ML20138N225
| ML20138N225 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/25/1997 |
| From: | Camper L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Oconnell R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| SSD, NUDOCS 9702270199 | |
| Download: ML20138N225 (1) | |
Text
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February 25. 1997 i
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4 MEMORANDUM TO: ( 'O Robert L:O'Connell s
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" Regional Coordination and Events Section
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i K #p Division ofIndustrial and, Medical Nuclear Safety' NMSS t
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" ; ', Larry W. Camper, Chief FROM:(,,
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. Commercial Use' Safety Branch Division ofindustrial and f33
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SUBJECT:
s AMERSHAM 660 POSILOCK HORIZONTAL SHOCK TEST l
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ALLEGATION,
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i Attached is a copy of Information Notice 96-53, " Retrofit to Amersham 660 Posilock Radiography Camera to Correct inconsistency in 10 CFR Part 34 Compatibility" (IN 96-53),
dated October 15,1996. IN 96-53 was issued to provide advance notice to all radiography licensees of the scenario where the Amersham model 660 Posilock radiography camera would not pass the horizontal shock test as required by 10 CFR Part 34, and notifying them of the retrofit to the Amersham Model 660 Posilock radiography camera to correct that problem. IMAB plans to issue a supplement to IN 96-53 to recommend that licensees complete the retrofit l
within a reasonable time from receipt of retrofit kit from manufacturer, and to inform licensees i
that effective January 1,1998, units not having the retrofit will no longer meet the requirements of Part 34.
There appears to be no significant safety issues, since breaking the lock slide would result in an i
inability to open the shutter, if the source were in the exposed position at the time of impact, the source could still be returned to the shielded and secured position. Completion of the retrofits i
will be verified through regularly scheduled inspections. IMAB plans to issue a temporary instruction (TI) to ensure that inspectors verify that all cameras in use on or after January 1, t
1998, contain the retrofit.
Califomia informs us that there is a retrofit planned for the Industrial Nuclear Model IR-100 i
radiography camera. We plan to hold the supplement IN and Tl for another 30 days, in hopes I
that we can get the information from California regarding the IR-100 camera, and that the information can be included in the current effort and eliminate the need for another IN and Tl.
This information should close-out our part of this allegation. Califomia's part is still open.
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Attachment:
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\lMABSTUF\\AM660_2.ARB j
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DATE-02/13/97'. V 02/18/97
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9702270199 970225 EElEhIh.I,III PDR RC SSD PDR L tm N
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, DC 20555 I
October 15,1996 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 96-53: RETROFIT TO AMERSHAM 660 POSILOCK RADIOGRAPHY CAMERA TO CORRECT INCONSISTENCY IN 10 CFR PART 34 l
COMPATIBILITY 4
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Addressees i
All industrial radiography licensees.
Purpose i
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice to make licensees aware of a scenario where the Amersham model 660 Posilock radiography
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camera would not pass the horizontal shock test as required by 10 CFR Part 34, and of a retrofit to the Amersham Model 660 Posilock radiography camera to correct that problem, it is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability to their licensed activity. However, suggestions contained in this information notice are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action nor written response is required.
l Descriotion of Circumstances Recently, NRC became aware of a scenario where the Amersham Model 660 Posilock radiography camera would not pass the horizontal shock test as required by 10 CFR j
Part 34.20, " Performance Requirements for Radiography Equipment." Amersham was t
made aware of the test results, and took action to correct the situation.
Discussion When Amersham tested the camera in accordance with ANSI N432-1980 in 1989, the target for the horizontal shock test was a point between the two bumpers, directly at the slide lock. This point was chosen by Amersham as the most vulnerable impact site.
In 1995, tests performed as part of an independent testing contract revealed that there was a more vulnerable impact site. The contractor's test focused aiming at one of the bumpers. The result was damage to the bumper, causing the bumper to become detached, thereby exposing the lock slide to direct impact. Subsequent impacts then broke the lock slide. There appear to be no significant safety issues, since breaking the lock slide would result in an inability to open the shutter. If the source were in the exposed position at the time of impact, the source could still be returned to the shielded and secured position.
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l l IN 96-53 October 15,1996 Page 2 of 2 As a result of the test information, Amersham redesigned the bumpers. The modified bumpers contain a metal core that distributes the stress of an impact to the end plate.
Amersham states that the camera with the modified bumpers passed the horizontal shock test, where the test was aimed at the bumper. The bumpers remained intact, and although they showed signs of impact, they still protected the lock slide. Amershem states that it sent retrofit kits to all owners, of potentially affected cameras, on record with them. Attachment 1 contains a copy of the retrofit kit letter and bumper replacement
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instructions. The retrofit will be differentiated by the use of a non-Phillips head screw
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instead of the Phillips head screw currently in use. Cameras with the retrofit would continue to meet the requirements of 10 CFR Part 34.
All affected cameras should be retrofitted as soon as possible. Licensees should contact Amersham to obtain retrofit kits or assistance with retrofit procedures, or to notify Amersham if they have not received their kit. Affected cameras may be checked for completed retrofit during any inspection.
l Licensees possessing these cameras should be aware of this issue and take action appropriately.
This information notice reouires no specific action nor written response. if you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the technical contact listed below or the appropriate regional office.
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Donald A. Cool, Director Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety
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and Safeguards t
Technical contact: Michele Burgess, IMAB (301) 415-5868 Email: mlb5@nrc. gov Attachments:
- 1. Amersham Retrofit Kit Letter and Bumper Replacement Instructions
- 2. List of Recently issued NMSS Information Notices
- 3. List of Recently issued NRC Information Notices l
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l IN 96-53 October 15, 1996 Page 2 of 4 in field use conditions to actually result in the lock slide breaking.
While we feel that this is an issue we need to and can resolve quickly, there is no safety significance, or practical risk of this failure mode in field use conditions.
The corrective action for this is very simple, has been thoroughly tested, and can be easily retrofitted in the field by the customer without any disassembly of the camera. We have fabricated bumpers that will replace the original bumpers. These new bumpers have a metal core that distributes the stress of an impact to the end plate. When subjected to the horizontal shock test, the bumpers remain intact, adequately preventing an impact to the lock slide. The retrofit will be differentiated by the use of a non philips head screw instead of the "Philips" head currently in use. We are advising users that upon completion of this upgrade, the original certificate we provided stating that the device meets the requirements of 10 CFR Part 34 will still be valid.
We have enclosed a copy of the instructions that will be provided t'o users for implementing the retrofit.
We will be sending out the retrofit kits early next week.
Please let me know if you require any additional information, we greatly appreciate your assistance in quickly resolving this issue.
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Sincerely, I
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'kV Cathleen Roughan Regulatory Affairs Manager cc: W. McDaniel I
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SENTINEL 5c"ts'#'is,1996 Page 3 of 4
Dear Valued Customer:
In accordance with our ISO 9001 Cenified QA Program, which links with our objective to provide the and service in the industry, SENTINEL strives towards continuous improvement by periodically updating our p services as a result offeedback from a range ofresources.
SENTINEL has recently received information that when our 660 Posilok series is subjected to a specific, repeat shock aimed at one of the bumpers on the rear end plate, the lock slide will eventually break. We were concemed had performed this type of testing in accordance with ANSI N432 - 1980, Section 8.2 (Horizontal Shock Test) in 19 the product passed without difficulty. In addition, we have not seen any problems in actual use. We promptly ini detailed investigation.-
The results ofour investigation have shown that there is a more vulnerable impact site on the device than we were our 1989 testing. It is important to note that this is not a safety significant issue as the potential damage to the pro prevents source exposure. The device fails safe. Additionally, this situation has never been reported from the field, and it is unlikely for an impact in field use conditions to rerdt in the type ofdamage seen in testing.
To preclude any possibility of this situation, we are sending retrofit kits to all owners on record of potentially affected projectors. We've enclosed a sufficient number of kits to retrofit the 660 projectors your company owns. The ret very simple and is described in the instructions on the opposite side of this card.
We have informed NRC of this situation, and they fully suppon and agree with our actions.
Ifyou should have any questions, please feel free to call me at 1(800)815-1383 at extension 200, or Greg Field at ex 207.
Thank you in advance for your support, BillMcDaniel Operations Manager
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IN 96 53 SENTINEL October is. 1996 Page 4 of 4 660 RETROFIT Each kit consists of 2 rubber protector assemblies and 2 slotted binder head screws. Please install these components as follows:
a.) From the rear plate on your 660 Projector, remove and discard the two mbber protectors and Phillips head screws located above and below the locking slide.
b.) Attach the new rubber protector assemblies with the slotted binder head screws provided.
Please call us at (800) 815-1383, extension 2??, if you have any questions.
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Attachm:nt 2 IN 96 53
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October 15,1996 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No.
Subject issuance issued to 96 52 Cracked insertion Rods 09/26/96 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory on Troxler Model 3400 Commission portable gauge Series Portable Moisture licensees and vendors Density Gauges 96-51 Residual Contamination 09/11/96 All material licensees Remaining in Krypton-85
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Handling System After Venting 96-47 Recordkeeping, Decommis-08/19/96 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory sioning Notifications for Commission licensees Disposals of Radioactive Waste by Land Burial Authorized Under Former 10 CFR 20.304, 20.302, and Current 20.2002 96-35 Failure of Safety Systems 06/11/96 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory on Self-Shielded Irradia-Commission irradiator tors Because of Inadequate licensees and vendors Maintenance and Training 96-33 Erroneous Data from Defec-05/224/96 All material and fuel cycle tive Thermocouple Results licensees that monitor tem-in a Fire perature with thermocouples 96-28 Suggested Guidance Relat-05/01/96 All material and fuel cycle ing to Development and licensees implementation of Correc-tive Action
r IN 96-53 October 15,1996 Page 1 of 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No.
Subject issuance issued to 95-04, Excessive Cooldown 10/11/96 All holders of OLs or cps Supp.1 and Depressurization and vendors for nuclear of the Reactor Coolant power reactors System Following Loss of Offsite Power 96-40, Deficiencies in 10/07/96 All holders of OLs or cps Supp.1 Material Dedication for nuclear power reactors and Procurement Practices and in Audits of Vendors 96-52 Cracked insertion 09/26/96 All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Rods on Troxler Commission portable gauge Model 3400 Series licensees and vendors Portable Moisture Density Gauges 92-68, Potentially Sub-09/16/96 All holders of OLs or cps Supp.1 standard Slip-On, for nuclear power reactors Welding Neck, and Blind Flanges 96-51 Residual Contamina-09/11/96 All material licensees tion Remaining in Krypton-85 Handling System After Venting 96-50 Problems with 09/04/96 All holders of OLs and cps Levering in Devices for nuclear power plants in Westinghouse Circuit Breakers OL.= Operating License CP = Construction Permit l
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