Information Notice 2001-10, Failure of Central Sprinkler Company'S Model Gb Series Fire Sprinkler Heads

Failure of Central Sprinkler Company'S Model Gb Series Fire Sprinkler Heads

ML011790352
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/28/2001
From:	Leach M, Marsh L NRC/NMSS/FCSS/FCLB, Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
To:
References
IN-01-010
Download: ML011790352 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 June 28, 2001 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2001-10: FAILURE OF CENTRAL SPRINKLER COMPANY

MODEL GB SERIES FIRE SPRINKLER HEADS

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 warn

addressees that certain Model GB series sprinkler heads manufactured by Central Sprinkler

Co. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, have a potential for failure. 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 April 24, 2001, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) issued a news release on the failures

of field samples of certain Model GB series sprinkler heads during operational testing. UL

tested over 1800 GB series heads from over 100 different locations and found that 26 percent

of the sprinkler heads needed higher water pressure than the 5 psi required for UL listing.

Seven percent needed over 40 psi to operate and some did not operate at 60 psi. This is of

great concern because the sprinkler systems are relied upon to protect structures, systems, or

components important to safety against fire.

The sprinkler heads have O-ring water seals and were introduced in 1988. The following

models are of concern: GB, GB-ALPHA, GB-J, GB-QR, GB-EC, GB-RS, GB-20, GB-20QR,

GBR, GB-R1, GB-R2, GBR-LF, GB4, GB4-EC, GB4-FR, GB4-QREC, BB1, BB2, BB3, SD1, SD2, SD3, HIP, ROC, LF, and WS. Because of design changes, some of these models may

have O-ring water seals and some may have disc spring water seals. Only the sprinkler head

models with the O ring seal are of concern, not the models with the disc spring water seals.

ULs Web site at: www.ul.com/about/newsrel/nr042401.html has pictures and descriptions of

the water seals of different models.

Licensees who have GB series sprinkler heads installed in their facility may consider having

some of the heads tested. UL will test heads submitted at no additional cost beyond the

expense of removal, packaging, handling, and postage. Instructions for selecting, removing, and packaging the heads can be obtained from Central Sprinkling Co. at 1-800-523-6512.

Related Generic Communications

! IN 99-28, Recall of Star Brand Fire Protection Sprinkler Heads, September 30, 1999

! IN 97-72, Potential for Failure of the Omega Series Sprinkler Heads, September 22,

1997 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 the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) or Office of Nuclear

Material and Safeguards (NMSS) project manager.

/RA/J. Tappert for /RA/L. Roche for

Ledyard B. Marsh, Chief Melvyn N. Leach, Acting Chief

Events Assessment, Generic Communications Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch

and Non-Power Reactors Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety

Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs and Safeguards

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Paul Lain Peter Lee

NRR/DSSA/SPLB NMSS/FCSS/FCLB

(301) 415-2346 (301) 415-8111 E-Mail: pwl@nrc.gov E-mail: psl1@nrc.gov

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

ML011790352 OFFICE REXB: Tech Editor DSSA: NMSS NMSS NMSS

NAME CPetrone* PKleene* PLain EWeiss PLee LRoche

DATE 06/07/2001 06/13/2001 6/25/2001 6/28/2001 6/272001 6/272001 NMSS REXB C:REXB

MLeach JTappert LMarsh

6/28/2001 6/282001 6/28/2001

Attachment 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

______________________________________________________________________________________

2001-09 Main Feedwater System 06/12/01 All holders of operating licenses

Degradation in Safety-Related for pressurized water nuclear

ASME Code Class 2 Piping power reactors, except those who

Inside the Containment of a have permanently ceased

Pressurized Water Reactor operations and have certified that

fuel has been permanently

removed from the reactor vessel

2001-08 Update on the Investigation of 06/06/01 All Medical Licensees

Supplement 1 Patient Deaths in Panama, Following Radiation Therapy

Overexposures

2001-08 Treatment Planning System 06/01/01 All medical licensees

Errors Result in Deaths of

Overseas Radiation Therapy

Patients

2001-07 Unescorted Access Granted 05/11/01 All holders of nuclear reactor

Based on Incomplete and/or operating licenses who are

Inaccurate Information subject to Section 73.56 of Title

10, of the Code of Federal

Regulations (10 CFR 73.56),

Personnel Access Authorization

Requirements of Nuclear Power

Plants.

2001-06 Centrifugal Charging Pump 05/11/01 All holders of operating licenses

Thrust Bearing Damage not for nuclear power reactors, Detected Due to Inadequate except those who have

Assessment of Oil Analysis permanently ceased operations

Results and Selection of Pump and have certified that fuel has

Surveillance Points been permanently removed from

the reactor vessel

2001-05 Through-Wall Circumferential 04/30/01 All holders of operating licenses

Cracking of Reactor Pressure for pressurized water nuclear

Vessel Head Control Rod Drive power reactors except those who

Mechanism Penetration have ceased operations and have

Nozzles at Oconee Nuclear certified that fuel has been

Station, Unit 3 permanently removed from the

reactor vessel

______________________________________________________________________________________

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

Attachment 2 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

_____________________________________________________________________________________

2001-08, Update on the Investigation of 06/06/01 All medical licensees.

Supplement 1 Patient Deaths in Panama, Following Radiation Therapy

Overexposures

2001-08 Treatment Planning System 06/01/01 All medical licensees.

Errors Result in Deaths of

Overseas Radiation Therapy

Patients

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