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gas explosion

SlamDunk
SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,670
in Gas Heating
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/10/us/baltimore-maryland-house-explosion/index.html

This is becoming a monthly occurrence.

Comments

  • STEVEusaPA
    STEVEusaPA Member Posts: 6,505
    Sad. Wonder if it was something in the house or a main.

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,670
    I wonder if plastic gas lines are as safe as steel gas lines. They seem to be prolific in my neck of the woods.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,316
    edited August 2020
    SlamDunk said:

    I wonder if plastic gas lines are as safe as steel gas lines. They seem to be prolific in my neck of the woods.

    Plastic gas lines?
    We have Polyethylene in NJ but it's only allowed outside and underground.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    mattmia2
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,952
    It seems I have heard of far more csst incidents than from polyethylene distribution.
    motoguy128
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,670
    edited August 2020
    Locally, we had a house lifted off it's foundation when an HVAC tech lit his acetylene torch in its crawlspace last week. There was a natural gas leak repair where the polyethylene connected with the main a couple weeks earlier. According to the local news, the torch kit involved was missing. The gas company says without being able to inspect the missing torch kit, they won't assume responsibility. The tech was injured. I have to find that story.

    Here it is...My memory of details isn't great

    https://abc11.com/raleigh-explosion-courtland-drive-garner/6360064/
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    This was in a rowhouse neighborhood that is said to have been built around 1960. It's a few miles from my house.

    As of now, search-and-rescue teams are still working. It'll be a while before we know what went wrong.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,279
    The missing torch would get the gas company off from responsibility.....perhaps...????

    If that was an acetylene explosion wouldn't the tech be more than just injured?
    mattmia2
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,670
    edited August 2020
    The article doesnt discuss extent of injuries but I have a hard time believing a leaky torch could lift a house "6 inches" into the air. He didnt look very hurt running away in video.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,316
    SlamDunk said:
    The article doesnt discuss extent of injuries but I have a hard time believing a leaky torch could lift a house "6 inches" into the air. He didnt look very hurt running away in video.
    Acetylene has a little more kick than NG.

    Actually, it has a lot more kick.

    Aside from that I have no idea.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Latest news reports confirm the gas mains in that neighborhood were installed in the 1960s . So they are probably not the original cast-iron with doubled lead-and-oakum joints.

    I'm guessing that whatever went wrong, happened inside one of the houses.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 10,952
    If it is 1960's the services are still black iron that has been buried for 60 or so years, but plenty of other things that could have gone wrong as well.
    ethicalpaul
  • seattlepioneer
    seattlepioneer Member Posts: 6
    <<He said he moved aside debris, including parts of a fence, and he heard the gas hissing.>>

    Most catastrophic gas explosions are caused by underground gas leaks on gas mains or gas services to buildings.

    Gas saturates the ground, then it migrates underground to basements or crawl spaces where it accumulates to an explosive level (4-14% gas in air for natural gas.

    Finally, a spark or other ignition source ignites the gas, which goes off as an explosion which blows the building off the foundation. Then the rest of the building collapses into the basement or crawl space.

    When I was a first responder for the local gas company, we were trained to take underground gas readings around the foundation of the building before going inside. If we found explosive levels of gas at the foundation, we called the fire department to evacuate the nearby buildings.

    There were lots of leaks on gas mains. The company had an elaborate program to track the conditions of these leaks and take immediate action if they became a hazard. But most were managed by drilling holes in the street which allowed gas to escape into the atmosphere.

    Plastic (polyethylene) gas mains and services were a LOT less likely to leak than older steel or cast iron equipment.
    ethicalpaulBob Harper

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