Information Notice No. 82-36: Respirator Users Warning for Certain 5-minute Emergency Escape Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus

                                                            SSINS No.:  6835
                                                            IN 82-36 

                               UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT 
                          WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 

                             September 2, 1982 

Information Notice No. 82-36:   RESPIRATOR USERS WARNING FOR CERTAIN 
                                   5-MINUTE EMERGENCY ESCAPE SELF-CONTAINED 
                                   BREATHING  APPARATUS   

Addressees:  

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or 
construction permit (CP), fuel facilities, and Priority I material licenses.

Purpose: 

This information notice is provided to inform licensees of a Department of 
Health and Human Services "Respirator Users Warning" concerning 
unreliability of some SurvivAir Models 0028-00 and 0028-03 respirators. It 
is expected that licensees will review the information for applicability to 
their facilities. 

Description of Circumstances: 

The attached August 19, 1982 "Respirator Users Warning" describes a 
potential failure mode leading to low or no flow to the user for the 
SurvivAir 5-minute Emergency Escape self-contained breathing apparatus 
(SCBA) with approval number TC-13F-86. Since emergency escape SCBAs are 
authorized to be used for escape from atmospheres immediately dangerous to 
life and health, the nature of the respirator failure could affect user 
safety. 

No written response to this information notice is required. If you need 
additional information about this matter, please contact SurvivAir 
(information attached). 


                              Richard C. DeYoung, Director 
                              Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contact:  J. E. Wigginton 
                    (301)492-4967 

Attachments: 
1. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices 
2. Respirator Users Warning (August 19, 1982) 



8204210416