Information Notice 2020-03, Recall of Mechanical Rate of Rise and Fixed-Temperature Heat Detectors
| ML20261H320 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/05/2020 |
| From: | Chris Miller, Kevin Williams Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Lintz M | |
| References | |
| IN-2020-03 | |
| Download: ML20261H320 (3) | |
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 November 05, 2020
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2020-03: RECALL OF MECHANICAL RATE OF RISE AND
FIXED-TEMPERATURE HEAT DETECTORS
ADDRESSEES
All holders of an operating license or construction permit for a nuclear power reactor under
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Domestic licensing of production
and utilization facilities, including those that have permanently ceased operations and have
spent fuel in storage in the spent fuel pool.
All holders of an operating license or construction permit for a nonpower reactor (research
reactor, test reactor, or critical assembly) under 10 CFR Part 50, including those that have
permanently ceased operations and have spent fuel in storage at their facility.
All holders of and applicants for a power reactor early site permit, combined license, standard
design certification, standard design approval, or manufacturing license under 10 CFR Part 52, Licenses, certifications, and approvals for nuclear power plants.
All holders of and applicants for possession and use of byproduct material license 10 CFR Part
36, Licenses and radiation safety requirements for irradiators.
All holders of, or applicants for, a fuel facility license under 10 CFR Part 40, Domestic licensing
of source material.
All holders of or applicants for a fuel cycle facility license under 10 CFR Part 70, Domestic
licensing of special nuclear material.
PURPOSE
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to alert
licensees about a recent fire protection equipment recall by the Edwards Fire Safety Company.
The staff expects that recipients of this IN will review the information for applicability to their
facilities and consider taking actions as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this IN
are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, the Edwards
Fire Safety Company recalled approximately 85,000 of its 280-Series, mechanical,
135-degrees-Fahrenheit rate of rise and fixed-temperature heat detectors sold nationwide
between January 1979 and May 2018. The recalled heat detectors may fail to activate in
response to rising temperatures when a fire is present, which means they may fail to activate
fire alarms or a fire extinguishing system.
ML20261H320 The official CPSC recall notice is available online at
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/edwards-recalls-mechanical-heat-detectors-due-to-failure- to-alert-to-fire.
BACKGROUND
NRC regulations require nuclear facilities to have a fire protection program to assure public
health and safety. These programs describe features necessary for fire protection, such as fire
prevention, detection, and suppression. The purpose of the fire protection program is to
minimize the probability and effects of fires.
Fire-protection equipment reliability and performance capabilities are a primary feature of
defense in depth an must be maintained to achieve effectiveness in preventing fire damage to
structures, systems, and components. The recalled fire protection equipment discussed in this
IN may not be able to perform its intended function.
DISCUSSION
The NRC is currently unaware of any issues at licensed facilities involving the recalled heat
detectors. The NRC is using this IN to heighten awareness and inform licensees of this
potential issue.
Recalled fire protection equipment such as the heat detectors listed above, if used in a nuclear
facility, may prevent or inhibit fire protection measures that are important to worker, facility, and
public safety.
CONTACT
This IN does not require any specific action or written response. Please direct any questions
about this matter to the technical contacts listed below or to the appropriate NRC project
manager.
/RA/ /RA/
Christopher G. Miller, Director Kevin Williams, Director
Division of Reactor Oversight Division of Materials Safety, Security, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation State, and Tribal Programs
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical Contacts:
Robert Vettori, NRR James Downs, NMSS
301-415-3366 301-415-7744 E-mail: Robert.Vettori@nrc.gov E-mail: James.Downs@nrc.gov
Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, https://www.nrc.gov, under NRC Library.
ML20261H320 *via e-mail EPIDS No. L-2020-GEN-0008 OFFICE Author QTE NRR/DRO/IOEB/PM
NAME RVettori* JDougherty* BBenney
DATE 9/16/20 9/18/20 9/29/20
OFFICE NRR/DRA/APLB/BC(Acting) NRR/DRO/LA NRR/DRO/IOEB/BC
NAME JBorromeo IBetts LRegner
DATE 11/2/20 10/1/20 10/14/20
OFFICE NMSS/DFM NMSS/MSST NRR/DRO/D
NAME AKock* KWilliams* CMiller (RFlts for)*
DATE 9/23/20 9/24/20 11/5/2020