[Greenbuilding] copper pipe and underground propane leak

[Mike Morin]

In Eugene, people are living on and by highways, some being converted 
motels.

Others are motels.


Workin for peace and cooperation,

Mike Morin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Green" <pojeros at telus.net>
To: <Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] copper pipe and underground propane leak


> Reuben Deumling wrote:
>> Two years ago I buried a 45' copper line from my propane tank through the
>> foundation into my crawlspace. The line was two feet below grade. 
>> Yesterday
>> I discovered 120 gallons of propane missing from the tank,
>
>> <snip>
>> My question is whether anyone on this list has heard of a big leak like 
>> this
>> (~1gal/hr) developing suddenly underground?
> I have: A motel unit in Kamloops, B.C. exploded a few years ago, killing
> two people--a construction worker and his young child--who were renting
> the unit while working in town. The explosion also set the building on
> fire.
> It is likely the leak started that day while the man was at work, since
> it's likely he would have known to say something about the odour if it
> had leaked before he left for the day.
> As in your case, the copper line ran through the foundation and into a
> crawl space under the motel units.
> The authorities investigating this incident came to realize that the
> copper pipes had been corroded by sulfur which is naturally present in
> the soil here: moisture in the ground mixes with the sulfur to create
> sulfuric acid.
> Up until that point, no-one realized this was a problem. Now, no-one
> around here uses copper pipes for underground gas lines, but use instead
> the plastic pipes intended for gas lines. Ordinary black plastic pipe is
> slightly porous, by the way, so should also be avoided. Use the plastic
> piping designed for gas lines.
> And I would avoid burying any brass clamps/crimps if  these are used.
>
> The sulfuric acid created by the above method is also known to slowly
> weaken concrete and the rebar inside it as moisture containing the acid
> is pulled up through the slabs.  A lot of older buildings--over 30 years
> old--in the area will have to have their slab floors and foundations
> repaired as time passes. Our concrete suppliers now add something to
> prevent this corrosion.
>
> It is reasonable to assume that other acidic soils, such as those found
> in forested areas, will also corrode copper and other metals.
>
>
> Chris Green.
>
>
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