MEC&F Expert Engineers : METHANE GAS EXPLOSION AT THE SELDEN ARCADE LAST MONTH IN NORFOLK, VA WAS IGNITED FROM A SHORT IN A DAMAGED ELECTRICAL LINE

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

METHANE GAS EXPLOSION AT THE SELDEN ARCADE LAST MONTH IN NORFOLK, VA WAS IGNITED FROM A SHORT IN A DAMAGED ELECTRICAL LINE





MAY 5, 2015

NORFOLK, VA. (AP) 

The Fire Marshal's Office has determined that an "air-gas" explosion at the Selden Arcade last month stemmed from a short in a damaged electrical line, Norfolk's fire-rescue department reported Monday.

Investigators have determined that a private company working for the city damaged the electrical line while trying to access a sewer line at the northeast corner of the arcade, Norfolk Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Julian Williamson said.
The damaged electrical lines created "very high heat conditions" that ultimately triggered the explosion, according to Williamson and a preliminary report on the Selden explosion investigation.

"We just had a buildup of heat and the conditions got right to where you had the explosion," Williamson said.

What investigators don't know yet is what caused the buildup of heat to ignite.  We believe that methane gas from the sewers provided the gas that was heated by the electric short and exploded.

"That's what we're still trying to find out," Williamson said. "Lab samples are being looked at. Interviews are still being conducted."  We believe that methane gas from the sewers provided the gas that was heated by the electric short and exploded.  Sewer lines always leak a certain amount of explosive gas.

Williamson, however, did say that there was no natural gas leak.  Sure, it was methane gas from the sewer lines.

The damaged electrical lines provided power to Selden, and the central blast area inside the building was an electrical closet.

The damage caused to the electrical lines occurred April 17, the same day the explosion rocked the Selden, according to the report.

Several interior walls collapsed, an exterior wall cracked and shifted, and glass shattered. The explosion caused heavy damage throughout the building.

Williamson said the private company was not working on the sewer line in connection with the nearby hotel/conference center project, The Main.

He said he did not know the name of the private company, nor did he have any details about the specific sewer work being performed.

The city's spokeswoman, Lori Crouch, did not respond to questions about the company and the sewer work early Monday evening.

The d'Art Center in the arcade will remain closed for several months for repairs. D'Egg Diner and Starbucks reopened Friday using generator power.

A final report about the investigation is still several weeks away.

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FIRE CHIEF: SELDEN ARCADE EXPLOSION WAS ACCIDENTAL

APRIL 19, 2015

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

Norfolk Fire-Rescue Chief Jeff Wise told the City Council on Tuesday night that he believes the explosion that occurred inside the Selden Arcade earlier this month was accidental.

He said no evidence suggests that the April 17 explosion was caused by the construction of a hotel and conference center next door.

But aside from that, he had few details.

"I need to caution you to be patient because it may take several months," he told the council.

After the meeting, Wise said that while the primary damage occurred in the area of an electrical vault inside the arcade, it's too early to say whether the cause was electrical.

Wise said he did not know the monetary damage to the Norfolk landmark. He said some interior walls were destroyed and one exterior wall was cracked and moved by the blast.

"It's not in danger of collapsing, but it will need to be fixed," he told The Pilot.
The structure remains closed and without power. City officials said they are exploring how to restore electrical service and other utilities to some of the Selden's tenants, such as d'Egg Diner.

Meanwhile, Smartmouth Brewery will hold a fundraiser Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. to help artists from d'Art Center who were displaced by the explosion.

A $35 ticket buys two Smartmouth beers and lunch from Lucky Peach and Leilani's Lunchbox. A $25 ticket buys lunch and a soda. The event includes live music. Smartmouth is located at 1309 Raleigh Ave. in Norfolk.

D'Art Center has been closed since the explosion. Artists who worked there lost supplies and artwork.

We believe that methane gas from the sewers provided the gas that was heated by the electric short and exploded.  Sewer lines always leak a certain amount of explosive gas.
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SELDEN ARCADE SUFFERS "HEAVY DAMAGE" IN EXPLOSION

APRIL 18, 2015

NORFOLK, VA

An explosion damaged the Selden Arcade building downtown Friday night.
An interior wall collapsed, and the building suffered "heavy damage," Battalion Chief Julian Williamson said. But initial reports were that no one was inside at the time, and no one was thought to be injured.

Crews responded about 8 p.m. to the building in the 200 block of E. Plume St., said Williamson, a Fire-Rescue spokesman.

The cause remained under investigation late Friday.

Virginia Natural Gas and Dominion Virginia Power were called to turn off utilities, Williamson said. Crews were monitoring inside and outside for potential gas leaks.

Crews closed off several streets around the building, and they remained blocked off for hours.

The Selden Arcade is Norfolk's cultural arts center, according to the city's website. It is home to Norfolk's bureaus of cultural affairs and special events.
Williamson said crews were working to salvage artwork. The D'Art Center, D'Egg Diner and Starbucks will be closed over the weekend, but The Palace on Plume nightclub could reopen today, Williamson said.

It doesn't appear that other buildings suffered damage, Williamson said. The arcade sits on the same block as the Slover Library, which opened earlier this year.

We believe that methane gas from the sewers provided the gas that was heated by the electric short and exploded.  Sewer lines always leak a certain amount of explosive gas.

Source: http://hamptonroads.com