IE Circular No. 79-15 - Bursting of High Pressure Hose and Malfunction of Relief Valve "O" Ring in Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
CR79015
August 2, 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR: B. H. Grier, Director, Region I
J. P. O'Reilly, Director, Region II
J. G. Keppler, Director, Region III
K. V. Seyfrit, Director, Region IV
R. H. Engelken, Director, Region V
FROM: J. H. Sniezek, Director, Division of Fuel Facility and
Materials Safety Inspection, IE
SUBJECT: IE CIRCULAR NO. 79-15 - BURSTING OF HIGH PRESSURE HOSE
AND MALFUNCTION OF RELIEF VALVE "O" RING IN CERTAIN
SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS
The subject circular, with enclosure, is transmitted for issuance on August
8, 1979. The circular should be issued to all Materials Priority I, Fuel
Cycle and Operating Power Reactor Licensees. Also enclosed is a draft copy
of the transmittal letter and removable labels for all but reactors.
Addresses for power utilities should be typed by each regional office.
J. H. Sniezek, Director
Division of Fuel Facility and Materials
Safety Inspection
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosures:
1. Draft Transmittal Letter
2. IE Circular No. 79-15
3. Addressee Labels (Removable)
CONTACT: J. R. Metzger, IE
49-28188
.
(Draft transmittal letter for Circular 79-15, to each Materials Priority I,
Fuel Cycle and Operating Power Plants)
IE Circular No. 79-15
Addressee:
The enclosed Circular 79-15, is forwarded to you for information. If there
are any questions related to your understanding of the suggested actions,
please notify NIOSH at the telephone No. listed in the enclosure to the
Circular.
Sincerely,
Signature
(Regional Director)
Enclosures:
1. IE Circular No. 79-15
2. Listing of IE Circulars
Issued in the Last Six
Months
.
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 8, 1979
IE Circular No. 79-15
BURSTING OF HIGH PRESSURE HOSE AND MALFUNCTION OF RELIEF VALVE AND "O"-RING
IN CERTAIN SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS
Description of Circumstances:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been informed by mailgram (copy
enclosed) from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) of occurrences of bursting of the high-pressure hose assembly and
malfunction of the relief valve and of the "O"-Ring in the main line
assembly of the SurvivAir Mark I self-contained breathing apparatus. Any one
of these failures would result in immediate loss of air supply to a user.
Licensees who use the SurvivAir Mark I SCBA should:
1. Discontinue use of the apparatus until the units have been inspected by
the manufacturer and all necessary repairs or replacements have been
made.
2. Contact the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment for instructions
on arranging for inspection and repair.
No written response to this circular is required. If you require additional
information regarding this subject, please contact the office specified in
the enclosed mailgram.
Enclosure:
Mailgram
.
M A I L G R A M
RESPIRATOR USERS WARNING
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
advises workers to discontinue using the SurvivAir Mark I self-contained
breathing apparatus until the units have been inspected by the manufacturer
and all necessary repairs or replacements have been made.
NIOSH has learned that the high pressure hose assembly installed by the
manufacturer in some of these respirators is not the assembly, originally
tested and approved by NIOSH for this respirator. In addition, reports from
two fire departments indicate the following serious malfunctions have
occurred recently during use:
1. Bursting of the high pressure hose assembly (part no. 960627).
2. Malfunction of the relief valve (part no. 912520).
3. Malfunction of the O-ring in the main line assembly (part no.
824193).
Any one of these failures would result in immediate loss of air supply
to the user.
In response to a NIOSH request, SurvivAir has agreed to discontinue
sale and distribution of the respirators until all three problems are
corrected. When NIOSH has determined that the three problems have been
corrected, you will be advised that the stop sales request has been with
drawn
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.
M A I L G R A M
SurvivAir has also agreed to inspect all units in the field and make
necessary repairs in accordance with a plan to be approved by NIOSH. In the
meantime, owners of SurvivAir Mark I self-contained breathing apparatus
should contact the manufacturer or supplier for further instructions. For
further information contact NIOSH, Division of Safety Research, 944 Chestnut
Ridge Road, Morgantown, West Virgina 26505. Telephone: (304) 599-7595
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