WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) today released an update to its original August 2014 technical review on the failure of connectors and bolts used in critical equipment. The Quality Control Failure Incident Team (QC-FIT) Evaluation of Fastener Failures Addendum examines an additional June 2014 occurrence of fastener failure, comparing it to previous incidents and presenting additional findings and recommendations.
The report highlights the similarities of fastener failure incidents dating as far back as 2003, including not only the mechanical failures themselves, but also concerns with fastener hardness and coatings, the potential for environmentally-assisted corrosion, use of the most recent industry standards, and subcontracted vendor oversight issues. Based on the QC-FIT evaluation, the report makes recommendations for further technical studies, as well as a comprehensive industry review of standards related to fasteners and the possible incorporation of some existing industry standards into federal regulation.
For more information about these incidents, including the February 2, 2016 safety alert issued by BSEE, please see our consolidated research and response to the ongoing issue of connector and bolt failures, available at www.bsee.gov/bolts.
