Information Notice 1992-24, Distributor Modification to Certain Commercial-Grade Agastat Electrical Relays
{{#Wiki_filter:UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
March 30, 1992
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 92-24:
DISTRIBUTOR MODIFICATION TO CERTAIN
COMMERCIAL-GRADE AGASTAT ELECTRICAL RELAYS
Addressees
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice
to alert addressees to part modifications and serial number changes that
authorized distributors (ADs) have made to commercial-grade Agastat Series 7000 electrical relays. These alterations may affect the subsequent dedication of
the relays for safety-related use.
It is expected that recipients will
review the information for applicability to their facilities and consider
actions, as appropriate.
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 22, 1991, after being informed by Spectrum Technologies USA, Incorpo- rated, (Spectrum) that nameplate labels for Agastat Series 7000 relays could
have been altered, the NRC staff performed a review of the manufacture and
distribution of those relays. Agastat relays are manufactured by the Amerace
Corporation (Amerace), Livingston, New Jersey, and its commercial-grade relays
are distributed by its authorized distributors. In early 1991, Spectrum
ordered six Agastat Model 7032 PBB commercial-grade relays from the
Westinghouse Electric Supply Company (WESCO).
Spectrum specified in the
purchase order that the relays be traceable to the manufacturer Amerace and
that the relays be from the same lot and date code. Spectrum included these
requirements because Spectrum intended to dedicate the relays for safety- related use.
WESCO ordered the relays from an authorized Amerace distributor, Control Components Supply (CCS), Short Hills, New Jersey.
However, the relays
did not have the required traceability to Amerace because of modifications
that CCS made to the relays, and because of changes CCS made to the serial
number nameplates the relays may not have been from the same production lot.
Amerace representatives have told the NRC that its authorized distributors are
allowed to modify its commercial-grade relays to comply with a customer's
specific requirements. Those modifications may include changing the electrical
920323014 f
A
I. S7/Af_.//
- A.N92-24 March 30, 1992 coil module for different voltage level applications, adding or changing the
electrical contact assembly module, or changing the time duration disc and
wafer.
Amerace personnel have also told the NRC that
(1) The first four digits of the serial number indicate the year and week of
manufacture. The next four digits in the serial number designate the
sequential order of relay assembly for a particular week. For example, Agastat Model 7012 PC, serial number (S/N) 91161875, was the 1,875th relay
to be assembled the 16th week of 1991 at the Amerace Corporation, Livingston, New Jersey facility. Amerace used similar marking systems for
its subassembly coil and contact modules.
(2) When an AD modifies a commercial-grade 7000 series relay, the AD should
install a new nameplate label with the original S/N containing an
"F" prefix.
For example, an AD could change the contact and coil modules
appropriately in the above Model 7012 PC relay and yield a Model 7014 QE
relay.
However, the S/N on the nameplate should be changed to F91161875.
The F designator would indicate that the relay had been "field'! modified.
The NRC staff determined that Amerace did not contractually state this
policy to its ADs (see NRC Inspection Report No. 99900296/91-01).
After
the NRC performed its review, Amerace issued a notification letter to its
ADs stating this policy. Attachment 1 is a copy of the Amerace notifica- tion letter.
(3) Before performing the final calibration, test, and acceptance of the
7000 series relays, Amerace heat stabilizes each relay by maintaining it
"at a specific temperature for 4 hours. This heat stabilization mates the
timing disc with the ceramic timing wafer to prevent timing drift and to
ensure repeat accuracy. The process also stress-relieves the nonmetallic
parts. Amerace requires that its 7000 series relays be stabilized again
--after they are modified such as-by changing the timing disc. To comply
with the Agastat model number that was ordered, CCS changed the timing
discs of the six relays that were supplied to Spectrum.
However, the
staff found no evidence that the relays had been restabilized.
Discussion
FromOctober 1991 through January 1992, the NRC staff conducted several meet- ings with representatives of Amerace and CCS.
The NRC staff found that, when
CCS modifies an Agastat 7000 Series relay, CCS typically removes the Amerace
installed label, assigns the relay a new number, types the new serial number
and other relevant information on a blank label, and affixes the new label to
the modified relay.
However, the blank labels that the NRC staff observed at
the CCS facility do not contain the F prefix to indicate that the 7000 Series
Agastat relays were modified.
The NRC staff found that CCS had disassembled, modified, and reassembled the six relays discussed herein.
However, the labels
affixed by CCS did not contain the required F prefix, and the labels did not
contain the original Amerace serial number.
CCS had assigned new serial
numbers which indicated that the relays were manufactured in 1991 to reflect
IN 92-24 March 30, 1992 that the relays had been modified by CCS in 1991.
However, Amerace personnel
informed the NRC that the six relays had been manufactured in 1989.
The NRC also found that CCS does not heat stabilize the 7000 Series Agastat
relays that it modifies, although Amerace has stated that the heat stabilization
treatment is necessary on modified 7000 series relays to ensure repeat accuracy
and to relieve the stress to nonmetallic parts. The NRC staff reviewed
CCS's customer list and found that the list contained the names of 25 NRC
nuclear power plant licensees and several other Amerace ADs.
This information suggests that consecutive serial numbers on commercial-grade
Agastat relays, obtained through an authorized distributor, may not ensure
traceability to a particular production lot.
Amerace has stated that its ADs
do not heat stabilize the 7000 series relays after they are modified. *As
discussed in NRC Inspection Report No. 99900296/91-01, Amerace told the NRC
that there are differences between its Class 1E qualified relays and its
commercial-grade 7000 series relays, such as design control, internal components, and the level of inspection that is applied. Similar differences may exist
between commercial-grade components and the safety-related product line of
other manufacturers. The availability of a safety-related product line is
often an indicator of substantive differences from the commercial-grade product.
In any case, it is important that information relied on when upgrading com- mercial-grade components for use in safety-related applications be supported by
objective evidence of quality to support the suitability of use of the component.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the
technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Char~les E. Rossi
Erector
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contact:
Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1. Amerace Letter on Field Modifications of Agastat Relays
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
ttachment 2 IN 92-24
March 30, 1992 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC -INFORMATION NOTICES
Information
Date of
Notice No.
Subject
Issuance
Issued to
92-23 92-22 92-21 92-20 92-19 92-18 92-17 92-16 92-15 Results of Validation Test- ing of Motor-Operated Valve
Diagnostic Equipment
Criminal Prosecution and
Conviction of Wrongdoing
Committed by A Commercial-
Grade Valve Supplier
Spent Fuel Pool Reactivity
Calculations
Inadequate Local Leak Rate
Testing
Misapplication of Potter &
Brumfield MDR Rotary Relays
Potential for Loss of Re- mote Shutdown Capability
during A Control Room Fire
NRC Inspections of Pro- grams being Developed at
Nuclear Power Plants in
Response to Generic
Letter 89-10
Loss of Flow from the
Residual Heat Removal
Pump during Refueling
Cavity Draindown
Failure of Primary System
Compression Fitting
03/27/92 03/24/92 03/24/92 03/03/92 03/02/92 02/28/92 02/26/92 02/25/92 02/24/92
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors
and all vendors of motor- operated valve (MOV) diag- nostic equipment.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All
for
holders of OLs or CPs
nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
92-1 Attachment 1 NO: IN 92-24 !
January 1992
March 30, 1992 DATE: PAGE NO: 1 01 1 Industrial
Controls
TO: FROM:
AUTHORIZED AGASTAT DISTRIBUTORS
MIKE BHOJWANI
SUBJECT: AGASTAT 7000 SERIES -
FIELD MODIFICATIONS
Occasionally, coils or switchblock assemblies on AGASTAT Series 7000 timers are changed in the field.
These field changes by our
authorized distributors are necessary to better service our end
customers. Instructions for changing coils, etc. are clearly defined
on Installation and Operation Data Sheet P/N 39999-03. Please ensure
the label P/N 38010-01 enclosed with the replacement kits is filled
out correctly to reflect the new catalog number.
Please note, the
serial number must be exactly the same as on the original unit except
the number will be prefixed by an "F" indicating field modifications
were made.
Non-adherence of this procedure will void all factory
warranties.
Mike R. Bhojwani
Senior Product/Market Manager
MRB:cip
cc:
Internal Distribution
" f INDUSTRIAE EtECTRiCAE l
o [
PRODUCTS
AMERACE
COPORATON
INDUSIAt EtECMRCA.
PrCOJCTS
533W MT PLEASWATAVENU
lMNGSTOR NJ 07039 (2011 992-8i00
IN 92-24 March 30, 1992 that the relays had been modified by CCS in 1991.
However, Amerace personnel
informed the NRC that the six relays had been manufactured in 1989.
The NRC also found that CCS does not heat stabilize the 7000 Series Agastat
relays that it modifies, although Amerace has stated that the heat stabilization
treatment is necessary on modified 7000 series relays to ensure repeat accuracy
and to relieve the stress to nonmetallic parts.
The NRC staff reviewed
CCS's customer list and found that the list contained the names of 25 NRC
nuclear power plant licensees and several other Amerace ADs.
This information suggests that consecutive serial numbers on commercial-grade
Agastat relays, obtained through an authorized distributor, may not ensure
traceability to a particular production lot. Amerace has stated that its ADs
do not heat stabilize the 7000 series relays after they are modified. As
discussed in NRC Inspection Report No. 99900296/91-01, Amerace told the NRC
that there are differences between its Class lE qualified relays and its
commercial-grade 7000 series relays, such as design control, internal components, and the level of inspection that is applied.
Similar differences may exist
between commercial-grade components and the safety-related product line of
other manufacturers. The availability of a safety-related product line is
often an indicator of substantive differences from the commercial-grade product.
In any case, it is important that information relied on when upgrading com- mercial-grade components for use in safety-related applications be supported by
objective evidence of quality to support the suitability of use of the component.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response.
If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the
technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contact: Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1. Amerace Letter on Field Modifications of Agastat Relays
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
D/D
- C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR*RPB:ADM
CE
( CHBerlinger
TechEd
03/ '2 03/13/92 03/04/92
- OGCB:DOEA:NRR*VIB:DRIS:NRR *SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
- C/VIB:DRIS:NRR *D/DRIS:NRR
JBirmingham
JPetrosino
UPotapovs
LNorrholm
BGrimes
03/10/92 02/19/92 02/20/92 02/24/92 02/26/92 DOCUMENT NAME: IN 92-24
IN 92-XX
March xx, 1992 The NRC also found that CCS does not heat stabilize the-7000 Series Agastat
relays that it modifies. Amerace has stated that the heat stabilization
treatment is necessary on modified 7000 series relays to ensure repeat accuracy
and to relieve the stress to nonmetallic parts. The NRC staff reviewed
CCS's customer list and found that the list contained the names of 25 NRC
nuclear power plant licensees and several other Amerace ADs.
This information suggests that consecutive serial numbers on commercial-grade
Agastat relays, obtained through an authorized distributor, may not ensure
traceability to a particular production lot. Amerace also stated that heat
restabilization of modified relays is important to stress relieve nonmetallic
parts and to ensure the repeat accuracy of the 7000 Series Agastat relays.
However, Amerace stated that its ADs do not heat stabilize the 7000 series
relays after they are modified. As discussed in NRC Inspection Report
No. 99900296/91-01, Amerace told the NRC that there are differences between its
Class 1E qualified relays and its commercial-grade 7000 series relays, such as
design control, internal components, and the level of inspection that is
applied.
Licensees are reminded that information relied on to upgrade compo- nents for use in safety-related applications must be supported by objective
evidence of quality to support the suitability of use of the component. The
NRC will examine closely the basis for using commercial-grade components in
safety-related applications, particularly when a safety-related product line is
available from the manufacturer.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please call the
technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contact: Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1. Amerace Letter on Field Modifications of Agastat Relays
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Document Name: AGASTAT IN
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
D/DOEA:NRR
C/OGCB:DOEA: tRPB:ADM
CERossi Add
CHBerlinger
TechEd
03/ /9Z-{ 03/)3/92 03/04/92
- OGCB:DOEA:NRR*VIB:DRIS:NRR *SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
- C/VIB:DRIS: R *D/DRIS:NRR
JBirmingham
JPetrosino
UPotapovs
LNorrholm
BGrimes
03/10/92 02/19/92 02/20/92 02/24/92 02/26/92
IN 92-XX
March xx, 1992 The NRC also found that CCS does not heat stabilize the 7000 Series Agastat
relays that it modifies. Amerace has stated that the heat stabilization
treatment is necessary on modified 7000 series relays to ensure repeat accuracy
and to relieve the stress to nonmetallic parts. The NRC staff reviewed CCS's
customer list and found that the list contained the names of 25 NRC nuclear
power plant licensees and several other Amerace ADs.
This information suggests that consecutive serial numbers on commercial-grade
Agastat relays, obtained through an authorized distributor, may not ensure
traceability to a particular production lot. Amerace also stated that heat
restabilization of modified relays is important to stress relieve nonmetallic
parts and to ensure the repeat accuracy of the 7000 Series Agastat relays.
However, Amerace stated that its ADs do not heat stabilize the 7000 series
relays after they are modified. Amerace told the NRC that there are differ- ences in the manufacturing processes for its Class lE qualified relays and its
commercial-grade 7000 series relays such as design control, internal com- ponents, and the level of inspection that is applied. Licensees are reminded
that information relied on to upgrade components for use in safety-related
applications must be supported by objective evidence of quality to support the
suitability of use of the component. The NRC will examine closely the basis
for using commercial-grade components in safety-related applications, particu- larly when a safety-related product line is available from the manufacturer.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please call the
technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contact: Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1. Amerace Letter on Field Modifications of Agastat Relays
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Document Name: AGASTAT IN
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
D/DOEA:NRR
C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR*RPB:ADM
CERossi
CHBerlinger
TechEd
03/ /92 03/ /92 03/04/92 OGCB:DOEA:NRR *VIB:DRIS:NRR *SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
- C/VIB:DRIS:NRR *D/DRIS:NRR
JBirmingham
JPetrosino
UPotapovs
LNorrholm
BGrimes
03//*/92 9It~ 02/19/92 02/20/92 02/24/92 02/26/92
"'Mod'e.
series relays after medificetiene Amerace told the NRC thatthere-a"re- C rc17gs 2re dik4mt is- -t:h
iffefffrees-betweefnits Class lE quali idl
commercial-grade 7000 series
relays. Licensees are reminded that information relied on to upgrade compo- nents for use in safety-related applications must be supported by objective
evidence of quality to support the suitability of use of the component. The
NRC will examine closely the basis for ! commercial-grade components in
safety-related applications, particularly when a safety-related product line is
available from the manufacturer.
This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please call the
technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical contact:
Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1. Amerace Letter on Field Modifications of Agastat Relays
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
Document Name: AGASTAT IN
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES
D/DOEA:NRR
C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR RPB:ADM
CERossi
CHBerlinger
TechEd 7Ma;nj9r
03/ /92 03/ /92 03/ L/92 OGCB:DOEA:NRR *VIB:DRIS:NRR *SC/VIB:DRIS:NRR
- C/VIB:DRIS:NRR *D/DRIS:NRR
JBirmingham
JPetrosino
UPotapovs
LNorrholm
BGrimes
03/ /92 02/19/92 02/20/92 02/24/92 02/26/92
IN 92-XX
February xx, 1992 This information notice requires no specifip action or written
response.
If
you have any questions about the information in
this
notice, please call
the technical contact listed
below or
the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events
Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact:
Joseph J.
Petrosino, NRR:DRIS
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1.
Amerace Letter
2.
List of Recently Issued NRC
Information Notices
OFF CfIAL RECORD COPY
DOCUMENT NAME: A:\\AGASTAT.IN:WP50 OFC: RIS-1:VIB
SC RIS-1:VIB
BC VIB:DRIS
NAME: JPetrosino
UPotapovs
LNorrholm
B
DATE: 2/19/92* 2/20/92* 2/24/92* 6,/92 OFC: BC OGCB:DOEA
DIR:DOEA
NAME: CBerlinger
CERossi
DATE: 2/ /92 2/ /92
- See previous concurrence
February XX, 1992 This information notice requires no specific action or written
response.
If you have any questions about the information in
this notice, please call the technical contact listed below or
the appropriate Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events
Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation
Technical Contact:
Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR:DRIS
(301) 504-2979 IC
AttachmentsW
1. Amerac& Letter
2. Listpf Recently Issued NRC
In~formation Notices
D, + ENT NAME: A:\\AGASTAT.IN:WP50 OFC: NAME: DATE: RIS-1:VIB
JPetrosino
2/19/92* SC RIS-1:VIB
UPotadovs
2/20/92* BC
IS
2/24'/9lm
2/2 492 DIR:DRIS
BGrimes
a< 2/ /92
- See previous concurrence
Technical Contact:
Joseph J. Petrosino, NRR:DRIS
(301) 504-2979 Attachments: 1.
Amerace Letter
2.
List of Recently Issued NRC
Information Notices
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DOCUMENT NAME: A:\\AGASTAT.IN:WP50 OFC: NAME: DATE: sino
I IS2-.
SC Fd-1:VIB
UPotadovs
2/ 2-Q/92 BC VIB:DRIS
LNorrholm
2/ /92 DIR:DRIS
BGrimes
2/ /92
IN 92-XX
January XX, 1992 DISTIMMON
VIB/DRIS R/F
Central Files
PDR
jpetrosino (2) UPotapovs
INorrholm
BKGrines
5atthews
BLetts
CBerlirner
I
I
OFC : RIS-1/VIB: SC:RIS-1/VIB
NME: JPetrosino: LPotapovs
DATE: /61L27/92
/ /92
- BC:VIB/MUIS
- INorrholm
/ /92
- DIRt:MIS:
OI/NRR :DDEP/NRR
- BEGrimes:
tetts : linger
/ /92: i/10/92 : / /92 kC1tQ Awdc(A
Dis<= ves
GSo~bl mvd k1 -,' i 19' oFCIAL MOM CPY
DO=ENI NNME: A: \\NOIICE.WP}}