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In This Issue

  1. USCG/EPA Region VI Regional Response Team (RRT) 2003 Winter Meeting, January 29-30
  2. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  3. Decision That Nonconforming 1999 Ferrari F355 Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
  4. Interested in Web-Based Compliance Management Systems?
  5. Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, and Fire Prevention Plans – OSHA Final Rule
  6. Acquiring a pipeline?
  7. PE Certification of SPCC Plans
  8. PIPELINE101 Website
  9. Misc Proposed Rules – Gas Pipelines
  10. Air Permit Needs?
  11. API Releases New Edition Of Pipeline Monitoring Standard
  12. Operator Qualification Pipeline Industry Forum January 21 and January 23, 2003
  13. Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) Web Site
  14. Correction to Hazardous Liquid Corrosion Rule
  15. Homeland Security Department Organization
  16. Advisory Bulletin: Notification of the Susceptibility To Premature Brittle-Like Cracking of Older Plastic Pipe
  17. New Pipeline Safety Legislation

Advisory Bulletin: Notification of the Susceptibility To Premature Brittle-Like Cracking of Older Plastic Pipe

RSPA has issued a follow-up advisory bulletin to owners and operators of natural gas distribution systems to inform them of the susceptibility to premature brittle-like cracking of older plastic pipe and the voluntary efforts to collect and analyze data on plastic pipe performance. In recent years, brittle-like cracking has been observed in some polyethylene pipes installed in gas service through the early 1980s. This brittle-like cracking (also known as slow crack growth) can substantially reduce the service life of polyethylene piping systems.

The susceptibility of some polyethylene pipes to brittle-like cracking is dependent on the resin, pipe processing, and service conditions. A number of studies have been conducted on older polyethylene pipe. These studies have shown that some of these older polyethylene pipes are more susceptible to brittle-like cracking than current materials. These older polyethylene pipe materials include the following:

  • Century Utility Products, Inc. products.
  • Low-ductile inner wall “Aldyl A” piping manufactured by Dupont Company before 1973.
  • Polyethylene gas pipe designated PE 3306. (As a result of poor performance this designation was removed from ASTM D-2513.)

Because systems without known susceptible materials may also experience brittle-like cracking problems, RSPA recommends that all operators implement the following practices for all polyethylene piping systems:

  1. Review system records to determine if any known susceptible materials have been installed in the system. Both engineering and purchasing records should be reviewed. Based on the available records, identify the location of the susceptible materials. More frequent inspection and leak surveys should be performed on systems that have exhibited brittle-like cracking failures of known susceptible materials.
  2. Establish a process to identify brittle-like cracking failures. Identification of failure types and site installation conditions can yield valuable information that can be used in predicting the performance of the system.
  3. Use a consistent record format to collect data on system failures. The AGA Plastic Failure Report form (Appendix F of the AGA Plastic Pipe Manual) provides an example of a report for the collection of failure data.
  4. Collect failure samples of polyethylene piping exhibiting brittle-like cracking. Evidence of brittle-like cracking may warrant laboratory testing. Although every failure may not warrant testing, collecting samples at the time of failure would provide the opportunity to conduct future testing should it be deemed necessary.
  5. Whenever possible record the print line from any piping that has been involved in a failure. The print line information can be used to identify the resin, manufacturer and year of manufacture for plastic piping.
  6. For systems where there is no record of the piping material, consider recording print line data when piping is excavated for other reasons. Recording the print line data can aid in establishing the type and extent of polyethylene piping used in the system.

The entire advisory bulletin can be downloaded from RCP’s website here.