Information Notice 2001-04, Neglected Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Causes Fatality
| ML010670234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/11/2001 |
| From: | Marsh L Operational Experience and Non-Power Reactors Branch |
| To: | |
| Petrone C | |
| References | |
| IN-01-004 | |
| Download: ML010670234 (5) | |
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 April 11, 2001 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2001-04: NEGLECTED FIRE EXTINGUISHER MAINTENANCE
CAUSES FATALITY
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 the danger of corrosion to fire extinguishers. It is expected that recipients will
review the information for applicability and consider actions, as appropriate, to ensure safety at
their facilities. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not NRC
requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances
On August 25, 2000, at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, an employee who was trying to
extinguish a small fire activated a fire extinguisher, which in-turn exploded, killing the employee.
The cause of the explosion was corrosion under a rubber or plastic base protecting the bottom
of the extinguisher. This base had trapped moisture next to the shell of the extinguisher
accelerating corrosion. The corrosion was hidden by the flange and went unnoticed during
inspections. The extinguisher was manufactured in 1987 by Ansul, Belgium, which is not
affiliated with Ansul Incorporated, USA.
Following the incident, a number of other extinguishers were checked and other cases of
serious corrosion were found. The vendor had conducted maintenance for the first few years
after purchase of the extinguishers, but another contractor had been doing the periodic
maintenance for the last nine years. The vendor has distributed a warning to owners of these
extinguishers saying the annual inspection must include a visual inspection of the extinguishers
with the base removed.
A warning was issued on this incident by the Government Industry Data Exchange Program, Agency Action Notice ANN-U-01-02 on October 5, 2000. This notice includes pictures of a
corroded cylinder and is posted at the following Web site:
http://www.msha.gov/ALERTS/equipment/ansuldrychem.pdf
Discussion
The NRC endorses the use of the National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA) Standard for
Portable Fire Extinguishers, NFPA 10. The standard provides guidance for the selection, installation, design, inspection, and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers. A general
requirement is that extinguishers installed in an environment where they may be subjected to
physical damage or degradation should be adequately protected. This includes wet areas
which are conducive to corrosion (cooling towers, intake pumping stations, utility vehicles, etc.).
During monthly inspections, visual examination of extinguishers should check for obvious
physical damage, such as corrosion, leakage, and denting. If damage is detected, the
extinguisher should be removed from service and given applicable maintenance. NFPA 10
requires fire extinguisher maintenance to be conducted at least annually and some
extinguishers get an internal as well as an external examination. In addition to annual
maintenance, hydrostatic testing is required every 5 to 12 years, depending on the type of
extinguisher. Extinguishers that fail to pass visual examination or hydrostatic tests are marked
CONDEMNED and should never be reused. It should also be noted that fire extinguishers are
pressure vessels and some facilities elect to use a fire equipment servicing contractor to
maintain and recharge their fire extinguishers.
Conclusion
Fire extinguishers are often the first line of defense in fire suppression, and should be readily
available to suppress a fire in its incipient stages. Fire extinguishers should not constitute a
hazard to the personnel and property they are designed to protect. Proper installation, inspection, and maintenance by qualified personnel should ensure fire extinguishers have a
long service life.
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 your facilitys project manager.
/RA/ /RA/
Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief Michael F. Weber, Director
Events Assessment, Generic Communications Division of Fuel Cycle Safety
and Non-Power Reactors Branch and Safeguards
Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Safeguards
Technical Contacts: Naeem Iqbal, NRR Peter Lee, NMSS
301-415-3346 301-415-8111 E-mail: nxi@nrc.gov E-mail: psl1@nrc.gov
Paul Lain, NRR Charles Petrone, NRR
301-415-2346 301-415-1027 E-mail: pwl@nrc.gov E-mail: cdp@nrc.gov
Attachments:
1. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices
ML010670234 OFFICE SPLB TECH EDITOR SPLB SPLB C:SPLB/DSSA
NAME PLain PKleene* NIqbal* EWeiss* JHannon*
DATE / /2001 03/05/2001 03/09/2001 03/09/2001 03/12/2001 NMSS NMSS NMSS NMSS REXB REXB C:REXB
PLee* LRoche* PTing* MWeber* CPetrone JTappert LMarsh
03/19/2001 03/19/2001 03/20/2001 03/22/2001 / /2001 / /2001 / /2001
Attachment 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to
______________________________________________________________________________________
2001-03 Incident Reporting 04/06/01 All industrial radiography
Requirements for Radiography licensees
Licensees
2001-02 Summary of Fitness-for-Duty 03/28/01 All holders of operating licenses
Program Performance Reports for nuclear power reactors, and
for Calendar Years 1998 and licensees authorized to possess
1999 or use formula quantities of
strategic special nuclear material
(SSNM) or to transport formula
quantities of SSNM
2001-01 The Importance of Accurate 03/26/01 All material licensees
Inventory Controls to Prevent
the Unauthorized Possession
of Radioactive Material
2000-17, Crack in Weld Area of Reactor 02/28/01 All holders of operating licenses
Supp. 2 Coolant System Hot Leg Piping for nuclear power reactors except
at V.C. Summer those who has ceased operations
and have certified that fuel has
permanently removed from
reactor vessel
2000-22 Medical Misadministrations 12/18/00 All medical use licensees
Caused by Human Errors authorized to conduct gamma
Involving Gamma Stereotactic stereotactic radiosurgery
Radiosurgery (GAMMA KNIFE) treatments
2000-21 Detached Check Valve Disc 12/15/00 All holders of OLs for nuclear
not Detected by Use of power reactors except those who
Acoustic and Magnetic have ceased operations and have
Nonintrusive Test Techniques certified that fuel has been
permanently removed from the
reactor
2000-20 Potential Loss of Redundant 12/11/2000 All holders of operating licenses
Safety Related Equipment Due or construction permits for
to Lack of a High-Energy Line nuclear power reactors
Break Barrier
______________________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
Attachment 2 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2001-03 Incident Reporting 04/06/01 All industrial radiography
Requirements for Radiography licensees
Licensees
2001-01 The Importance of Accurate 03/26/01 All material licensees.
Inventory Controls to Prevent
the Unauthorized Possession
of Radioactive Material
2000-22 Medical Misadministrations 12/18/00 All medical use licensees
Caused by Human Errors authorized to conduct gamma
Involving Gamma Stereotactic stereotactic radiosurgery
Radiosurgery (GAMMA KNIFE) treatments.
2000-19 Implementation of Human Use 12/05/2000 All medical use licensees.
Research Protocols Involving
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Regulated
Materials
2000-18 Substandard Material Supplied 11/29/2000 All 10 CFR Part 50 licensees and
by Chicago Bullet Proof applicants.
Systems All category 1 fuel facilities.
All 10 CFR Part 72 licensees and
applicants.
2000-16 Potential Hazards Due to 10/5/2000 All licensees that process
Volatilization of Radionuclides unsealed byproduct material.
2000-15 Recent Events Resulting in 9/29/2000 All radiography licensees.
Whole Body Exposures
Exceeding Regulatory Limits
2000-12 Potential Degradation of 9/21/2000 All holders of licenses for nuclear
Firefighter Primary Protective power, research, and test
Garments reactors and fuel cycle facilities.
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