Information Notice 2000-12, Potential Degradation of Fire Fighter Primary Protective Garments
| ML003740412 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/21/2000 |
| From: | Marsh L Operational Experience and Non-Power Reactors Branch |
| To: | |
| References | |
| IN-00-012 | |
| Download: ML003740412 (6) | |
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 September 21, 2000
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2000-12: POTENTIAL DEGRADATION OF FIREFIGHTER
PRIMARY PROTECTIVE GARMENTS
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 potential degradation of performance of firefighter primary protective garments
(FFPPGs). It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their
facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions
contained in this information notice are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or
written response is required.
Description of Circumstances
The licensee for Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant reported that following a fire event at the
plant it outsourced its FFPPGs to a firm that specializes in decontamination and repair of
FFPPGs. The firm found that some of the FFPPGs were degraded and had to be condemned
while others had to be repaired. None of this damage was attributed to the fire event; rather, it
was all attributed to storage practices and normal wear. Informal NRC staff discussions with
representatives at several other nuclear power plants indicated that licensees may not be aware
of this problem.
Discussion
Moisture Barrier Degradation
Aldan Engineered Coated Fabrics indicated in a letter dated November 3, 1999, http://www.usfa.fema.gov/alerts/breathetex.htm, that its product BREATHE-TEX has shown
signs of degradation under certain conditions. BREATHE-TEX is a trade name for a material
that is used as a moisture barrier in FFPPGs. In a letter from Edwin T. Winter, Chairman and
CEO of Aldan Engineered Coated Fabrics, to manufacturers of FFPPGs, the degradation is
described as follows:
The degradation, not readily observable by routine visual inspection, is primarily in the
form of film cracking. A degraded moisture barrier film will allow the passage of liquids, thereby reducing the level of protection in proportion to the degree of degradation.
In a joint statement issued by manufacturers of FFPPGs, dated November 15, 1999, http://www.turnout-info.com/en/news/joint_stmt.htm (note there is an underline _ between
joint and stmt in this web address) they remind users of FFPPGs that the moisture barriers
are the most fragile component in your gear [FFPPGs] and that FFPPGs should be inspected
on a regular basis. They also state that particular attention should be paid to the moisture
barrier, regardless of what brand it is.
Outer Shell Degradation
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) report titled Statistics for the Time-Dependent
Failure of Kevlar-49/Epoxy Composites: Micromechanical Modeling and Data Interpretation by
S. L. Phoenix and E. M. Wu indicates that Kevlar, a common fabric used in the production of
the durable and heat-resistant outer shell of FFPPGs, is susceptible to photodegradation from
ultraviolet (UV) light sources.
Photodegradation is a phenomenon in which the tensile strength of the fibers is reduced as a
result of exposure to UV light sources such as sunlight and fluorescent light. Photodegradation
leads to reduced abrasion and tear resistance in aramid fibers such as Kevlar.
Many fabrics used in FFPPGs (see list quoted below) use aramid fibers that are subject to
photodegradation. Therefore, special care must be taken to ensure that the fabrics are
protected from UV light sources. The User Instruction, Safety and Training Guide provided by
Lion Apparel (Dayton, Ohio) gives the following warning:
Exposure to ultraviolet light (found in the suns rays and fluorescent light) will
severely weaken and damage the fabrics in your protective clothing after only A
FEW DAYS. This is especially true for fabrics of the following aramid materials:
Hoechst Celanese Pbi, Dupont Kevlar, Dupont Nomex, Dupont Nomex Omega, Dupont Nomex IIIA, Lenzing P84, Southern Mills Advance, and BASF Basofil.
FFPPGs should be dried after cleaning in the shade rather than in a place exposed to UV light.
Users of FFPPGs should consider photodegradation as a damage mechanism. This
degradation may not be readily apparent but may seriously degrade the protection offered to
plant firefighters. Regular inspection and testing should be performed in accordance with the
recommendation of manufacturers and distributers.
Conclusion
Proper storage and regular thorough inspection of FFPPGs are important to ensure that
FFPPGs provide effective firefighter protection. FFPPG degradation may not be readily
apparent; therefore, special training may be required for inspection of FFPPGs. This information notice requires no specific action or written response. 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.
/RA/ /RA/
Michael F. Weber, Director Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Events Assessment, Generic Communications
and Safeguards and Non-Power Reactors Branch
Office of Nuclear Material Safety Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts: Christopher G. Cahill, Region I Mark H. Salley, NRR
610-337-6916 301-415-2840
E-mail: cgc@nrc.gov E-mail: mxs3@nrc.gov
Daniel M. Frumkin, NRR Paul W. Lain, NMSS
301-415-2280 301-415-6317 E-mail: dxf1@nrc.gov E-mail: pwl@nrc.gov
Charles D. Petrone, NRR
301-415-1027 E-mail: cdp@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices This information notice requires no specific action or written response. 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.
/RA/ /RA/
Michael F. Weber, Director Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety Events Assessment, Generic Communications
and Safeguards and Non-Power Reactors Branch
Office of Nuclear Material Safety Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contacts: Christopher G. Cahill, Region I Mark H. Salley, NRR
610-337-6916 301-415-2840
E-mail: cgc@nrc.gov E-mail: mxs3@nrc.gov
Daniel M. Frumkin, NRR Paul W. Lain, NMSS
301-415-2280 301-415-6317 E-mail: dxf1@nrc.gov E-mail: pwl@nrc.gov
Charles D. Petrone, NRR
301-415-1027 E-mail: cdp@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
DISTRIBUTION
PUBLIC
REXB R/F
- See previous concurrence
Accession No.: ML003740412 Template No.: NRR-052 To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box C=Copy w/o attachment/enclosure E=Copy with attachment/enclosure N = No copy
OFFICE REXB Tech Editor SPLB SPLB
NAME CPetrone* BCalure* MSalley* EWeiss*
DATE 8/21/00 8 /15 /00 8/22/00 8/22/00
OFFICE NMSS D:FCSS:NMSS C:REXB
NAME MSitek* MWeber* LMarsh
DATE 9/8/00 9/14/00 9/20/00
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Attachment 2 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2000-11 Licensee Responsibility for 08/07/2000 All U.S. NRC 10 CFR Part 50 and
Quality Assurance Oversight of Part 72 licensees, and Part 72 Contractor Activities Regarding Certificate of Compliance holders
Fabrication and Use of Spent
Fuel Storage Cask Systems
2000-10 Recent Events Resulting in 7/18/2000 All material licensees who
Extremity Exposures prepare or use unsealed
Exceeding Regulatory Limits radioactive materials, radio- pharmaceuticals, or sealed
sources for medical use or for
research and development
2000-07 National Institute for 4/10/2000 All holders of operating licenses
Occupational Safety and for nuclear power reactors, non- Health Respirator User Notice: power reactors, and all fuel cycle
Special Precautions for Using and material licensees required to
Certain Self-Contained have an NRC approved
Breathing Apparatus Air emergency plan
Cylinders
2000-05 Recent Medical 3/06/2000 All medical licensees
Misadministrations Resulting
from Inattention to Detail
2000-04 1999 Enforcement Sanctions 2/25/2000 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
for Deliberate Violations of Commission licensees
NRC Employee Protection
Requirements
2000-03 High-Efficiency Particulate Air 2/22/2000 All NRC licensed fuel-cycled
Filter Exceeds Mass Limit conversion, enrichment, and
Before Reaching Expected fabrication facilities
Differential Pressure
2000-02 Failure of Criticality Safety 2/22/2000 All NRC licensed fuel-cycled
Control to Prevent Uranium conversion, enrichment, and
Dioxide (UO2) Powder fabrication facilities
Accumulation
99-33 Management of Wastes 12/28/99 All medical licensees
Contaminated With
Radioactive Materials
Attachment 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to
________________________________________________________________________________
2000-11 Licensee Responsibility for 8/7/2000 All U.S. NRC 10 CFR Part 50 and
Quality Assurance Oversight of Part 72 licensees, and Part 72 Contractor Activities Regarding Certificate of Compliance holders
Fabrication and Use of Spent
Fuel Storage Cask Systems
2000-10 Recent Events Resulting in 7/18/2000 All material licensees who
Extremity Exposures prepare or use unsealed
Exceeding Regulatory Limits radioactive materials, radio
pharmaceuticals, or sealed
sources for medical use or for
research and development
95-03, Supp 2 Loss of Reactor Coolant 7/03/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear
Inventory and Potential Loss of power reactors except those who
Emergency Mitigation have ceased operations and have
Functions While in a Shutdown certified that fuel has been
Condition permanently removed from the
reactor vessel
2000-09 Steam Generator Tube Failure 6/28/2000 All holders of OL for nuclear
at Indian Point Unit 2 power reactors, except those who
have permanently ceased
operations and have certified that
fuel has been permanently
removed from the reactor vessel
2000-08 Inadequate Assessment of the 5/15/2000 All holders of operating licensees
Effect of Differential for nuclear power reactors
Temperatures on Safety- Related Pumps
2000-07 National Institute for 4/10/2000 All holders of operating licenses
Occupational Safety and for nuclear power reactors, non- Health Respirator User Notice: power reactors, and all fuel cycle
Special Precautions for Using and material licensees required to
Certain Self-Contained have an NRC-approved
Breathing Apparatus Air emergency plan
Cylinders
____________________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit