Information Notice 2000-07, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Respirator User Notice: Special Precaustions Using Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Respirator User Notice: Special Precaustions Using Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders
	ML003698899
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/10/2000
From:	Marsh L; Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
To:	;
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UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 April 10, 2000

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2000-07: NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL

SAFETY AND HEALTH RESPIRATOR USER

NOTICE: SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR USING

CERTAIN SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING

APPARATUS AIR CYLINDERS

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors, non-power reactors, and all fuel

cycle and material licensees required to have an NRC-approved emergency plan.

Purpose

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

addressees about a recent Respirator User Notice issued by the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The NIOSH notice recommends special attention

and increased oversight and inspections for certain high-pressure aluminum seamless and

aluminum composite hoop-wrapped cylinders made of aluminum alloy 6351-T6. These

cylinders may develop cracks in the neck and shoulder area, leading to greater than normal

loss of air during storage and ruptures leading to serious injury or death. Additionally, short of

catastrophic failures, the unexpected loss of air (and reduction of service time) could lead to

reduced worker safety and less effective emergency response.

This NRC notice updates information previously provided in NRC Information Notices 83-68,

84-34, 85-48, and 86-24. It is expected that recipients will review the information for

applicability to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to upgrade their self-contained

breathing apparatus (SCBA) cylinder inspection program. However, suggestions contained in

this information notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written

response is required.

Description of Circumstances

On December 7, 1999, NIOSH issued a Respirator User Notice recommending increased

inspection and maintenance activities for all cylinders made of aluminum alloy 6351-T6 manufactured by Luxfer Gas Cylinders. These cylinders are susceptible to sustained load

cracking, and can be identified by specific Department of Transportation (DOT) exemption

numbers provided in Attachment 1. These DOT numbers are marked on the cylinder label.

Note that Luxfer cylinders manufactured in the United States after 1988 use a different alloy

and are not subject to the NIOSH notice. The affected cylinders are used on various NIOSH-

approved SCBA, including various sizes and rated durations ranging from 5 to 30 minutes.

To date, six SCBA cylinders have ruptured, and the most recent event occurred during refilling

at a fire department on May 2, 1999, in North Carolina. No injuries were reported. The

followup investigation of the incident revealed that the ruptured cylinder had been leaking

before the failure.

NIOSH, after consultation with DOT, SCBA manufacturers, and Luxfer, developed seven safety

precautions that, if followed, should reduce the users risk of serious injury or death. The

NIOSH notice provides contacts representing the manufacturer and an industry association who

will provide inspection procedures to users of these high-pressure aluminum cylinders.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. In the general interest of

worker safety and maintaining an adequate emergency response capability, licensees may wish

to share this information with other potential users, such as local fire departments. If you have

any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contacts listed

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

of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

/RA/ /RA/

Michael F. Weber, Director Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief

Division of Fuel Cycle Events Assessment, Generic Communications

Safety and Safeguards and Non-Power Reactors Branch

Office of Nuclear Material Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs

Safety and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: James E. Wigginton, NRR William M. Troskoski, NMSS

301-415-1059 301-415-8076 E-mail: jew2@nrc.gov E-mail: wmt@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. NIOSH Respirator User Notice

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices To date, six SCBA cylinders have ruptured, and the most recent event occurred during refilling