Question: Why is it important that operators know the specific characteristics of high consequence areas their pipelines traverse?
Answer: Operators need to know the characteristics of HCAs along their pipeline to make decisions required by the integrity management rule. For example, the number/nature of housing units (e.g., large apartment buildings) can affect the consequences of a leak or rupture, and thus affect the relative risk ranking of a segment or decisions regarding preventive and mitigative measures. Section 3.3 of ASME/ANSI B31.8S specifies additional consequence factors to consider, including security of gas supply, public convenience and necessity, and the potential for secondary failures.