Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
CR79010
June 21, 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR: B. H. Grier, Director, Region I
J. P. O'Reilly, Director, Region II
J. G. Keppler, Director, Region III
K. V. Seyfrit, Director, Region IV
R. H. Engelken, Director, Region V
FROM: Harold D. Thornburg, Director, Division of Reactor
Construction Inspection, IE
SUBJECT: IE CIRCULAR NO. 79-10- PIPEFITTINGS MANUFACTURED FROM
UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL
The subject circular should be dispatched for action to all power
reactor licensees with a construction permit and/or operating license no
later than June 26, 1979. The text of the circular and draft letter to
licensees are enclosed for this purpose.
Harold D. Thornburg, Director
Division of Reactor Construction
Inspection
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosures:
1. Draft Transmittal Letter
2. IE Circular No. 79-10
CONTACT: W. Laudan, IE
49-27551
.
(Draft letter to all holders of Reactor Operating Licenses and Construction
Permits)
IE Circular No. 79-10
Addressee:
This Circular is provided as an early notification of a possibly significant
matter. It is expected that recipients will review the information for
possible applicability to their facilities. No specific action or response
is requested at this time. If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IE
Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request specific licensee actions.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact the Director of
the appropriate NRC Regional Office.
Sincerely,
Signature
(Regional Director)
Enclosure:
1. IE Circular No. 79-10
2. List of IE Circulars
Issued in Last 12
Months
.
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
June 26, 1979
IE Circular No. 79-10
PIPEFITTING MANUFACTURED FROM UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL
Description of Circumstances:
Liberty Equipment and Supply Company of Kennewick, Washington and Tube Turns
Division, Chemetron Corporation of Louisville, Kentucky reported on April 4
and 12, 1872, respectively, that potentially defective pipe fittings were
manufactured from material with a high carbon content beyond the range
allowed by ASTM A 234 WPB. These high carbon content fittings may crack when
welded.
Tube Turns received 3.500 0D x .250W pipe from U. S. Steel - Lorain -
identified as U. S. Steel Heat No. N570028. A total of 28,153 feet was
received and identified by Tube Turns as Lot W6719. U. S. Steel has not been
able to determine the exact number of lengths of pipe of incorrect
chemistry, but indicated it could be at least four lengths. From this pipe,
4" - 90 degrees and 45 degrees - .237 wall elbows and 2" - .237 wall
straight tees, ASTM A-234 WPB, were produced by Tube Turns. Each length of
pipe is twenty feet and makes from 20 to 30 fittings. Approximately 27,000
fittings were produced and each is identified by Tube Turns Lot No. W6719.
Shipment of these fittings started in March of 1978, and it is estimated all
were shipped before the end of 1978.
On May 10, 1979, the Tube Turns Division reported to the NRC that 4" elbows,
Lot W6719, have been provided to the nuclear power plants listed below. U.S.
Steel has tested about one hundred and fifty (150) loose and installed
fittings at the seven sites noted by an asterisk.
*Grand Gulf *Zimmer *Phipps Bend *Waterford III
*Brown's Ferry Midland Limerick
Shoreham *LaSalle Sequoyah
*Brunswick Hartsville Bellefonte
On June 1, 1979, the Tube Turns Division reported to the NRC via telephone
that of the 160 fittings tested at Nuclear Power Plants, three (3) pieces
were found to have a high carbon content and were replaced.
All construction permit holders are advised to conduct a review of their
pipefitting receiving documents for the period from March 1978 to January
1979 and determine if fittings manufactured by the Tube Turn Division can be
identified as Tube Turn Lot W6719. If shipment of the defective material lot
were received, appropriate corrective action should be initiated.
.
IE Circular No. 79-10 June 26, 1979
Page 2 of 2
No written response to this circular is required, if you require additional
information regarding this subject, contact the Director of the appropriate
NRC Regional Office
