Status of Plastic Piping Data Collection Project Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC) August 21, 2012

Status of Plastic Piping Data Collection Project

Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC) August 21, 2012

Background

• Response to NTSB recommendation• To create a national database of in-service

performance of plastic piping system components

• Database administered by AGA on behalf of PPDC

• Creation and population of database was precondition to DOT not mandating collection

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• The government-industry PPDC is formed to develop and maintain a voluntary data collection process that supports the analysis of the frequency and causes of in-service plastic piping material failures

Mission

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• The PPDC will be composed of 6 stakeholders• Each stakeholder will have 2 representatives• Our purpose is to improve the knowledge

base of the industry and regulatory and address the concerns of the NTSB

• Decisions are made through consensus• Confidentiality of those submitting data• Data base access

Charter

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Government Members• NTSB Representatives (1)• NAPSR Representatives (2)• NARUC Representatives (2)• PHMSA/OPS

Representatives (2)

Industry Members• AGA Member

Representatives (2)• APGA Member

Representatives (2)• PPI Member

Representatives (2)• AGA Observer (1)

14 Members

Up to 3 Invited Guests

Plastic Piping Database Committee (PPDC)

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• The scope of the committee has been expanded to include failures and/or leaks of metal or plastic appurtenances contained within plastic piping systems

• Immediate third party damages are not collected or evaluated

• The data are examined by the PPDC at each meeting


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• Review the data, at minimum, on a semi-annual basis not to exceed 9 months

• Jointly agree on areas of focus or concern• Issue Status Reports after each meeting• Provide resources to aid in identification of

products


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• The reporting period is monthly, including reports of no failures

• Reports can be faxed or sent on CD• If incomplete or insufficient data are

submitted, AGA will contact that person to clarify or to provide adequate data so that the data can be entered into the PPDC database

Data Collection Process

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• What types of failures and/or leaks are reportable under the PPDC initiative?

Only report plastic piping system and appurtenance failures and/or leaks of in-service pipe, fittings or joints (this includes installation errors that fail and/or leak after the pipe is put in service)

Frequently Asked Questions

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• What if I don’t have any plastic piping system and appurtenance failures and/or leaks during the reporting period?

Submit a negative report for each reporting period, stating that no plastic piping system and appurtenance failures and/or leaks have occurred during that reporting period


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• Do I have to submit a separate form for each failure and/or leak data point?

Yes, if you use paper forms. Otherwise, you can send AGA a report on a CD that will allow you to consolidate your reporting by entering multiple data points on one form


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• What is the difference between the PPDC and the PHMSA Mechanical Fitting Failure Report?

The two reports are separate and independent of each other. PHMSA is only collecting mechanical fitting information. The PPDC is collecting data on all plastic failures and leaks

PHMSA’s is mandatory; PPDC is voluntary


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• AGA will collect all data and keep it in a secure database file

• Operator-specific identifiers are not entered into the database.

• Only PPDC members or those expressly designated by the PPDC will review the data

• The data will not be published or available in print

Company Anonymity Protections

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• Century Utility Products polyethylene (PE) pipe produced from 1970 through 1974

• DuPont Aldyl® A low ductile inner wall PE pipe manufactured from 1970 through 1972

• PE pipe manufactured from PE 3306 resin such as Swanson, Orangeburg and Yardley

• DuPont Aldyl® service punch tee with a white Delrin® polyacetal threaded insert

• Plexco service tee with Celcon® polyacetal cap

Areas of Concern

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Plastic Piping Database Committee’s Plastic Pipe Timeline

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Status of Participation• 188 companies have volunteered to

participate (160 in 2000; 165 in 2007)– 107 companies actively submitting data in May

2012• Percent of all installed plastic piping in the

U.S.– 66% for plastic main (76% in 2008)– 73% for plastic services (84% in 2008)

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CommitmentThose who volunteered to participate committed to regularly reporting to the AGA by submitting either:

• Data, or• Negative reports (no data to submit)

As of March 2010 a list of active participants is published as an appendix to the Status Report

Anonymity is still protected

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Accuracy and Completeness of DataVERY IMPORTANT

• Impacts the analysis and conclusions by PPDC• Needs full cooperation of participants to help

resolve submitted data issues• Increasingly important with Distribution

Integrity

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Accuracy and Completeness of DataVERY IMPORTANT

Manufacturer document available on AGA website• Capture the historical plastic materials

manufacturer information• Designed to be an aid when completing

failure reports in order to get more accurate information

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Manufacturers DatabaseManufacturers of Plastic Piping Products - Pipe

NOTE: Operators are required to install materials that meet current requirements

CompanyMaterial

Designation From ToSize

Range Comments

Allied PE 3306/3406 1965/66 1972/731/2" CTS - 2" IPS

Was also a resin producer and supplied the AC ultra high molecular pipe compound to several small pipe extruders including Yardley, Orangeburg, Endot and the Barrett Division of Allied (also an extruder of PVC pipe). Except for Endot, most of these producers/extruders have since gone out of business or have different names today. Pipe was very difficult to fuse.

Amstan PE3306Mid-late

1960s

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CompanyMaterial

Designation From To Size Range Comments

Georg Fischer Central Plastics

Produced molded fittings for pipe producers

PE 2406 ?? Present1" IPS - 12"

IPS Solid Yellow

PE 3408 ?? Present1" IPS - 12"

IPS Solid Black

CP Chemical Another name for Performance Pipe

Manufacturers DatabaseManufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Line Fittings


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CompanyMaterial

Designation From To Size Range Comments

AMPDupont Zytel ST-801

1970's, stainless steel and nylon compression fitting. Technology purchased by Metcal in 1990; can be white in appearance. Dupont Zytel ST-801

Nylon ?? ??1/2" CTS -

2" IPSBlack with Stainless Steel compression ring. Nylon 66

Georg Fischer Central Plastics

Electrofusion and heat fusion fittings, transition fittings, meter risers.

Manufacturers DatabaseManufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Other Fittings

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CompanyMaterial

Designation From To Size Range CommentsGeorg Fisher Central Plastics

Dresser Nylon 1991 Present1/2" CTS - 1-1/4" CTS Style 475 Curb Valve Rilsan

Friatec PE 3408 1985 1995 2" - 6" IPSBlack body with white operating nut; ball valve

Manufacturers DatabaseManufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Valves


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Manufacturers Database

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The database• Contains 11+ years of collected data• 100% of two-5 year leak survey cycles• Reinforces what is historically known of the

failure data points• Summarizes areas of concern in the Status

Report (available on the AGA website)

Summary of Database

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ABSPHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 1,296 Miles ABS Main

56.76%

10.81%

21.62%

10.81%

FittingsJointsPipeNot Recorded

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Failure/Leak Cause

% of Total ABS Failures

Excessive Expansion/Contraction 2.70%Excessive External Earth Loading 5.41%Installation Error 13.51%Squeeze Off 2.70%Unknown 51.35%Other 2.70%Cap 13.51%Not Recorded 5.41%Material Defect 2.70%

Total 100.00%

ABS Causes

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PHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 12,660 Miles PVC Main

76.86%

13.54%

9.39%

0.22%

Fittings

Joints

Pipe

Not Recorded

PVC

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Failure/Leak Cause

% of Total PVC

FailuresExcessive Expansion/Contraction 4.37%Excessive External Earth Loading 17.90%Installation Error 13.54%Squeeze Off 0.66%Point Loading 5.68%Previous Impact 0.44%Unknown 15.72%Other 5.24%Cap 0.66%Not Recorded 1.09%Material Defect 34.72% Total 100.00%

PVC Causes

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PEPHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 604,981 Miles PE Main

54.04%

11.67%

32.83%

1.46%

Fittings

Joints

Pipe

Not Recorded

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Failure/Leak Cause% of Total PE Failures

Excessive Expansion/Contraction 0.54%

Excessive External Earth Loading 10.56%Installation Error 25.60%Squeeze Off 1.98%Point Loading 6.63%Previous Impact 0.25%Unknown 16.58%Other 24.14%Cap 7.87%Not Recorded 1.68%Material Defect 3.72%

Gopher/rodent/worm damage 0.44% Total 100.00%

PE Causes

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Aldyl APHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data does not separate Aldyl A from other PE types

48.75%

9.68%

40.17%

1.40%

FittingsJointsPipeNot Recorded

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Failure/Leak Cause% of Total Failures

Excessive Expansion/Contraction 0.44%Excessive External Earth Loading 13.74%Installation Error 26.66%Squeeze Off 2.13%Point Loading 7.69%Previous Impact 0.12%Unknown 12.11%Other 31.82%Cap 1.75%Not Recorded 0.61%Material Defect 2.86%

Gopher/rodent/worm damage 0.07% Total 100.00%

Aldyl A Causes

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For more information, consult AGA’s website at Operations & Engineering/

Plastic Piping Data Collection Initiativehttp://www.aga.org/Kc/OperationsEngineering/ppdc/Pages/default.aspx

Contact: Kate Miller at (202) 824-7342

or [email protected]

Participation

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http://www.aga.org/Kc/OperationsEngineering/ppdc/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.aga.org/Kc/OperationsEngineering/ppdc/Pages/default.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

Regulatory Perspective

• Enhance safety….. • Issuance of advisory bulletins• Aid the operator and regulatory agencies in

making risk based decisions based on data collected

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Thank you for your support of the Plastic Pipe Database Initiative

Questions?

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Documents

Status of Plastic Piping Data Collection Project Western Regional Gas Conference (WRGC) August 21, 2012