wrapped after installation. You mention especially the stainless steel rings used with amp-fit couplings. For buried or submerged pipelines installed after July 31, 1971, §192.455(a)(2) requires cathodic protection unless the pipeline qualifies for an exception as stated in paragraph (b) or (c) of the section. Pipeline is defined in §192.3 to include "all parts of those physical facilities through which gas moves in transportation, including pipe, valves, and other appurtenances attached to pipe, compressor units, metering stations, regulator stations, delivery stations, holders and fabricated assemblies." Metallic couplings and stainless steel rings used in couplings for plastic pipe, therefore, must be cathodically protected. Coating and wrapping after installation do not fulfill the cathodic protection requirements. Except for cast iron or ductile iron, where the buried or submerged pipeline was installed before August 1, 1971, §192.457(b) requires only that it be cathodically protected, not later than August 1, 1976, in areas in which active corrosion is found. Again, this requirement is applicable to metallic couplings and stainless steel rings used in couplings for plastic pipe. If you have further questions in this regard, please call on us. Sincerely, /signed/ Joseph C. Caldwell Director Office of Pipeline Safety DAL\192\3\73-06-25 1#