PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
(UI) — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a safety advisory urging natural gas distribution operators to address heat-related risks associated with older plastic piping, particularly systems containing Aldyl A polyethylene.
The advisory follows a 2023 explosion at a chocolate factory in West Reading, Pennsylvania, that killed seven people and injured 10 others. Investigators determined that natural gas leaked from a degraded Aldyl A pipeline, with the incident worsened by a damaged steam pipe and elevated ground temperatures.
According to findings by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Aldyl A pipe materials are more susceptible to accelerated degradation and failure when exposed to higher temperatures. The NTSB recommended that operators replace or remediate any remaining Aldyl A components still in service.
PHMSA’s advisory highlights Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) requirements and calls on operators to take additional steps, including completing a one-time inventory of plastic pipeline assets located in areas with elevated temperatures. Operators are also advised to conduct ongoing monitoring during construction and maintenance activities to identify potential heat-related threats.
PHMSA emphasized that advisory bulletins serve as guidance and do not impose new regulatory requirements. The safety advisory has been published in the Federal Register.
Related News
From Archive
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- California invests $590 million to boost water reliability, upgrade sewer systems statewide
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Dominion proposes 186-mile underground HVDC power line across Virginia
- Nueces River Authority plans 178-mile pipeline, desalination project for South Texas
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
Comments