BVY-97-171, Special Rept:On 971105,fire Alarm Panel & Suppression Sys Were Out of Svc Greater than 14 Days.Caused by Hardware Problems W/New Zone Modules Developed During Mods.Sys Placed Back in Svc on 971121

Special Rept:On 971105,fire Alarm Panel & Suppression Sys Were Out of Svc Greater than 14 Days.Caused by Hardware Problems W/New Zone Modules Developed During Mods.Sys Placed Back in Svc on 971121

ML20203G195
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	12/12/1997
From:	Maret G VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER CORP.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
BVY-97-171, NUDOCS 9712180075
Download: ML20203G195 (2)

Text

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VERMONT YANKEE-NnCLEAR POWER CORPORATION

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b P.O. Box 157, Governor Hunt Road l vernon, vermont 05354-0157

) (802) 257 7711 H' ,s -

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December 12,1997 BVY 97-171 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attn: Document Control Desk Washington, D.C. 20555

Reference:

(a) License No. DPR-28 (Docket No. 50-271)

(b) Letter USNRC to VYNPC,(Exemption to 10CFR50 Appendix R, NVY 97-128), dated August 12,1997

Subject:

Vermont Yankee Special Report, Fire Protection Systems Out of Service Greater than 14 Days While installing the new fire alamt zones in RB-3 and RB-4 per reference (b), it was necessary to power down the applicable fire alarm panel. Since the fire alarm panel was inoperable and being modified, the isolation valve for the Reactor Building Penetration Area Preaction System was also taken out of service to prevent an accidental actuation.

During the time that the fire alarm panel and the suppression system were out of service, compensatory actions were in place as required by Technical Specifications.

liardware problems with the new zone modules developed during the modifications that required further guidance from the fire alann vendor. The total time that the above systems were out of service was 16 days.

Vermont Yankee Technical Specifications 3.13.A.2 requires that, "From and afler the date that less than the minimum number of sensors or their vsociated instruments are found to be operable, a fire watch shall be established to inspect the location with inoperable sensor or instruments at least once every hour.

Restore the required number of sensors and instrunients to operable status within 14 dayc or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission as specified in 6.7.C.2 outlining the cause of malfunction and the plans for restoring the instrument (s) to _

- operable status."

pa 9712100075 971212 PDR ADOCK 05000271 1.1 l.it1.1111.. l.ill!.'l11.1

d Vepnont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.

IIVY 97-171 Page 2 of 2 Vermont Yankee Technical Specification 3.13.F.2 requires that, t "From and after the date that one of the sprinkler systems specified in Table 3.13.F.1 is inoperable, a fire watch shall be establbhed within one hour to inspect the location with inoperable sprinkler system at least once every hour. Restore the sprinkler system to operable status within 14 days or submit a report within the next 30 days to the Commission as specified in 6.7.C.2 outlining the cause of the malfunction and the plans for restoring the system to operable status."

The systems were deliberately placed out of service to install the new fire alarm detection system on i105 97. These systems were placed back in service on Il 2197, which exceeded our 14 day limiting condition for operation specified in Technical Specifications.

Since the above systerr..a have been returned to an operable condition, no further action is planned by Vermont Yankee. We trust you will find this submittal satisfactory, however, should you desire additional information, please contact us Sincerely, VE QNT 'EE NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION h ML .

reg ht Plant h ager c: USNRC Region 1 Administrator USNRC Resident inspector VYNPS USNRC Project Manager VYNPS VT Dept. of Public Service

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