At 12:50am on December 15, 1977, a 2 inch, plastic gas main under an alley in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, pulled out of a compression coupling which joined it to a steel gas main. Natural gas escaped from the main and migrated through the stone foundation walls of two nearly buildings. At 1:20am, the accumulations of gas in the two buildings ignited. The resulting explosion and fire destroyed one building, severely damaged the other building, and broke nearby windows.Two persons were killed and three persons were injured.
We determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the gas company to properly design, install, test, inspect, and anchor the installatin of a 394 foot long polyethylen plastic gas main that had been inserted in a casing and connected to a steel gas main with a compresion coupling. The 2 1/2 uear old unrestrained plastic gas main contracted 3 1.2 inches because of cold temperatures and pulled out of the compression coupling, the resistance of which had decreased with age.
As a result of this investigation, we issued 23 new recommendations. We issued recommendations to:
- the Kansas Public Service Company, Inc.
- the Materials Transportation Bureau of the US Department of Transportation
- the American Gas Association
- Dresser Manufacturing Company
- E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company
