Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 19, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-69: MOVABLE CONTACT FINGER BINDING IN HFA
RELAYS MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL ELECTRIC
(GE)
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to potential
problems resulting from binding of the movable contact fingers in HFA relays
manufactured by GE. It is expected that recipients will review the
information for applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as
appropriate, to avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in
this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, no
specific action or written response is required.
Description of Circumstances:
On August 12, 1988, GE submitted a written 10 CFR Part 21 notification to the
NRC concerning binding of the movable contact fingers in HFA relays. GE
stated that one user of HFA relays had reported difficulty making wipe and gap
settings on some of their HFA relays due to binding of a movable contact
finger in the phenolic support assembly. The root cause of the binding was
determined to be movable contacts that were manufactured wider than the
allowable tolerance. These wider contact arms may not float freely in the
slot provided in the phenolic support. GE also stated that the binding of a
movable contact arm could inter-fere with the relay contact wipe, and that
proper contact wipe is necessary to maintain correct operation and seismic
rating of the relay. In addition, GE recommended that all HFA relays having a
date code prior to WC (September, 1988) be checked to determine if a movable
contact finger binding condition exists.
A copy of the GE 10 CFR Part 21 notification is provided as Attachment 1.
The primary purpose of this information notice is to promptly alert addressees
of this situation. Addressees may wish to promptly contact GE concerning ad-
ditional details related to the potential for HFA relays not performing their
intended function. The NRC staff is continuing to review this situation. Ad-
ditional regulatory action will be taken, if appropriate, upon completion of
the staff's review.
8808190195
. IN 88-69
August 19, 1988
Page 2 of 2
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the
technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the
appropriate regional office.
Charles E. Rossi, Director
Division of Operational Events Assessment
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contacts: Ray Scholl, NRR
(301) 492-1171
Jack Ramsey, NRR
(301) 492-1167
Attachments:
1. GE 10 CFR Part 21 Notification dated August 12, 1988
2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment 2
IN 88-69
August 19, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
88-48, Licensee Report of Defective 8/24/88 All holders of OLs
Supplement 1 Refurbished Valves or CPs for nuclear
power reactors.
88-68 Setpoint Testing of Pres- 8/22/88 All holders of OLs
surizer Safety Valves with or CPs for nuclear
Filled Loop Seals Using power reactors.
Hydraulic Assist Devices
88-67 PWR Auxiliary Feedwater Pump 8/22/88 All holders of OLs
Turbine Overspeed Trip or CPs for nuclear
Failure power reactors.
88-66 Industrial Radiography 8/22/88 All NRC industrial
Inspection and Enforcement radiography
licensees.
88-65 Inadvertent Drainages of 8/18/88 All holders of OLs
Spent Fuel Pools or CPs for nuclear
power reactors and
fuel storage
facilities.
88-64 Reporting Fires in Nuclear 8/18/88 All holders of OLs
Process Systems at Nuclear or CPs for nuclear
Power Plants power reactors.
88-63 High Radiation Hazards 8/15/88 All holders of OLs
from Irradiated Incore or CPs for nuclear
Detectors and Cables power reactors,
research reactors
and test reactors.
88-62 Recent Findings Concerning 8/12/88 All holders of NRC
Implementation of Quality quality assurance
Assurance Programs by program approval
Suppliers of Transport for radioactive
Packages material packages.
88-61 Control Room Habitability - 8/11/88 All holders of OLs
Recent Reviews of Operating or CPs for nuclear
Experience power reactors.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
