Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 18, 1988
Information Notice No. 88-64: REPORTING FIRES IN NUCLEAR PROCESS
SYSTEMS AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to the
importance of prompt reporting to the NRC of fires in nuclear process systems
at nuclear power plants. These incidents involve ignition, detonation, burns,
combustion, explosion, and the like, of solid, liquid, or gaseous material in
safety and nonsafety related nuclear process systems. 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 February 27, 1988, a fire lasting more than ten minutes occurred in the
off-gas system charcoal beds at Grand Gulf while the plant was at 100 percent
power. A hydrogen detonation caused the fire. The charcoal beds were
isolated and power was reduced to 55 percent to reduce off-gas radiation
release levels, although no radioactive materials were released as a result of
this fire. A nitrogen purge was used to extinguish the fire.
On June 20, 1986, a test of the temperature reducing capability of the non-
safety related off-gas vault refrigeration system was performed at the Perry
plant. External radiant space heaters were used to raise the temperatures of
the charcoal bed vessel and equipment. Dry instrument air was blown through
the charcoal beds to simulate system gas flow. The test was stopped when the
charcoal beds caught fire. A nitrogen purge of the charcoal beds was used to
extinguish the fire. The test resumed on July 6, 1986. The charcoal beds
again caught fire, and the test was stopped. A nitrogen purge was again used
to extinguish the fire. No radioactive releases resulted from either fire.
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August 18, 1988
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Discussion:
For each of the fires at the Perry plant, the licensee declared an Unusual
Event and notified the NRC Operations Center. However, the fire at Grand Gulf
was not reported to the NRC Operations Center, because Grand Gulf defines an
unusual event as a fire lasting more than ten minutes in a safety related
area.
Various NRC documents refer to fires that should be reported to the NRC
Operations Center. NUREG-0654, Revision 1, "Criteria for Preparation and
Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in
Support of Nuclear Power Plants," lists a fire within the plant lasting more
than 10 minutes as an example of a condition that would require notifying the
NRC of an Unusual Event. Accordingly, fire in a process system lasting more
than 10 minutes would be an adequate criterion for declaring an Unusual Event
in accordance with the Emergency Plans of most licensees.
NUREG-1022, "Licensee Event Report System," and Supplement No. 1 thereto
provide information and guidance on notifying the NRC Operations Center per 10
CFR 50.72 and on preparing licensee event reports per 10 CFR 50.73. These
documents contain examples of potentially reportable events, several of which
deal with various aspects of fires.
It is important that recipients notify the NRC Operations Center of events in-
volving fires in nuclear process systems at nuclear power plants in a timely
manner. Timely reporting of events ensures that the NRC can properly respond,
including alerting or informing other governmental agencies of the potential
or resultant consequences, as appropriate.
No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical
contact 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 Contact: Richard J. Jolliffe, AEOD
(301) 492-7159
Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
. Attachment
IN 88-64
August 18, 1988
Page 1 of 1
LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC INFORMATION NOTICES
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information Date of
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________
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.
88-60 Inadequate Design and 8/11/88 All holders of OLs
Installation of Watertight or CPs for nuclear
Penetration Seals power reactors.
88-04, Inadequate Qualification 8/9/88 All holders of OLs
Supplement 1 and Documentation of Fire or CPs for nuclear
Barrier Penetration Seals power reactors.
88-59 Main Steam Isolation Valve 8/9/88 All holders of OLs
Guide Rail Failure at or CPs for nuclear
Waterford Unit 3 power reactors.
88-58 Potential Problems with 8/8/88 All holders of OLs
ASEA Brown Boveri ITE-51L or CPs for nuclear
Time-Overcurrent Relays power reactors.
88-57 Potential Loss of Safe 8/8/88 All holders of OLs
Shutdown Equipment Due to or CPs for nuclear
Premature Silicon Controlled power reactors.
Rectifier Failure
88-56 Potential Problems with 8/4/88 All holders of OLs
Silicone Foam Fire Barrier or CPs for nuclear
Penetration Seals power reactors.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit
