IA-88-566, Requests NRR Clarification of Licensee Requirements Re Alerting & Assembling Fire Brigade When Unplanned Fire Alarm Received on Control Room Annunciator Panel

Requests NRR Clarification of Licensee Requirements Re Alerting & Assembling Fire Brigade When Unplanned Fire Alarm Received on Control Room Annunciator Panel

ML20244E307
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	02/22/1988
From:	Miller H NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Holahan G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML20244E292	List: IA-88-566, Requests NRR Clarification of Licensee Requirements Re Alerting & Assembling Fire Brigade When Unplanned Fire Alarm Received on Control Room Annunciator Panel ML20244E291 ML20244E307
References
FOIA-88-566 NUDOCS 8906200261
Download: ML20244E307 (1)

Text

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..... FEB 221988

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HEMORANDUM FOR: G. M. Holahan, Assistant Director for Regions III and V Reactors, Division of Reactor Projects-III/IV/V and Special Projects, NRR FROM: H. J. Miller, Director, Division of Reactor Safety, RIII

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE - CLARIFICATION OF NRC POSITION COVERING TIMELINESS OF FIRE BRIGADE RESPONSE (AITSF03002088)

During a recent review of fire brigade allegations at the LaSalle Nuclear Station, one of my fire protection inspectors raised a concern regarding the failure of the Station " Fire Alarm Response" Procedure to prescribe the need for fire brigade assistance upon receipt of an alarm on the fire alarm ,

annunciator panel in the control room. The current station procedure states that upon the receipt of an unplanned fire alarm on the control room annunciator panel, an operator is to be dispatched to the fire alamed area to investigate whether an actual fire is present or not. My inspector took the position that this present station policy creates the potential for a delay in alerting and assembling the fire brigade after an unplanned actuation of a fire alarm, thereby potentially allowing the fire to spread unsuppressed. The inspector believes that the intent of the fire detection system is to provide early notification of a fire condition. The inspector emphasized that the bri sent to the assembly area (fire brigade equipment station) forgade need only be fire response preparation until the plant operator confirms or denies that a fire exists. The licensee took exception to this issue being categorized as a violation of their commitments to the fire protection program requirements of the LaSalle County

, Station operating license. Attached is a copy of the licensee's response to the Notice of Violation included in Inspection Report Nos. 50-373/87027(DRS);

l 50-374/87026(DRS) (Attachment 1). Recent inspections at both Davis-Besse and Fermi resulted in this issue being raised at those facilities.

We request that NRR clarify licensee requirements regarding slerting and fl l assembling a licensee's fire brigade when an unplanned fire r.larm is received .

jO on a control room annunciator panel.

If you have any questions concerning this issue, please contact Mr. Joseph Ulfe of my staff on FTS 388-5712.

B906200261 090613 PDR FDIA PDR H. . ilJer. Director LENBB-566 DWu M RMw SM Attachments: i

1. Ltr dtd 10/13/87, 770n/0372- ppd.

Ceco to NRC fp.py/ 2. Fermi 2 LER 87-049-01 f D/RJ h d FOk ,

S ///e c i r ; P L 7 /h-See Attached Distrihirtinn

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