ML20261H320

UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS 

WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 

November 05, 2020 

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2020-03: RECALL OF MECHANICAL RATE OF RISE AND 

FIXED-TEMPERATURE HEAT DETECTORS 

ADDRESSEES

All holders of an operating license or construction permit for a nuclear power reactor under 

Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, “Domestic licensing of production 

and utilization facilities,” including those that have permanently ceased operations and have 

spent fuel in storage in the spent fuel pool. 

All holders of an operating license or construction permit for a nonpower reactor (research 

reactor, test reactor, or critical assembly) under 10 CFR Part 50, including those that have 

permanently ceased operations and have spent fuel in storage at their facility.

All holders of and applicants for a power reactor early site permit, combined license, standard 

design certification, standard design approval, or manufacturing license under 10 CFR Part 52, 

“Licenses, certifications, and approvals for nuclear power plants.” 

All holders of and applicants for possession and use of byproduct material license 10 CFR Part 

36, “Licenses and radiation safety requirements for irradiators.” 

All holders of, or applicants for, a fuel facility license under 10 CFR Part 40, “Domestic licensing 

of source material.” 

All holders of or applicants for a fuel cycle facility license under 10 CFR Part 70, “Domestic 

licensing of special nuclear material.” 

PURPOSE

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice (IN) to alert 

licensees about a recent fire protection equipment recall by the Edwards Fire Safety Company. 

The staff expects that recipients of this IN will review the information for applicability to their 

facilities and consider taking actions as appropriate. However, suggestions contained in this IN 

are not NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. 

DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, the Edwards 

Fire Safety Company recalled approximately 85,000 of its 280-Series, mechanical, 

135-degrees-Fahrenheit rate of rise and fixed-temperature heat detectors sold nationwide 

between January 1979 and May 2018. The recalled heat detectors may fail to activate in 

response to rising temperatures when a fire is present, which means they may fail to activate 

fire alarms or a fire extinguishing system. 
IN 2020-03 

Page 2 of 3 

The official CPSC recall notice is available online at 

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/edwards-recalls-mechanical-heat-detectors-due-to-failureto-alert-to-fire. 

BACKGROUND 

NRC regulations require nuclear facilities to have a fire protection program to assure public 

health and safety. These programs describe features necessary for fire protection, such as fire 

prevention, detection, and suppression. The purpose of the fire protection program is to 

minimize the probability and effects of fires. 

Fire-protection equipment reliability and performance capabilities are a primary feature of 

defense in depth an must be maintained to achieve effectiveness in preventing fire damage to 

structures, systems, and components. The recalled fire protection equipment discussed in this 

IN may not be able to perform its intended function. 

DISCUSSION

The NRC is currently unaware of any issues at licensed facilities involving the recalled heat 

detectors. The NRC is using this IN to heighten awareness and inform licensees of this 

potential issue. 

Recalled fire protection equipment such as the heat detectors listed above, if used in a nuclear 

facility, may prevent or inhibit fire protection measures that are important to worker, facility, and 

public safety. 

CONTACT 

This IN does not require any specific action or written response. Please direct any questions 

about this matter to the technical contacts listed below or to the appropriate NRC project 

manager. 

/RA/ /RA/ 

Christopher G. Miller, Director Kevin Williams, Director 

Division of Reactor Oversight Division of Materials Safety, Security, 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation State, and Tribal Programs 

Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

Technical Contacts: 

Robert Vettori, NRR James Downs, NMSS 

301-415-3366 301-415-7744 

E-mail: Robert.Vettori@nrc.gov E-mail: James.Downs@nrc.gov 

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC public Web site, 

https://www.nrc.gov, under NRC Library. 

 
IN 2020-03 

Page 3 of 3 

NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2020-03, “RECALL OF MECHANICAL RATE OF RISE AND 

FIXED-TEMPERATURE HEAT DETECTORS,” DATE: November 5, 2020 

ADAMS Accession No.: ML20261H320 *via e-mail EPIDS No. L-2020-GEN-0008 

OFFICE Author QTE NRR/DRO/IOEB/PM 

NAME RVettori* JDougherty* BBenney 

DATE 9/16/20 9/18/20 9/29/20 

OFFICE NRR/DRA/APLB/BC(Acting) NRR/DRO/LA NRR/DRO/IOEB/BC 

NAME JBorromeo IBetts LRegner 

DATE 11/2/20 10/1/20 10/14/20 

OFFICE NMSS/DFM NMSS/MSST NRR/DRO/D 

NAME AKock* KWilliams* CMiller (RFlts for)* 

DATE 9/23/20 9/24/20 11/5/2020 

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY