Information Notice No. 85-48: Respirator Users Notice: Defective Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders

                                                      SSINS No.:  6835 
                                                           IN 85-48        

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

                               June 19, 1985 

Information Notice No. 85-48:   RESPIRATOR USERS NOTICE: DEFECTIVE SELF-
                                   CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AIR 
                                   CYLINDERS 

Addressees:  

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a 
construction permit (CP), research and test reactor licensees, fuel cycle 
licensees, and Priority l material licensees. 

Purpose: 

This information notice is to alert licensees of two recent "Respirator 
Users Notices" issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 
concerning a serious defect in self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). 
This updates information previously provided in Information Notice 84-34. It
is expected that licensees will review the information for applicability to 
their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude use of a 
potentially defective respirator. However, suggestions contained in this 
notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or 
response is required. 

Description of Circumstances: 

Information Notice 84-34, issued on April 23, 1984, discussed a serious 
safety defect in SCBA hoop-wrapped aluminum air cylinders rated at 4500 psi 
and manufactured under the Department of Transportation (DOT) Exemption 
DOT-E-7235. Appropriate warning notices from DOT, HHS, Scott Aviation and 
Survivair were included. 

On November 20, 1984, HHS issued a Respirator Users Notice announcing the 
recall of a product manufactured by Luxfer USA, Ltd. (Attachment 1). On May 
7, 1985, HHS issued another Respirator Users Notice on the same subject 
which also described a reported explosion (Attachment 2). 

Evidently not all end-users of the affected Luxfer SCBA cylinders have 
responded to the manufacturer's product recall. The reported catastrophic 
cylinder failures have demonstrated an extreme personnel hazard. In the 
interest of safety for workers, licensees may wish to share this information
with other potential users, such as local fire departments, along with 
checking their own cylinders. 



8506140636 
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                                                              IN 85-48 
                                                              June 19, 1985 
                                                              Page 2 of 2 

No specific action or written response is required by this information 
notice. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Luxfer 
USA, Ltd. or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional 
office or this office.  


                                   Edward L. Jordan, Director 
                                   Division of Emergency Preparedness 
                                     and Engineering Response 
                                   Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contacts: J. E. Wigginton, IE 
                    (301) 492-4967 

                    R. L. Pedersen, IE 
                    (301) 492-9475 

Attachments: 
1.   Respirator Users Notice (November 20, 1984) 
2.   Respirator Users Notice (May 7, 1985) 
3.   List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices 
 

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