Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
Last week there was a massive natural gas explosion in Wisconsin that
the reporters said actually "flipped" the house. The house was completely destoroyed, resident killed, and several neighboring houses were destroyed. Debris was found up to 13 blocks away. The fire dept. said it's the worst they have ever seen. I have friends who live near the place where this explosion occurred, who told me about it, so I looked up the media coverage on the web. Looking at the coverage and videos, is amazing. I am posting this because I dont understand what they are saying (in the article below). I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? The reports said that there was no leak underground before the meter. Obviously if the meter showed the high usage, the leak was AFTER the meter. The meters are right on the outside of the house and the pipes enter the basement at that place. If there was gas leaking into the basement, someone would have noticed it after 3 weeks. (as stated in the article). Since no one noticed it, it was obviously not entering the house before the explosion. This makes me question where the gas was going....... I sure the heck cant understand this. And you'd think that the fire investigators surely could figure it out. I have been trying to rationalize this, and it makes no sense..... Anyone have any ideas? ---------------- The article below ----------------- From: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=616721 Exact source of Tosa leak elusive Fire chief says evidence points to rapid buildup of gas in basement June 7, 2007 Wauwatosa - Investigators believe a sudden buildup of natural gas in the basement of a home caused the deadly explosion that killed an elderly woman and destroyed three houses in Wauwatosa last week. But they might never be able to pinpoint the exact source of the leak, Wauwatosa Fire Chief Dean Redman said Thursday. According to Redman, investigators found 10 places inside the home where gas piping had split apart. But it could not be determined, he said, whether those fractures were pre-existing or caused by the blast. Redman said the home's insurer might do additional tests in an effort to determine that. "But we may never know the exact point at which the gas escaped into the house," he said. Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died June 2 when the explosion ripped apart her home in the 10900 block of W. Wisconsin Ave. shortly after 11 a.m. At least two adjacent homes also were destroyed, and as many as 20 others were damaged in the blast that sent debris flying as far as 13 blocks away. A medical examiner's report says Gaulke died of "mechanical asphyxia," meaning she could not breathe because of the weight of debris on her. The Wauwatosa Fire Department and state fire marshal are completing their reports. But Redman said all evidence - from meter readings to the way Gaulke's house came down - points to a sudden surge of gas pooling in the basement and being ignited by a pilot light or some other source there. Among the evidence, according to Redman: *Gaulke had only three gas appliances - a furnace, dryer and water heater - all in the basement. *Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact. *The explosion pushed the house off its foundation and flipped the first floor. Both Redman and We Energies said there was no evidence to suggest a leak outside the home. Utility spokesman Barry McNulty said the company found no leaks in its pipes or equipment around the home and no problems in a door-to-door canvass of homes in the area after the blast. McNulty said the gas meter at Gaulke's home was replaced in March. But he and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hevey, who is heading the investigation, said there is no evidence to suggest that was a factor in the explosion. We Energies received no reports of a smell indicating a gas leak from the home over the last month, and two reports of such an odor in the area since May 1 were unrelated, he said. As standard procedure, McNulty said, We Energies is mandated by the state Public Service Commission to recheck the area to ensure that the force of the blast did not compromise any equipment. "And we'll be doing that as soon as the fire marshal and fire chief give us the high sign," McNulty said. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
"Dave Martindale" wrote in message ... writes: I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? I don't think that's what happened. Probably the last meter reading was done on May 11. The reading on June 2 indicated that *sometime during that period* there was a high flow of gas, because the June 2 reading is higher than you'd expect from previous normal consumption. But the gas flow might have been perfectly normal until 15 minutes before the explosion, at which time something failed and started leaking fast. Now, reading the statement as written, you'd think that gas flow was high for the whole 3 weeks, but unless the gas meter is some sort of fancy electronic type that keeps a record of gas flow vs. time, there's no possible way to tell the difference between a slightly high flow for 3 weeks and a normal flow for 3 weeks followed by a large leak. I'd chalk this up to sloppy writing by the author. A data logging electronic gas meter would need a back-up battery and ac power plus some computer chips. I'd guess that you are correct that there is no way to determine when high use occurred, other than during a particular billing cycle. Natural gas is lighter than air but still can collect in a basement if the leak is severe. So, if something ruptured and filled the basement that could explain the lifting of the house. The house most likely had a gas hot water heater and when it ignited it could have touched off the explosion. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Jun 10, 4:07 pm, (Dave Martindale) wrote:
writes: I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? I don't think that's what happened. Probably the last meter reading was done on May 11. The reading on June 2 indicated that *sometime during that period* there was a high flow of gas, because the June 2 reading is higher than you'd expect from previous normal consumption. But the gas flow might have been perfectly normal until 15 minutes before the explosion, at which time something failed and started leaking fast. Now, reading the statement as written, you'd think that gas flow was high for the whole 3 weeks, but unless the gas meter is some sort of fancy electronic type that keeps a record of gas flow vs. time, there's no possible way to tell the difference between a slightly high flow for 3 weeks and a normal flow for 3 weeks followed by a large leak. I'd chalk this up to sloppy writing by the author. Dave The 3 week period is probably the period since the last recorded reading of the meter. The gas leak probably started leaking vast amounts right before the explosion. If natural gas it filled the basement from the basement "ceiling" down to the floor where it was most likely ignited by the water heater pilot. Also, if the meter were not immediately destroyed it would have recorded even more gas pouring thru it as gas continued to escape from the damaged house piping system. boom..... About 15 years a go a house here was being slowly torn down, somehow workers with heavy equipment busted the gas line...inside the house.....couple hours after workmen left the house exploded. I was 3 houses down sitting on the bedroom floor gong thru some personal papers. While the explosion didnt "lift me off the floor" it did shake the house ...lol. Our home suffered no damage....only a church next to the house that exploded suffered any damage. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Jun 10, 3:26 pm, "Charles" wrote:
"Dave Martindale" wrote in message ... writes: I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? I don't think that's what happened. Probably the last meter reading was done on May 11. The reading on June 2 indicated that *sometime during that period* there was a high flow of gas, because the June 2 reading is higher than you'd expect from previous normal consumption. But the gas flow might have been perfectly normal until 15 minutes before the explosion, at which time something failed and started leaking fast. Now, reading the statement as written, you'd think that gas flow was high for the whole 3 weeks, but unless the gas meter is some sort of fancy electronic type that keeps a record of gas flow vs. time, there's no possible way to tell the difference between a slightly high flow for 3 weeks and a normal flow for 3 weeks followed by a large leak. I'd chalk this up to sloppy writing by the author. A data logging electronic gas meter would need a back-up battery and ac power plus some computer chips. I'd guess that you are correct that there is no way to determine when high use occurred, other than during a particular billing cycle. Natural gas is lighter than air but still can collect in a basement if the leak is severe. So, if something ruptured and filled the basement that could explain the lifting of the house. The house most likely had a gas hot water heater and when it ignited it could have touched off the explosion. I live the in the same city as the explosion. No fancy gas meters in this area, and 99 / 100 houses here have a gas meter that provides low pressure (8-10" on a water column) so no regulators are required at the appliances. Hard to imagine how enough gas could accumulate to cause this. The pressure is so low that you can't imagine anything "bursting". I would think that the most likely appliance to provide a huge gas flow would be a range with a couple of unlit burners on, but there is no information which indicates that the homeowner had one. I actually looked at a "fixer-upper" property that was damaged by a gas explosion. The dryer had been removed, and the owner turned the supply valve "ON" thinking he was turning it "OFF" after the dryer was disconnected. He then left the house which went BOOM about 1/2 hour later. Less damage than this latest Wauwatosa house, but still pretty bad. The explosion blew all the face brick off the house, and damaged the framing where the wall studs met the roof framing. Our local journalists leave much to be desired, so it would be no surprise to see them get the story wrong or draw the wrong conclusions. JK Wauwatosa, WI |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
In the report it says debris was found 13 blocks away. THIS WAS NOT A GAS
EXPLOSION only. Gas has a "soft" explosion, dynamite and other explosives have hard explosions. When the forensic experts are finished determining what happened I am certain they will find that the actual explosion was generated by a high explosive, and the gas was just involved. This had to be set. In my city over about 10 years there have been 3 explosions that leaking gas was blamed. In every case, it was gas, but it was purposely set by someone by opening a pipe or connection. In all the gas explosions several houses on all sides were damaged even destroyed but the damage did not extend more than part of a block. Gas only explodes within a narrow range of gas to air ratio, too little gas and it won't blow, too much gas and it cannot blow, so more gas does not make a bigger bang. 40 years working with a major gas utility taught me a lot about gas. wrote in message ... Last week there was a massive natural gas explosion in Wisconsin that the reporters said actually "flipped" the house. The house was completely destoroyed, resident killed, and several neighboring houses were destroyed. Debris was found up to 13 blocks away. The fire dept. said it's the worst they have ever seen. I have friends who live near the place where this explosion occurred, who told me about it, so I looked up the media coverage on the web. Looking at the coverage and videos, is amazing. I am posting this because I dont understand what they are saying (in the article below). I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? The reports said that there was no leak underground before the meter. Obviously if the meter showed the high usage, the leak was AFTER the meter. The meters are right on the outside of the house and the pipes enter the basement at that place. If there was gas leaking into the basement, someone would have noticed it after 3 weeks. (as stated in the article). Since no one noticed it, it was obviously not entering the house before the explosion. This makes me question where the gas was going....... I sure the heck cant understand this. And you'd think that the fire investigators surely could figure it out. I have been trying to rationalize this, and it makes no sense..... Anyone have any ideas? ---------------- The article below ----------------- From: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=616721 Exact source of Tosa leak elusive Fire chief says evidence points to rapid buildup of gas in basement June 7, 2007 Wauwatosa - Investigators believe a sudden buildup of natural gas in the basement of a home caused the deadly explosion that killed an elderly woman and destroyed three houses in Wauwatosa last week. But they might never be able to pinpoint the exact source of the leak, Wauwatosa Fire Chief Dean Redman said Thursday. According to Redman, investigators found 10 places inside the home where gas piping had split apart. But it could not be determined, he said, whether those fractures were pre-existing or caused by the blast. Redman said the home's insurer might do additional tests in an effort to determine that. "But we may never know the exact point at which the gas escaped into the house," he said. Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died June 2 when the explosion ripped apart her home in the 10900 block of W. Wisconsin Ave. shortly after 11 a.m. At least two adjacent homes also were destroyed, and as many as 20 others were damaged in the blast that sent debris flying as far as 13 blocks away. A medical examiner's report says Gaulke died of "mechanical asphyxia," meaning she could not breathe because of the weight of debris on her. The Wauwatosa Fire Department and state fire marshal are completing their reports. But Redman said all evidence - from meter readings to the way Gaulke's house came down - points to a sudden surge of gas pooling in the basement and being ignited by a pilot light or some other source there. Among the evidence, according to Redman: *Gaulke had only three gas appliances - a furnace, dryer and water heater - all in the basement. *Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact. *The explosion pushed the house off its foundation and flipped the first floor. Both Redman and We Energies said there was no evidence to suggest a leak outside the home. Utility spokesman Barry McNulty said the company found no leaks in its pipes or equipment around the home and no problems in a door-to-door canvass of homes in the area after the blast. McNulty said the gas meter at Gaulke's home was replaced in March. But he and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hevey, who is heading the investigation, said there is no evidence to suggest that was a factor in the explosion. We Energies received no reports of a smell indicating a gas leak from the home over the last month, and two reports of such an odor in the area since May 1 were unrelated, he said. As standard procedure, McNulty said, We Energies is mandated by the state Public Service Commission to recheck the area to ensure that the force of the blast did not compromise any equipment. "And we'll be doing that as soon as the fire marshal and fire chief give us the high sign," McNulty said. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
"EXT" wrote in message anews.com... In the report it says debris was found 13 blocks away. THIS WAS NOT A GAS EXPLOSION only. Gas has a "soft" explosion, dynamite and other explosives have hard explosions. When the forensic experts are finished determining what happened I am certain they will find that the actual explosion was generated by a high explosive, and the gas was just involved. This had to be set. 13 blocks - that's over a mile. Maybe the owner was storing her black powder next to the furnace? "But officer, I didn't know you couldn't have 20 lbs of serpentine in your basement." In my city over about 10 years there have been 3 explosions that leaking gas was blamed. In every case, it was gas, but it was purposely set by someone by opening a pipe or connection. In all the gas explosions several houses on all sides were damaged even destroyed but the damage did not extend more than part of a block. Gas only explodes within a narrow range of gas to air ratio, too little gas and it won't blow, too much gas and it cannot blow, so more gas does not make a bigger bang. 40 years working with a major gas utility taught me a lot about gas. wrote in message ... Last week there was a massive natural gas explosion in Wisconsin that the reporters said actually "flipped" the house. The house was completely destoroyed, resident killed, and several neighboring houses were destroyed. Debris was found up to 13 blocks away. The fire dept. said it's the worst they have ever seen. I have friends who live near the place where this explosion occurred, who told me about it, so I looked up the media coverage on the web. Looking at the coverage and videos, is amazing. I am posting this because I dont understand what they are saying (in the article below). I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? The reports said that there was no leak underground before the meter. Obviously if the meter showed the high usage, the leak was AFTER the meter. The meters are right on the outside of the house and the pipes enter the basement at that place. If there was gas leaking into the basement, someone would have noticed it after 3 weeks. (as stated in the article). Since no one noticed it, it was obviously not entering the house before the explosion. This makes me question where the gas was going....... I sure the heck cant understand this. And you'd think that the fire investigators surely could figure it out. I have been trying to rationalize this, and it makes no sense..... Anyone have any ideas? ---------------- The article below ----------------- From: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=616721 Exact source of Tosa leak elusive Fire chief says evidence points to rapid buildup of gas in basement June 7, 2007 Wauwatosa - Investigators believe a sudden buildup of natural gas in the basement of a home caused the deadly explosion that killed an elderly woman and destroyed three houses in Wauwatosa last week. But they might never be able to pinpoint the exact source of the leak, Wauwatosa Fire Chief Dean Redman said Thursday. According to Redman, investigators found 10 places inside the home where gas piping had split apart. But it could not be determined, he said, whether those fractures were pre-existing or caused by the blast. Redman said the home's insurer might do additional tests in an effort to determine that. "But we may never know the exact point at which the gas escaped into the house," he said. Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died June 2 when the explosion ripped apart her home in the 10900 block of W. Wisconsin Ave. shortly after 11 a.m. At least two adjacent homes also were destroyed, and as many as 20 others were damaged in the blast that sent debris flying as far as 13 blocks away. A medical examiner's report says Gaulke died of "mechanical asphyxia," meaning she could not breathe because of the weight of debris on her. The Wauwatosa Fire Department and state fire marshal are completing their reports. But Redman said all evidence - from meter readings to the way Gaulke's house came down - points to a sudden surge of gas pooling in the basement and being ignited by a pilot light or some other source there. Among the evidence, according to Redman: *Gaulke had only three gas appliances - a furnace, dryer and water heater - all in the basement. *Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact. *The explosion pushed the house off its foundation and flipped the first floor. Both Redman and We Energies said there was no evidence to suggest a leak outside the home. Utility spokesman Barry McNulty said the company found no leaks in its pipes or equipment around the home and no problems in a door-to-door canvass of homes in the area after the blast. McNulty said the gas meter at Gaulke's home was replaced in March. But he and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hevey, who is heading the investigation, said there is no evidence to suggest that was a factor in the explosion. We Energies received no reports of a smell indicating a gas leak from the home over the last month, and two reports of such an odor in the area since May 1 were unrelated, he said. As standard procedure, McNulty said, We Energies is mandated by the state Public Service Commission to recheck the area to ensure that the force of the blast did not compromise any equipment. "And we'll be doing that as soon as the fire marshal and fire chief give us the high sign," McNulty said. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Jun 10, 10:18 pm, "EXT" wrote:
In the report it says debris was found 13 blocks away. THIS WAS NOT A GAS EXPLOSION only. Gas has a "soft" explosion, dynamite and other explosives have hard explosions. When the forensic experts are finished determining what happened I am certain they will find that the actual explosion was generated by a high explosive, and the gas was just involved. This had to be set. In my city over about 10 years there have been 3 explosions that leaking gas was blamed. In every case, it was gas, but it was purposely set by someone by opening a pipe or connection. In all the gas explosions several houses on all sides were damaged even destroyed but the damage did not extend more than part of a block. Gas only explodes within a narrow range of gas to air ratio, too little gas and it won't blow, too much gas and it cannot blow, so more gas does not make a bigger bang. 40 years working with a major gas utility taught me a lot about gas. wrote in message ... Last week there was a massive natural gas explosion in Wisconsin that the reporters said actually "flipped" the house. The house was completely destoroyed, resident killed, and several neighboring houses were destroyed. Debris was found up to 13 blocks away. The fire dept. said it's the worst they have ever seen. I have friends who live near the place where this explosion occurred, who told me about it, so I looked up the media coverage on the web. Looking at the coverage and videos, is amazing. I am posting this because I dont understand what they are saying (in the article below). I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? The reports said that there was no leak underground before the meter. Obviously if the meter showed the high usage, the leak was AFTER the meter. The meters are right on the outside of the house and the pipes enter the basement at that place. If there was gas leaking into the basement, someone would have noticed it after 3 weeks. (as stated in the article). Since no one noticed it, it was obviously not entering the house before the explosion. This makes me question where the gas was going....... I sure the heck cant understand this. And you'd think that the fire investigators surely could figure it out. I have been trying to rationalize this, and it makes no sense..... Anyone have any ideas? ---------------- The article below ----------------- From:http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=616721 Exact source of Tosa leak elusive Fire chief says evidence points to rapid buildup of gas in basement June 7, 2007 Wauwatosa - Investigators believe a sudden buildup of natural gas in the basement of a home caused the deadly explosion that killed an elderly woman and destroyed three houses in Wauwatosa last week. But they might never be able to pinpoint the exact source of the leak, Wauwatosa Fire Chief Dean Redman said Thursday. According to Redman, investigators found 10 places inside the home where gas piping had split apart. But it could not be determined, he said, whether those fractures were pre-existing or caused by the blast. Redman said the home's insurer might do additional tests in an effort to determine that. "But we may never know the exact point at which the gas escaped into the house," he said. Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died June 2 when the explosion ripped apart her home in the 10900 block of W. Wisconsin Ave. shortly after 11 a.m. At least two adjacent homes also were destroyed, and as many as 20 others were damaged in the blast that sent debris flying as far as 13 blocks away. A medical examiner's report says Gaulke died of "mechanical asphyxia," meaning she could not breathe because of the weight of debris on her. The Wauwatosa Fire Department and state fire marshal are completing their reports. But Redman said all evidence - from meter readings to the way Gaulke's house came down - points to a sudden surge of gas pooling in the basement and being ignited by a pilot light or some other source there. Among the evidence, according to Redman: *Gaulke had only three gas appliances - a furnace, dryer and water heater - all in the basement. *Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact. *The explosion pushed the house off its foundation and flipped the first floor. Both Redman and We Energies said there was no evidence to suggest a leak outside the home. Utility spokesman Barry McNulty said the company found no leaks in its pipes or equipment around the home and no problems in a door-to-door canvass of homes in the area after the blast. McNulty said the gas meter at Gaulke's home was replaced in March. But he and Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hevey, who is heading the investigation, said there is no evidence to suggest that was a factor in the explosion. We Energies received no reports of a smell indicating a gas leak from the home over the last month, and two reports of such an odor in the area since May 1 were unrelated, he said. As standard procedure, McNulty said, We Energies is mandated by the state Public Service Commission to recheck the area to ensure that the force of the blast did not compromise any equipment. "And we'll be doing that as soon as the fire marshal and fire chief give us the high sign," McNulty said.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - A lot of issues might be resolved here by reading a more factual account of the accident. http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7805427.html |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
Eigenvector wrote:
"EXT" wrote in message anews.com... In the report it says debris was found 13 blocks away. THIS WAS NOT A GAS EXPLOSION only. Gas has a "soft" explosion, dynamite and other explosives have hard explosions. When the forensic experts are finished determining what happened I am certain they will find that the actual explosion was generated by a high explosive, and the gas was just involved. This had to be set. 13 blocks - that's over a mile. Maybe the owner was storing her black powder next to the furnace? .... I wouldn't put too much faith in the newspaper reports...the "debris" could, after all, be cellulose insulation carried by the wind, or it may have had nothing at all to do w/ the explosion. I wouldn't put it past gas to have done the damage, either. Have seen the results of a couple of explosions at nearby collection stations and a compressor station -- that one, the shock wave from right at 10 miles away knocked snow off the roof of the house...nothing but natural gas, no "hard" explosives at all involved... -- |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:56:01 -0700, hvacrmedic
wrote: A lot of issues might be resolved here by reading a more factual account of the accident. http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/7805427.html I don't think so. Nothing's ever been gained by using facts. Just tonight on one network's news they said that Joe Lieberman was calling for an attack on Iran, and then they played the very words they were referring to and where he said we had to be prepared to something something attack. That is, he didn't call for an attack now, he called for us to be prepared for a possible attack, some time in the future. Those are strong words but that wasn't enough for the news. They had to make them stronger. I had heard the original interview, so I immediately knew they had misparaphrased him. WAUWATOSA - Lorraine Gaulke, 80, died in a house explosion Saturday in Wauwatosa. Four other people were hurt, including one firefighter. Authorities believe all of those injuries are non-life threatening. If one wanted to be really picky, he could point out that the firefighter wasn't hurt in the house explosion, as it seems to say, but after he got there. But it's sad. Maybe it's an optical illusion, but the front wall of the neighbor's house looks bent. It looks like a nice neighborhood. I was not serious about disliking facts. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
hvacrmedic wrote:
.... A lot of issues might be resolved here by reading a more factual account of the accident. .... Gee, where's the fun in that??? :) Wild rumor, conspiracy, criminal intent, and much more can be had so much easier... :) -- |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
In article , dpb wrote:
hvacrmedic wrote: ... A lot of issues might be resolved here by reading a more factual account of the accident. ... Gee, where's the fun in that??? :) Wild rumor, conspiracy, criminal intent, and much more can be had so much easier... :) -- Yeah, I've already convicted the son. He was "out of town" when the explosion happened. Definitely guilty. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
wrote:
.... What gets me, is that there is no device to kill the gas flow when a leak occurs. They highly regulate these 20lb propane tanks with these new valves they started using some years ago. Those valves are supposed to stop the flow where the gas flow exceeds a normal amount, (such as opening the valve with nothing connected). You'd think that natural gas supplies would have something similar at the meter, whereas a busted pipe would cause the system to shut down. There are so many regulations on everything else these days, but natural gas seems to have been passed by. Possible and probably is available for a price although I've not checked for what is residentially sized. The problem for residential household use as I see it as opposed to the tank is the extremely wide range of "normal" for a given household. Everything from a single pilot light to one or more large furnace units plus water heater plus gas logs in the fireplace(s) plus double oven(s) plus... is all within an allowable usage range. A leak in a small delivery line that could cause an explosion such as the one in this news story could be a very small fraction of any of those so the frequency of events curtailed would probably be a minute fraction at best... ...You'd also think they could design a sensor such as a smoke detector that would beep when gas is detected. Think? :) http://www.rewci.com/nagasdewibab.html Something of the sort is undoubtedly the best bet. It's output then, _could_ be used in an automated isolation system. That would probably be pretty effective. -- |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:37:45 -0000, Big_Jake
wrote: On Jun 10, 3:26 pm, "Charles" wrote: "Dave Martindale" wrote in message ... writes: I'm referring to this part. "(Meter readings show a larger than usual amount of gas flowing through Gaulke's pipes between May 11 and June 2. In a slow leak, gas would have migrated to other parts of the house, including the attic. And when it ignited, it would have blown off the roof and walls but left the floor intact.)" The explosion was June 3. If the meter readings were high during those approx. 3 weeks, where would it have gone? I don't think that's what happened. Probably the last meter reading was done on May 11. The reading on June 2 indicated that *sometime during that period* there was a high flow of gas, because the June 2 reading is higher than you'd expect from previous normal consumption. But the gas flow might have been perfectly normal until 15 minutes before the explosion, at which time something failed and started leaking fast. Now, reading the statement as written, you'd think that gas flow was high for the whole 3 weeks, but unless the gas meter is some sort of fancy electronic type that keeps a record of gas flow vs. time, there's no possible way to tell the difference between a slightly high flow for 3 weeks and a normal flow for 3 weeks followed by a large leak. I'd chalk this up to sloppy writing by the author. A data logging electronic gas meter would need a back-up battery and ac power plus some computer chips. I'd guess that you are correct that there is no way to determine when high use occurred, other than during a particular billing cycle. Natural gas is lighter than air but still can collect in a basement if the leak is severe. So, if something ruptured and filled the basement that could explain the lifting of the house. The house most likely had a gas hot water heater and when it ignited it could have touched off the explosion. I live the in the same city as the explosion. No fancy gas meters in this area, and 99 / 100 houses here have a gas meter that provides low pressure (8-10" on a water column) so no regulators are required at the appliances. Did you hear or feel the explosion? They said in the news that many people did. Hard to imagine how enough gas could accumulate to cause this. The pressure is so low that you can't imagine anything "bursting". I would think that the most likely appliance to provide a huge gas flow would be a range with a couple of unlit burners on, but there is no information which indicates that the homeowner had one. They said she had an electric range, only water heater, furnace and dryer, all in the basement. I noticed from the map they showed on one article that there are railroad tracks nearby. I wonder if the vibration from the trains could have caused a pipe to weaken and eventually break. Otherwise, I'd place my bet on the dryer. Dryers vibrate which can weaken the pipes, whereas a furnace or water heater are pretty much stable. I actually looked at a "fixer-upper" property that was damaged by a gas explosion. The dryer had been removed, and the owner turned the supply valve "ON" thinking he was turning it "OFF" after the dryer was disconnected. He then left the house which went BOOM about 1/2 hour later. Less damage than this latest Wauwatosa house, but still pretty bad. The explosion blew all the face brick off the house, and damaged the framing where the wall studs met the roof framing. I have to say that the guy that did this must be really stupid. When a gas pipe is opened, one can hear it, and smell it immediately. Here is another area where gas should be better regulated. Most of us know which way to turn a gas valve to the ON or OFF position, but many people dont. The valves should clearly say ON and OFF on them. Our local journalists leave much to be desired, so it would be no surprise to see them get the story wrong or draw the wrong conclusions. I'll agree. Many of them dont really understand what they are writing about. At least not the technical aspets of it. Of course I guess they cant be experts in everything. JK Wauwatosa, WI |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:22:04 -0500, dpb wrote:
Think? :) http://www.rewci.com/nagasdewibab.html Something of the sort is undoubtedly the best bet. It's output then, _could_ be used in an automated isolation system. That would probably be pretty effective. Sounds like a good idea, but the reference to the smell of rotten eggs in the additive doesn't inspire confidence in me. I don't think it smells like rotten eggs. Is it supposed to? Also " all to real" instead of " all too real" |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
mm wrote:
On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:22:04 -0500, dpb wrote: Think? :) http://www.rewci.com/nagasdewibab.html Something of the sort is undoubtedly the best bet. It's output then, _could_ be used in an automated isolation system. That would probably be pretty effective. Sounds like a good idea, but the reference to the smell of rotten eggs in the additive doesn't inspire confidence in me. I don't think it smells like rotten eggs. Is it supposed to? I didn't make any judgment (good or bad) on the referenced detector -- only posted link for other respondent that there is such a thing as he/she didn't seem to think even existed. Whether this particular one is/isn't any good I don't know which is what I presume your comment refers to that you thought there was something not quite up to par on their website. Can't say, didn't check... Not particularly, like H2S to me in the normally low concentrations, either. It's much more pungent in itself, of course. Also " all to real" instead of " all too real" ??? Don't ken this...what you talking about? -- |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
Did you hear or feel the explosion? They said in the news that many people did. No, I didn't. I'm not positive that I was home when it happened. They said she had an electric range, only water heater, furnace and dryer, all in the basement. I noticed from the map they showed on one article that there are railroad tracks nearby. I wonder if the vibration from the trains could have caused a pipe to weaken and eventually break. Otherwise, I'd place my bet on the dryer. Dryers vibrate which can weaken the pipes, whereas a furnace or water heater are pretty much stable. While I agree with your logic, I have never seen a dryer here that wasn't hooked up with a flex line. I have to say that the guy that did this must be really stupid. When a gas pipe is opened, one can hear it, and smell it immediately. My guess is that he turned the valve, and left the area immediately. The gas flow is pretty quiet, and the sound of a radio would be enough to mask it. The other possibility is that the gas valve was 5'+ away from the open end of the pipe. Here is another area where gas should be better regulated. Most of us know which way to turn a gas valve to the ON or OFF position, but many people dont. The valves should clearly say ON and OFF on them. Can't argue with that. I'll agree. Many of them dont really understand what they are writing about. At least not the technical aspets of it. Of course I guess they cant be experts in everything. No, but we can expect them to at least try to get it right. JK Wauwatosa, WI |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Jun 12, 9:03 am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article , wrote: What gets me, is that there is no device to kill the gas flow when a leak occurs. They highly regulate these 20lb propane tanks with these new valves they started using some years ago. Those valves are supposed to stop the flow where the gas flow exceeds a normal amount, (such as opening the valve with nothing connected). You'd think that natural gas supplies would have something similar at the meter, whereas a busted pipe would cause the system to shut down. There are so many regulations on everything else these days, but natural gas seems to have been passed by. You'd also think they could design a sensor such as a smoke detector that would beep when gas is detected. I was renting a house twenty years ago, up on a hill. The meter was down by the street, so there was at least 1000 ft. of pipe feeding the house. I was using, at the time, about $15 worth of gas every month. One day I came home and found a note on my doorknob saying the gas had been turned off. Called to find out that the meter reading had indicated about $1800 worth of usage in that month. My landlord and a handyman type spent the next day digging up the hillside, tracing the pipe as it zigzagged along. They kept cutting it in sections and pressure testing each one until they found the leak. I think the gas company gave him about a fifty percent discount on the bill just to be charitable. I'm not a fan of legislation that protects people from their own carelessness, or isolates everyone from every single thing that could possibly happen to them. (A local lady was reaching for a package of tortillas in the supermarket a few years ago and the whole pile came down on her head. She sued the market, the stockboy, and the manufacturer of the tortillas. Now, if I had been the judge, I'd have sentenced her to a public "stoning" with tortillas.) But, maybe an auto shutoff on new gas meters should be considered, with older ones grandfathered in. An auto shut off based on detection of what? Unless it's based on a complex system with gas detectors placed within the building, I don't see it doing much good. If you're proposing that it be based on some sudden above normal flow of gas, I guess that could be done. But of all the explosions, this would cover a very small number, because few are caused by a sudden massive failure of a supply line. Most are smaller leaks, not out of line with a flow rate that a home furnace or similar would normally use, so a flow detector isn't going to be very effective. And with any auto shutoff system, comes problems of it's own, like false shutoffs. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
On Jun 11, 12:53 am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article , dpb wrote: hvacrmedic wrote: ... A lot of issues might be resolved here by reading a more factual account of the accident. ... Gee, where's the fun in that??? :) Wild rumor, conspiracy, criminal intent, and much more can be had so much easier... :) -- Yeah, I've already convicted the son. He was "out of town" when the explosion happened. Definitely guilty. Talking about reporters who can't get stories straight, here's a classic. A couple months ago, one of the major TV stations was reporting live from the scene of a crash on the NY Thruway. A tractor trailer had gone over an overpass and crashed onto the thruway below. They were showing a live shot of it. And several times they referred to it as a gasoline tank trunk that crashed and burned up. I'm looking at it and the first thing you notice is it's rectangular, obviously a regular trailer. Second thing you notice is you can still read the big colored McDonalds logo and markings on the trailer. Third, is the relatively small fire that occured was confined to the forward area of the trailer, likely from the fuel for the refrigeration unit. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
According to mm :
Sounds like a good idea, but the reference to the smell of rotten eggs in the additive doesn't inspire confidence in me. I don't think it smells like rotten eggs. Is it supposed to? Heh. Methyl Mercaptan is the chemical they use. It's in the same chemical _family_ ("Mercaptans") as the primary ingredient in "rotten egg" smell (which is H2S IIRC) and that of eau-de-skunk. They are all very pungent, smell _similar_, but not exactly the same. Also, these days few people encounter "true" rotten egg smells, because eggs are handled rather better than they used to be in the days before refrigeration and public health inspections... -- Chris Lewis, Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
|
Massive Natural Gas Explosion "Flips" a House
According to mm :
But definitely, they don't seem the same to me. I've definitely smelled H2S They're similar, but not identical. Also, these days few people encounter "true" rotten egg smells, because eggs are handled rather better than they used to be in the days before refrigeration and public health inspections... ... In fact, eggs will keep in the refrigerator for easily 3, probalby 6 months, probably longer some times, without problems. And even then they usually don't rot in the fridge, but just dry out. So I must have left them out of the fridge some time. Eggs can be stored for _years_ at 4C and the proper humidity level. I think the main stench is when the yolks are broken and have a chance to, er, percolate for a while. More readily available sulphur. -- Chris Lewis, Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them. |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:42 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 DIYbanter