Phillips Driscopipe, Inc. — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

Page 1Mr. Jake E. Williams Phillips Driscopipe, Inc. 2929 North Central Expressway Suite 100 Richardson, TX 75083 Dear Mr. Williams: I am responding to your letter of June 10, 1991, addressed to Richard Sanders at the Transportation Safety Institute. You asked what qualifications shop fabricated mitered polyethylene fittings must meet for use in gas distribution systems. In addition, you asked who must qualify the procedures for joining plastic pipe of different manufacturers. Plastic fittings used in gas distribution systems are subject to the Federal pipeline safety standards in 49 CFR Part 192. They also must meet any additional or more stringent safety standards that may be in effect under the law of the state in which the fittings are to be installed. Under Part 192, a shop fabricated mitered polyethylene fitting qualifies for use in a gas distribution system if it satisfies the general materials and design requirements of §§192.143 respectively, and conforms to ASTM D2513 as provided by §192.191. Section 192.283 requires pipeline operators to use a qualified procedure in joining plastic pipe of different manufacturers. The section does not specify who must qualify the procedures. Qualification may be done by anyone, including the operator, either manufacturer, or both manufactures. If the operator uses a joining procedure qualified by others, it is still responsible for compliance with the Part 192 qualification requirements. To fulfill this obligation, it must assure itself that the procedures have been properly qualified under those requirements. I apologize for the delay in answering your letter. However, please don't hesitate to write again if you need any more information regarding the Department's pipeline safety standards. A copy of Part 192 is enclosed. Sincerely, Cesar DeLeon Director For Pipeline Safety Regulatory Programs DB C:\WP51\INTERPRT\192\191\91-10-07 1#