Safety Regulation for Small LPG Distribution Systems (2018) / Chapter Skim
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From page 9... ...
9 1 Introduction and Background In Section 26 of the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016 (PIPES Act of 2016) , Congress called for a study of the regulatory requirements that apply to pipeline systems that distribute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
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10 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Box 1-1 Statement of Task The study committee will examine the safety of pipeline facilities that transport or store only petroleum gas, or mixtures of petroleum gas and air, for service to 100 or fewer customers. It will examine (a)
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 11 used as a fuel and how this use compares to that of natural gas.2 While the uses of the two gases in fueling home heating systems and appliances are in many ways similar, differences in physical properties have led to different applications and systems for distribution to the consumer. The background discussion explains how these differences, as well as differences in the hazard characteristics of the two gases, have created a need for safety regulations tailored to each gas's pipeline distribution system as well as regulations common to both.
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From page 12... ...
12 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS plains demand for LPG service when delivered through multi-user pipeline distribution systems. Indeed, when viewed simply from the interface with the consumer, LPG and natural gas systems can be almost identical.
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 13 challenge. Natural gas will ignite with a spark at concentrations of just 5 percent by volume in air, while propane will ignite with concentrations of just 2 percent.
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14 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS on the regulations that apply to both types of gas distribution systems, and whether some of these common regulations are warranted or should be made more applicable to each fuel system's individual use characteristics, hazards, size, components, configuration, and operations. STUDY SCOPE AND ISSUES The study committee was asked to examine pipeline systems that deliver LPG to 100 or fewer users, and potentially as few as two users.
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 15 enced code, contains minimum requirements for the safe design, placement, and installation of LPG systems ranging in size from small cylinders to large bulk storage facilities that can exceed 100,000 gallons.8 NFPA 58 also contains requirements for handling LPG liquid transfer operations, including operator qualifications, maximum filling quantity in containers, and pre-filling inspections to ensure containers are fit for service. In addition, the federal pipeline safety regulations contain references to NFPA 59, Utility LP-Gas Code.9 However, this code has limited applicability to the LPG pipeline systems of interest in this study because its focus is largely on the construction and maintenance of LPG bulk plants that, for example, receive shipments from railcars and fill trucks for retail delivery.
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16 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS federal, state, and local safety regulations and consider specifically whether the requirements contained in them are (1) consistent with best practices and techniques relating to the safe design, installation, operation, and maintenance of LPG systems having 100 or fewer customers and (2)
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From page 17... ...
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 17 in this report, most LPG pipeline systems serve closer to 10 customers than 100. State pipeline safety agencies that are responsible for regulatory enforcement must make choices about how to allocate enforcement resources among systems, including decisions about whether to concentrate on smaller versus larger systems given their relative risks and the applicability of the regulations to those risks.
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18 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS updated to reflect current safety knowledge and best practices; for instance, the 2017 edition of NFPA 58 was released during the course of this study. Instead, the committee interpreted its charge as being a review of the regulatory regime or framework, but not at the level of individual requirements.
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 19 systems serving 100 or fewer customers and their relative sizes and configurations, NPGA shared results from a poll of its members. Additionally, the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR)
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20 SAFETY REGULATION FOR SMALL LPG DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS properties and hazard characteristics of LPG and the safety performance of LPG pipeline systems are then discussed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 outlines the regulatory regime for LPG pipeline system safety, reviews the number and size of systems subject to regulation, and includes the committee's assess ment of it.
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