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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Mission
• 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
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Charter
• 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
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Plastic Piping Database Committee
(PPDC)
14 Members
Government Members Industry Members
•
•
•
•
NTSB Representatives (1)
NAPSR Representatives (2)
NARUC Representatives (2)
PHMSA/OPS
Representatives (2)
• AGA Member
Representatives (2)
• APGA Member
Representatives (2)
• PPI Member
Representatives (2)
• AGA Observer (1)
Up to 3 Invited Guests
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Plastic Piping Database Committee
(PPDC)
• 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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Plastic Piping Database Committee
(PPDC)
• Review the data, at minimum, on a semiannual 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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Data Collection Process
• 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
• 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 inservice pipe, fittings or joints (this includes
installation errors that fail and/or leak after
the pipe is put in service)
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Frequently Asked Questions
• 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
10
Frequently Asked Questions
• 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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Frequently Asked Questions
• 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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Company Anonymity Protections
• 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
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Areas of Concern
• 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
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Plastic Piping Database Committee’s
Plastic Pipe Timeline
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Plastic Piping Database Committee’s
Plastic Pipe Timeline
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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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Commitment
Those 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 Data
VERY 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 Data
VERY 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 Database
Manufacturers of Plastic Piping Products - Pipe
NOTE: Operators are required to install materials that meet current requirements
Material
Size
Company Designation From
To
Range
Comments
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
1/2" CTS since gone out of business or have different
Allied
PE 3306/3406 1965/66 1972/73 - 2" IPS names today. Pipe was very difficult to fuse.
Amstan
PE3306
Mid-late
1960s
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Manufacturers Database
Manufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Line Fittings
NOTE: Operators are required to install materials that meet current requirements
Material
Company
Designation From
To Size Range
Comments
Produced molded
Georg Fischer Central
fittings for pipe
Plastics
producers
1" IPS - 12"
PE 2406
?? Present
IPS
Solid Yellow
1" IPS - 12"
PE 3408
?? Present
IPS
Solid Black
CP Chemical
Another name for
Performance Pipe
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Manufacturers Database
Manufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Other Fittings
NOTE: Operators are required to install materials that meet current requirements
Company
AMP
Material
Designation
To
??
??
Dupont Zytel
ST-801
Nylon
Georg
Fischer
Central
Plastics
From
Size Range
Comments
1970's, stainless steel and nylon
compression fitting. Technology
purchased by Metcal in 1990; can be
white in appearance. Dupont Zytel ST801
1/2" CTS - Black with Stainless Steel compression
2" IPS ring. Nylon 66
Electrofusion and heat fusion fittings,
transition fittings, meter risers.
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Manufacturers Database
Manufacturers of Plastic Piping Products – Valves
NOTE: Operators are required to install materials that meet current requirements
Company
Georg Fisher
Central Plastics
Dresser
Friatec
Material
Designation From
Nylon
PE 3408
To
Size Range
1/2" CTS 1991 Present 1-1/4" CTS
1985
1995
Comments
Style 475 Curb Valve Rilsan
Black body with white operating
2" - 6" IPS nut; ball valve
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Manufacturers Database
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Summary of Database
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)
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ABS
PHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 1,296 Miles ABS Main
10.81%
Fittings
21.62%
Joints
56.76%
Pipe
Not Recorded
10.81%
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ABS Causes
Failure/Leak Cause
Excessive
Expansion/Contraction
Excessive External Earth
Loading
Installation Error
Squeeze Off
Unknown
Other
Cap
Not Recorded
Material Defect
Total
% of
Total ABS
Failures
2.70%
5.41%
13.51%
2.70%
51.35%
2.70%
13.51%
5.41%
2.70%
100.00%
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PVC
PHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 12,660 Miles PVC Main
0.22%
9.39%
Fittings
13.54%
Joints
Pipe
Not Recorded
76.86%
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PVC Causes
Failure/Leak Cause
Excessive Expansion/Contraction
Excessive External Earth Loading
Installation Error
Squeeze Off
Point Loading
Previous Impact
Unknown
Other
Cap
Not Recorded
Material Defect
% of Total
PVC
Failures
4.37%
17.90%
13.54%
0.66%
5.68%
0.44%
15.72%
5.24%
0.66%
1.09%
34.72%
Total
100.00%
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PE
PHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data: 604,981 Miles PE Main
1.46%
Fittings
32.83%
Joints
54.04%
Pipe
11.67%
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PE Causes
Failure/Leak Cause
% of Total
PE Failures
Excessive Expansion/Contraction
0.54%
Excessive External Earth Loading
Installation Error
Squeeze Off
Point Loading
Previous Impact
Unknown
Other
Cap
Not Recorded
Material Defect
10.56%
25.60%
1.98%
6.63%
0.25%
16.58%
24.14%
7.87%
1.68%
3.72%
Gopher/rodent/worm damage
0.44%
Total
100.00%
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Aldyl A
PHMSA 2010 Annual Report Data does not
separate Aldyl A from other PE types
1.40%
Fittings
Joints
40.17%
48.75%
Pipe
Not Recorded
9.68%
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Aldyl A Causes
Failure/Leak Cause
Excessive
Expansion/Contraction
Excessive External Earth
Loading
Installation Error
Squeeze Off
Point Loading
Previous Impact
Unknown
Other
Cap
Not Recorded
Material Defect
Gopher/rodent/worm damage
Total
% of Total
Failures
0.44%
13.74%
26.66%
2.13%
7.69%
0.12%
12.11%
31.82%
1.75%
0.61%
2.86%
0.07%
100.00%
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Participation
For more information, consult AGA’s website at
Operations & Engineering/
Plastic Piping Data Collection Initiative
http://www.aga.org/Kc/OperationsEngineering
/ppdc/Pages/default.aspx
Contact:
Kate Miller at (202) 824-7342
or
kmiller@aga.org
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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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Questions?
Thank you for your support of the Plastic
Pipe Database Initiative
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