View source for Information Notice 1986-24, Respirator Users Notice: Increased Inspection Frequency for Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders

{{Adams
| number = ML031220647
| issue date = 04/11/1986
| title = Respirator Users Notice: Increased Inspection Frequency for Certain Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Air Cylinders
| author name = Jordan E
| author affiliation = NRC/IE
| addressee name = 
| addressee affiliation = 
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| license number = 
| contact person = 
| document report number = IN-86-024, NUDOCS 8604090446
| document type = NRC Information Notice
| page count = 5
}}
{{#Wiki_filter:SSINS No.: 6835 unfu                     IN 86-24 UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 April 11, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-24:   RESPIRATOR USERS NOTICE: INCREASED INSPECTION

FREQUENCY FOR CERTAIN SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING

APPARATUS AIR CYLINDERS

==Addressees==
:
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a

construction permit (CP), research and test reactor facilities, fuel cycle

licensees and Priority 1 material licensees.

==Purpose==
:
This r.otice is to alert licensees of a recent Respirator Users Notice issued by

the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the

Department of Health and Human Services. The NIOSH notice recommends an

increased inspection frequency for fiberglass-wrapped aluminum air cylinders

used for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). These cylinders (both hoop

and fully wrapped) may develop neck cracks, leading to greater than normal loss

of air while in storage or use. 'This unexpected loss of air (and reduction of

rated service time) could lead to reduced worker safety and less effective

emergency response. The Users Notice applies to all 4500- and 2216-psi rated

fiberglass cylinders manufactured under Department of Transportation (DOT)
exemptions DOT-E 7235 and DOT-E 8059.

This IE notice updates information previously provided in IE Information

Notices 83-68, 84-34, and 85-48, which covered only the cracking problems with

the high pressure, 4500-psi hoop-wrapped cylinders. It is expected that

licensees will review the information for applicability to their facilities and

consider actions, if appropriate, to upgrade their SCBA cylinder inspection

program. However, suggestions contained in this notice do not constitute NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific action or response is required.

==Description of Circumstances==
:
On January 17, 1986 NIOSH issued a Respirator Users Notice recommending that

certain SCBA fiberglass-wrapped air cylinders be inspected at least weekly to

ensure that these cylinders maintain required air pressure when stored in a

ready-to-use status. For cylinders used on a daily basis, NIOSH recommends

cylinder air pressure be checked daily and before each use. Because SCBA use

(other than for training) dt nuclear facilities is infrequent relative to

commercial firefighting, the NRC staff and NIOSH currently agree that a weekly

8604090446

IN86-24 April 1', ]986 inspection frequency would be a proper NPC-licensee response to the NIOSH

recommendations. In any case, adequately trained and qualified SCBA users

check for proper respirator function (including cylirder pressure) before each

use. Licensees now typically inspect SCBA units at least once a month in

accordance with the guidance in NUREG-0041, "Manual of Respiratory Protection

Against Radioactive Materials" (Chapter 9, Section 9.2).

The NIOSH recommendations apply only to the fiberglass-wrapped aluminum cylin- ders (includes 2216 and 4500 psi) manufactured under DOT exemptions DOT-E 7235 dnd DOT-E 8059. DOT-E 7235 hoop-wrapped cylinders are manufactured by Luxfer

USA Limited (Luxfer) and Acurex Aeortherm manufactures the DOT-E 8059 fully-wrapped cylinders. According to DOT, Acurex uses aluminum cylinder

liners supplied by Luxfer.

NIOSH reported that the 'cracks have been found by visual inspection during the

DOT-required, periodic hydrostatic testinc. To better characterize the extent

of the cracking problem and to assess necessity for further action, NIOSH

requests that all users test suspected leaking cylinders and report certain

test data to the SCBA manufacturer and to DOT. In the general interest of

safety for workers and maintaining an adequate emergency response capability, licensees may wish to share this information with other potential users, such

as local fire departments, along with checking their own cylinders.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional           -
Administrator of the appropriate regional office or this office.

Edwarqjf. Jordan, Director

Divis    of Emergency Preparedness

and Engineering Response

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

Technical Contacts:    James E. Wiqginton, IE

(301) 492-4961 Roger L. Pedersen, IE

(301) 492-9475 Attachments:
1. NIOSH Respirator Users Notice (January 17, 1986)
2. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

Public Health Service

DEPARTMNENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control

National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health - ALOSH

-  H944                Chestnut Ridge Road

Morgantown, WV 26505 January 17,        1986                              Attachment

-
                               RESPIRATOR USERS NOTICE                                  Apri 11, 1936 Inspection of Certain Aluminum Cylinders for Breathing-gas Pressure

The light weight and high charging pressure of aluminum cylinders have

breaching

resulted in their widespread acceptance and use with self-contained

apparatus (SCBA). The     National   Institute      for   Occupational     Safety      and    Health

(NIOSH) estimates   that  more  than  half    of  the    SCBA   of  30-  and  60-minute

duration in regular use today are equipped with aluminum cylinders.

Since first receiving reports of defective fiber-glass wrapped aluminum

cylinders in 1983, NIOSH has advised users of potential hazards associated

time, with use of certain fiber-glass wrapped aluminum cylinders. At this

of    this    NOTICE

NIOSH believes there is sufficient evidence to warrant issuance

regarding inspection of fiber-glass wrapped aluminum cylinders.

The presently available evidence indicates that fiber-glass wrapped aluminum

cylinders manufactured under Department of Transportation (DOT) exemptions

DOT-E 7235 and DOT-E 8059 (including 2216 and 4500 psi) may, upon aging, This

develop neck cracks and may leak breathing gas during storage and use.

may result in significant loss of breathing gas               from   an unattended        cylinder.

user.

If undetected, this loss of breathing gas could be dangerous to the

Based on this, NIOSH recommends that where SCBA are equipped with fiber-glass

at

wrapped aluminum cylinders, inspection for cylinder pressure should be made

least weekly, for stored units. When used on a               daily   basis,    as   in    fire

use.

fighting, cylinder pressure should be checked daily and immediately before

as

If a leak is suspected, the cylinder and cylinder valve should be tested

Standard,      Z88.5-1981,      Practices      for

prescribed in American National

Respiratory Protection for the Fire Service, Section 6.2.4.2.

in

Leaks in cylinders should be reported to the SCBA manufacturer who will, turn report them  to  the  cylinder   manufacturer.           The  numbers   and    charging

Art Mallen, pressures of leaking cylinders should also be reported to DOT (Mr.

Materials,    400    7th   St.   SW,   Washington,     DC    20590)     and

DOT Office of Hazardous

letter).

to NIOSH (Mr. John Moran at the address shown at the top of this

DOT-E

Aluminum cylinders used with SCBA, with exemption numbers other than

self

7235 and DOT-E 8059 are not covered in this notice. Self-contained

rescuers  used in mines   are also   not   included.

lM1ORE

EU

Attachment I

IN 86-24 April 11, 1986 R E M IN D E R

January 17, 1986 Manufacturers of MSHA/NIOSH-approved SCBA

Incorporating DOT-E 7235 4500 Fiber-glass Wrapped Aluminum Cylinders

The following manufacturers incorporate DOT-E 7235 4500 cylinders

MSHA/NIOSH-approved SCBA:                                             in their

o Bendix                         o Siebe Gorman

o Clifton Precision              o Scott

o Draeger                        o U.S.D.   (SurvivAir)
DOT-E 7235 4500 cylinders must be retrofitted by Luxfer (Telephone:
714-684-5110) with steel neck rings, to prevent explosive rupture.

DOT

regulations prohibit charging of any DOT-E 7235 4500 cylinder

that has not

been fitted with a steel neck ring. Any apparatus utilizing a

DOT-E 7235 4500
cylinder without a neck ring, is considered unapproved by MSHA/NIOSH.

Change in Address of Manufacturer's Contact

The following address change has been reported to NIOSH for manufacturer's

personnel who are responsible for handling reports of problems with

MSHA/NIOSH-approved respirators:
Clifton Precision:   New Address:    750 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA

19064-4084 Contact:       Mr. Martin Ziegler

John B. Moran

Director, Division of Safety Research

Attachment 2 IN 86-24 April 11,  1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

===Information                                  Date of===
Notice No.     Subject                        Issue   Issued to

86-23          Excessive Skin Exposures Due  4/9/86   All power reactor

To Contamination With Hot              facilities holding

Particles                              an OL or CP

86- 22         Underresponse Of Radition     3/31/86  All power reactor

Survey Instrument To High              facilities holding

Radiation Fields                       an OL or CP and

research and test

reactors

86-21          Recognition Of American       3/31/86  All power reactor

Society Of Mechanical                  facilities holding

Engineers Accreditation                an OL or CP and all

Program For N Stamp Holders            recipients of NUREG-
                                                      0040 (white book)
86-20          Low-Level Radioactive Waste    3/28/86 All power reactor

Scaling Factors, 10 CFR                facilities holding

Part 61                                an OL or CP

86-19          Reactor Coolant Pump Shaft     3/21/86 All power reactor

Failure At Crystal River               facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-18          NRC On-Scene Response During   3/26/86 All power reactor

A Major Emergency                      facilities holding

an OL or CP

86-17          Update Of Failure Of Auto-     3/24/86 All power reactor

matic Sprinkler System Valves          facilities holding

To Operate                             an OL or CP

86-16          Failures To Identify Contain- 3/11/86  All power reactor

ment Leakage Due To Inadequate         facilities holding

Local Testing Of BWR Vacuum            an OL or CP

Relief System Valves

86-15          Loss Of Offsite Power Caused   3/10/86 All power reactor

By Problems In Fiber Optics            facilities holding

Systems                                an OL or CP

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit}}

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