Norfolk (Va.) Fire-Rescue has notified the International Association of Fire Chiefs of problems with the Mine Safety Appliances ICM 2000+ integrated personal alert safety system devices, according to ICHIEFS reports.

The fire department, which currently is working closely with MSA on the issue, has been experiencing water-tight housing leakage and analog gauges becoming loose. The fire department also reports that the units go into full alert during normal, routine and expected use.

Norfolk is concerned that repeated failures of the PASS device may result in firefighters becoming desensitized to the potentially life-saving alarm.

Similar problems have been reported in Carrollton, Texas, and Toronto. The Safety Equipment Institute has opened an investigation into the matter. The institute is the independent testing laboratory that has certified the MSA PASS devices to meet NFPA standards.

Anyone who has experienced problems with the ICM 2000+ PASS device is asked to document the incidents in writing. Reports should be faxed to Steve Sanders, SEI, at 703-442-5756, or to Chuck Seibel, MSA Manager of Product Safety, at 412-967-3309. To alert MSA via e-mail, write to <<a href="mailto:info@msanet.com" target="_blank">info@msanet.com>, with subject: Product Alerts. ICHIEFS requests that copies of reports also be sent via fax to 703-273-9363.