Assessment of Vehicle-Barrier Design for Aboveground Facility Protection

Developed Guidelines

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Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Excavation Damage Prevention

The report evaluated safety requirements, design guidelines, and installation practices of structural barriers to protect aboveground gas pipelines and facilities from vehicular damage. The study assisted gas utilities in: a) Determining the conditions when a protective barrier is required, b) selecting the appropriate types of protection, c) identifying procedures for design of barriers and protection systems, and d) identifying the criteria for testing and evaluating barriers.

Under 49 CFR 192 Subpart P, the Distribution Integrity Management (DIM) program requires distribution pipeline operators to identify the threats that may affect the safety and performance of their facilities. The 49 CFR 192.317 requires that aboveground lines “must be protected from accidental damage by vehicular traffic or other similar causes, either by being placed at a safe distance from the traffic or by installing barricades”. The 49 CFR 192.353 also requires that outside meters and regulators are protected from anticipated vehicular damage.

Increased Safety - The report addressed the safety concerns of vehicle crashes with aboveground gas and electric utility assets (including utility poles) near the highways. The study aims at reducing the current estimate of 12% of highway vehicle crashes occurring with above ground utility objects and poles.

- Assessment of Vehicle-Barrier Design for Aboveground Facility Protection, Operations Technology Development, OTD Project Report 5.10.j, July 2011.