Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
December 28, 1987
Information Notice No. 87-28, SUPPLEMENT 1: AIR SYSTEMS PROBLEMS AT
U.S. LIGHT WATER REACTORS
Addressees:
All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power
reactors.
Purpose:
This information notice supplements Information Notice 87-28, dated June 22,
1987 and provides recipients a copy of NUREG-1275, Vol. II, "Operating
Experience Feedback Report-Air Systems Problems." 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.
Background:
The NRC staff has been studying problems associated with instrument air
systems for a number of years. The results of these studies, including
concerns relating to adverse effects on safety-related equipment from
instrument air system failures, were recently identified in NRC Information
Notice 87-28, dated June 22, 1987. This information notice identified the
availability of a case study report entitled "Air Systems Problems at U.S.
Light Water Reactors," AEOD/C701, dated March 1987. The report indicated that
the performance of air operated safety-related components may not be in
accordance with their intended safety function due to inadequacies in the
design, installation, and maintenance of the instrument air system. The
enclosed copy of the updated case study report incorporates additional
incidents where instrument air system failures have adversely affected
facility operations.
Discussion:
The NRC staff considers events in which plant safety has been adversely af-
fected by degraded or malfunctioning air systems to be an indication that
industry has not placed sufficient emphasis on the maintenance, design, and
operation of air systems. The staff, therefore, is in the process of
developing guidance to ensure that licensees meet the commitments in their
Final Safety Analysis Reports with regard to air systems and is also in the
process of developing guidance on improvements to air systems that may be
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. IN 87-28, Supplement 1
December 28, 1987
Page 2 of 2
necessary to reduce the frequency of challenges to plant safety. Appropriate
regulatory actions will be taken either through interactions with industry to
ensure comprehensive industry actions with respect to air systems or through
the issuance of new regulatory requirements.
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: Jared Wermiel, NRR
(301) 492-9412
Attachment 1: NUREG-1275, Vol. II, "Operating
Experience Feedback Report -
Air Systems Problems"
Attachment 2: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices