Information Notice 1999-28, Recall of Star Brand Fire Protection Sprinkler Heads

Recall of Star Brand Fire Protection Sprinkler Heads

ML031040366
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	09/30/1999
From:	Marsh L, Sherr T NRC/NMSS/FCSS, NRC/NRR/DIPM
To:
References
IN-99-028, NUDOCS 9910010205
Download: ML031040366 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555-0001 September30, 1999 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 99-28: RECALL OF STAR BRAND FIRE PROTECTION

SPRINKLER HEADS

Addressees

All holders of licenses for nuclear power, research and test reactors, and fuel cycle facilities.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice to alert

addressees to a recall of the Star brand, dry-type, fire protection sprinkler heads manufactured

by the Mealane Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is expected that recipients will

review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to

avoid problems. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific actions or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On August 4, 1999, the Consumers Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in cooperation with the

Mealane Corporation announced a voluntary recall of approximately 1 million Star brand, dry- type, fire protection sprinkler heads, models D-1, RD-1, RE-1, E-1, and ME-1, manufactured

between 1961 and 1976. The sprinkler heads may be identified by the word NStar" on one side

and the model number on the other side of the lower portion of the sprinkler head's frame. The

date of manufacture (two-digit year) can be found on the deflector.

The CPSC reports that 67 percent of the heads recently tested at independent laboratories

failed to activate as they should. The CPSC has also stated that it has received one report

alleging a Star sprinkler head did not activate during an actual fire.

The Mealane Corporation will replace the sprinkler heads free and will reimburse purchasers for

the labor costs of removing and replacing the affected sprinklers. Mealane has established a

Star Sprinkler recall hotline at (800) 866-7807, and a Web site at www.star-recall.com to

inform about the recall.

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IN 99-28 September 30, 1999 Related Generic Communication

IN 97-72, *Potential for Failure of the Omega Series Sprinkler Heads," September 22,

1997 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the technical contacts

listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) or Office of Nuclear

Material and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

Theodore S. S Brranch Chief Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief

Licensing and International Events Assessment, Generic Communications

Safeguards Branch-. and Non-Power Reactors Branch

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs

and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Office of Nuclear Materials Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contacts: Mark H. Salley, NRR P. W. Lain, NMSS

301-415-2840 301-415-6317 E-mail: mxs3O-nrc.aov E-mail: pwlfinrc.aov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NRR Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 99-28 September 30,1999 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

99-27 Malfunction of Source Retraction 9/2/99 All medical licensees authorized ,

Tocoauctteieier ~

to conduct teletherapytMdkl I=

Mechanism in Cobalt-60 Teletherapy IM

Treatment Units

99-26 Safety and Economic 8/24/99 All Distributors and/or

Consequences of Misleading Manufacturers of Generally

Marketing Information Licensed Products

99-24 Broad-Scope Licensees' 7/12/99 All medical licensees' of broad- Responsibilities for Reyiewing and scope and master materials

Approving Unregistered Sealed licensees

Sources and Devices

99-23 Safety Concerns Related To 7/6/99 All U.S. NRC medical licensees

Repeated Control Unit Failures authorized to use brachytherapy

of the Nucletron Classic Model sources in Nucletron Classic

High-Dose-Rate Remote Model high-dose-rate (HDR)

Afterloading Brachytherapy remote afterloaders

Devices

99-22 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1): Effective 6/25/99 Industrial Radiography Licensees

Date for Radiographer Certification

and Plans for Enforcement Discretion

Contingency Planning for the 6/25/99 All material and fuel cycle

99-20

Year 2000 Computer Problem licensees and certificate holders

Update on NRC's Year 2000 6/14/99 All material and fuel cycle

99-18 Activities for Materials Licensees licensees and certificate

and Fuel Cycle Licensees and holders

Certificate Holders

99-16 Federal Bureau of Investigation's 5/28/99 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

• uclear Site Security Program Commission fuel cycle, power

reactor, and non-power reactor

licensees

Incident Involving the Use of 4/16/99 All medical use licensees

99-11 Radioactive Iodine-131 Problems Encountered When 3/24/99 All medical licensees authorized

99-09 Manually Editing treatment Data to conduct high-dose-rate (HDR)

on the Nucletron Microselectron- remote after loading

HDR (New) Model 105-999 brachytherapy treatments

Attachment 2 IN 99-28 September 30, 1999 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

99-27 Malfunction of Source Retraction 9/2/99 All medical licensees authorized

Mechanism in Cobalt-60 Teletherapy to conduct teletherapy treatments

Treatment Units

99-26 Safety and Economic 8/24/99 All Distributors and/or

Consequences of Misleading Manufacturers of Generally

Marketing Information Licensed Products

99-25 Year 2000 Contingency Planning 8/10/99 All holders of operating licenses

Activities for nuclear power plants and fuel

cycle facilities

99-24 Broad-Scope Licensees' 7/12/99 All medical licensees of broad- Responsibilities for Reviewing scope and master materials

and Approving Unregistered licensees

Sealed Sources and Devices

99-23 Safety Concerns Related To 7/6/99 All U.S. NRC medical licensees

Repeated Control Unit Failures authorized to use brachytherapy

of the Nucletron Classic Model sources in Nucletron Classic

High-Dose-Rate Remote Model high-dose-rate (HDR)

Aferloading Brachytherapy remote afterloaders

Devices

99-22 10 CFR 34.43(a)(1); Effective 7/6/99 Industrial Radiography Licensees

Date for Radiographer Certification

and Plans for Enforcement Discretio in

99-21 Recent Plant Events Caused 6/25199 All holders of licenses for nuclear

By Human Performance Errors power, test, and research reactors

99-20 Contingency Planning for the 6/25/99 All material and fuel cycle

Year 200 Computer Problem licensees and certificate holders

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 99-28 September 30, 1999 Related Generic Communication

22, IN 97-72, 'Potential for Failure of the Omega Series Sprinkler Heads," September

1997 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the technical contacts

Nuclear

listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) or Office of

Material and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

Original signed by C. W. Eineigh Original signed by

for Theodore S. Sherr, Branch Chief Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief

Licensing and Intemational Events Assessment, Generic Communications

Safeguards Branch and Non-Power Reactors Branch

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs

and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Office of Nuclear Materials Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contacts: Mark H. Salley, NRR P. W. Lain, NMSS

301-415-2840 301-415-6317 E-mail: mxs3(a@nrc.pov E-mail: Pwl(Onrc.-ov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NRR Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

, 17' ,"/ /- .4-411, 1-_"

DOCUMENT NAME: S:\DRPMSEC\99-28.IN

• See previous concurrence

E=Copy with attachmenVenclosur.D N= No copy

o receive a copy ofthis documet, indicate in the bo C=Copy w/o attachmentlenclosure

OFFICE REXB l IIIlTech Editor lINMSS l5C:NM

MHSalley* RSanders* PWLain* _ Marsh_/

NAME CPetrone ___h_

09/10/99 09/21199 /099 0/99 DATE 2

/g99 09/14 /99 1 OFFICIlAL REGORD CFr ,

fl\eA

IN 99-xx

September xx, 1999 Related Generic Communication

22, IN 97-72, "Potential for Failure of the Omega Series Sprinkler Heads," September

1997 any

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have

contacts listed

questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the technical

Nuclear

below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) or Office of

Material and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

Theodore S. Sherr, Branch Chief Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief

Licensing and International Events Assessment, Generic Communications

Safeguards Branch and Non-Power Reactors Branch

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs

and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Office of Nuclear Materials Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contacts: Mark H. Salley, NRR P. W. Lain, NMSS

301-415-2840 301-415-6317 E-mail: mxs3(&nrc.aov E-mail: pwl(nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NRR Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: P:\instar.wpd

• See previous concurrence

with attachmentlenclosure N = No copy

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box C=Copy wlo attachment/enclosure E=Copy

SPLB l Tech Editor C:NMSS L E C:PECB

OFFICE

M. H. Salley RSandersi l W.

P. NMS LE I-<LMarsh l

NAME

DATE 9/14/99 9/10/99 2 9/21/99 99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

IN 99-xx

September xx, 1999 Related Generic Communication

IN 97-72, "Potential for Failure of the Omega Series Sprinkler Heads," September 22,

1997 This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any

questions about the information in this notice, please contact one of the technical contacts

listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) or Office of Nuclear

Material and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief

Events Assessment, Generic Communications

and Non-Power Reactors Branch

Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contacts: Mark H. Salley, NRR P. W. Lain, NMSS

301-415-2840 301-415-6317 E-mail: mxs3Canrc.gov E-mail: ywl(nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NRR Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\REXB\cdp\lNstar.wpd

• See previous concurrence

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box C=Copy wlo attachmentlenclosure E=Copy with attachment/enclosure N = No copy

OFFICE l~ 5el,lj2-T-eh Editor l NlVISS l lC:PECBll

NAME . RSanders* fLMarsh

DAT E0'I 119199 V a /99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY