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 N, Marsh L B NRC/NMSS/FCSS/FCLB, Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs
To:
References
IN-01-010
Download: ML011790352 (7)

UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATIONWashington, D.C. 20555-0001June 28, 2001NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2001-10:FAILURE OF CENTRAL SPRINKLER COMPANYMODEL 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 warnaddressees 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 followingmodels 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.

UL's Web site at: www.ul.com/about/newsrel/nr042401.html has pictures and descriptions ofthe water seals of different models.Licensees who have GB series sprinkler heads installed in their facility may consider havingsome 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, 1997This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have anyquestions 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 forLedyard B. Marsh, ChiefMelvyn N. Leach, Acting ChiefEvents Assessment, Generic CommunicationsFuel Cycle Licensing Branch

and Non-Power Reactors BranchDivision of Fuel Cycle Safety

Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs and Safeguards

Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationOffice of Nuclear Material Safety and SafeguardsTechnical Contacts:Paul LainPeter LeeNRR/DSSA/SPLBNMSS/FCSS/FCLB

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

Attachments:1.List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

2.List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

ML011790352OFFICEREXB:Tech EditorDSSA:NMSSNMSSNMSSNAMECPetrone*PKleene*PLainEWeissPLeeLRocheDATE06/07/200106/13/2001 6/25/2001 6/28/2001 6/272001 6/272001NMSSREXBC:REXBMLeachJTappertLMarsh 6/28/2001 6/282001 6/28/2001

______________________________________________________________________________________OL = Operating License

CP = Construction PermitAttachment 1 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDNRC INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________InformationDate of

Notice No. SubjectIssuanceIssued to

______________________________________________________________________________________2001-09Main Feedwater SystemDegradation in Safety-Related

ASME Code Class 2 Piping

Inside the Containment of a

Pressurized Water Reactor06/12/01All holders of operating licensesfor pressurized water nuclear

power reactors, except those who

have permanently ceased

operations and have certified that

fuel has been permanently

removed from the reactor vessel2001-08Supplement 1Update on the Investigation ofPatient Deaths in Panama,

Following Radiation Therapy

Overexposures06/06/01All Medical Licensees2001-08Treatment Planning SystemErrors Result in Deaths of

Overseas Radiation Therapy

Patients06/01/01All medical licensees2001-07Unescorted Access GrantedBased on Incomplete and/or

Inaccurate Information05/11/01All holders of nuclear reactoroperating licenses who are

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."2001-06Centrifugal Charging PumpThrust Bearing Damage not

Detected Due to Inadequate

Assessment of Oil Analysis

Results and Selection of Pump

Surveillance Points05/11/01All holders of operating licensesfor nuclear power reactors, except those who have

permanently ceased operations

and have certified that fuel has

been permanently removed from

the reactor vessel2001-05Through-Wall CircumferentialCracking of Reactor Pressure

Vessel Head Control Rod Drive

Mechanism Penetration

Nozzles at Oconee Nuclear

Station, Unit 304/30/01All holders of operating licensesfor pressurized water nuclear

power reactors except those who

have ceased operations and have

certified that fuel has been

permanently removed from the

reactor vessel

Attachment 2 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDNMSS INFORMATION NOTICES

_____________________________________________________________________________________InformationDate of

Notice No. SubjectIssuanceIssued to

_____________________________________________________________________________________2001-08, Supplement 1Update on the Investigation ofPatient Deaths in Panama,

Following Radiation Therapy

Overexposures06/06/01All medical licensees.2001-08Treatment Planning SystemErrors Result in Deaths of

Overseas Radiation Therapy

Patients06/01/01All medical licensees.2001-03Incident ReportingRequirements for Radiography

Licensees04/06/01All industrial radiography

licensees.2001-01The Importance of AccurateInventory Controls to Prevent

the Unauthorized Possession

of Radioactive Material03/26/01All material licensees.2000-22Medical MisadministrationsCaused by Human Errors

Involving Gamma Stereotactic

Radiosurgery (GAMMA KNIFE)12/18/00All medical use licenseesauthorized to conduct gamma

stereotactic radiosurgery

treatments.2000-19Implementation of Human UseResearch Protocols Involving

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission Regulated

Materials12/05/2000All medical use licensees.2000-18Substandard Material Suppliedby Chicago Bullet Proof

Systems11/29/2000All 10 CFR Part 50 licensees andapplicants.

All category 1 fuel facilities.

All 10 CFR Part 72 licensees and

applicants.2000-16Potential Hazards Due toVolatilization of Radionuclides10/5/2000All licensees that processunsealed byproduct material.2000-15Recent Events Resulting inWhole Body Exposures

Exceeding Regulatory Limits9/29/2000All radiography licensees.