Information Notice 1989-04, Potential Problems from the Use of Space Heaters

Potential Problems from the Use of Space Heaters

ML031180484
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	01/17/1989
From:	Rossi C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-004, NUDOCS 8901100172
Download: ML031180484 (6)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 January 17, 1989 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 89-04: POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FROM THE USE OF

SPACE HEATERS

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors and test and research reactors.

Purpose

This information notice is being provided to alert addressees to potential

problems from the use of space heaters. 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 December 7, 1988, with the Fort Calhoun Station in cold shutdown and de- fueled, an onsite release of toxic chlorine gas occurred. The chlorine gas

leaked from a chlorine gas cylinder when the fusible plug melted because of

the proximity of a space heater.

The licensee stores the chlorine gas cylinders, used in the purification

process of Missouri River water for plant cooling systems, in a ventilated, enclosed room approximately 4 by 6 feet. To keep the cylinders warm in prepa- ration for use, a 13-kW heater was placed in the room. It appears, based on

the licensee's initial investigation, that the fusible plug became overheated

because of the close proximity of the heater to0 the cylinder and melted. The

melting point of the plug is approximately 160 F. The melted fusible plug

initiated the release of the chlorine gas.

The licensee detected the chlorine leak by the odor of chlorine gas in the area

adjacent to the gas bottle storage room. The area was immediately evacuated.

A total of 22 individuals affected by inhalation of the gas were transported to

a hospital by the rescue squad. The most severe effect on any individual was

minor lung and nasal passage irritation. All individuals have been released

from the hospital.

00172 O R /

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 Licensee personnel removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a

parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the

parking lot until it completely depressurized. No other problems were re- ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.

Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac- tice. However, the use of space heaters may not have been fully evaluated.

It is important that licensees consider the following items before placing

a space heater into service:

1. Fire hazards or combustibles in the area of the space heater.

2. Damage to or effect on the operability of equipment by the space heater.

3. Effect of accelerated aging on the environmental qualification of electri- cal equipment caused by the space heater.

Recipients may wish to review their use of space heaters to preclude problems

that could result from inadequate controls.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

-Ifyou have any questions about this matter, pTease contact one 6f the technical

contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional

office.

a E. Rossi, Director

Division of Operational Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contacts: P. C. Wagner, RIV

(817) 860-8127 John Jankovich, NRR

(301) 492-1167 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

89-03 Potential Electrical 1/11/89 All fuel cycle and

Equipment Problems major nuclear materials

licensees.

89-02 Criminal Prosecution of 1/9/89 All holders of a

Licensee's Former President U.S. NRC specific

for

Intent

ional Safety license.

Violations

88-23, Potential for Gas Binding 1/5/89 All holders of OLs

Supp. 1 of High-Pressure Safety or CPs for PWRs.

Injection Pumps During a

Loss-of-Coolant Accident

89-01 Valve Body Erosion 1/4/89 All holders of OLs

or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.

88-46, Licensee Report of Defective 12/30/88 All holders of OLs

Supp. 2 Refurbished Circuit Breakers or CPs for nuclear

power reactors.88-101 Shipment of Contaminated 12/28/88 All holders of OLs

Equipment between Nuclear or CPs for nuclear

Power Stations power reactors.

88- 100 Memorandum of Understanding 12/23/88 All major nuclear

between NRC and OSHA materials licensees

Relating to NRC-licensed and utilities holding

Facilities (53 FR 43950, CPs and OLs.

October 31, 1988)

88-99 Detection and Monitoring 12/20/88 All holders of OLs

of Sudden and/or Rapidly or CPs for PWRs.

Increasing Primary-to- Secondary Leakage

88-98 Electrical Relay Degradation 12/19/88 All holders of OLs

Caused by Oxidation of or CPs for nuclear

Contact Surfaces power reactors.

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 Licensee personnel removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a

parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the

parking lot until it completely depressurized. No other problems were re- ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.

Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac- tice. However, the use of space heaters may not have been fully evaluated.

It is important that licensees consider the following items before placing

a space heater into service:

1. Fire hazards or combustibles in the area of the space heater.

2. Damage to or effect on the operability of equipment by the space heater.

3. Effect of accelerated aging on the environmental qualification of electri- cal equipment caused by the space heater.

Recipients may wish to review their use of space heaters to preclude problems

that could result from inadequate controls.

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact one of the technical

contacts 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 Contacts: P. C. Wagner, RIV

(817) 860-8127 John Jankovich, NRR

(301) 492-1167 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR *RIV *PPMB:ARM *C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

JJankovich TechEd CHBerlinger 01//s/89

01/03/89 01/03/89 01/04/89 01/09/89 01//4889

IN 89-XX

January xx, 1989 Licensee personnel removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a

parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the

parking lot until it completely depressurized. No other problems were re- ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.

Discussion: _r & s

The use of space eaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac- tice. The NRC i concerned that the use of space heaters may not have been

fully evaluated.:/icensees-ateid-consider the following items before placing

a space heater into service:

1. Fire hazards or combustibles in the area of the space heater.

2. Damage to or effect on the operability of equipment by the space heater.

3. Effect of accelerated aging on the environmental qualification of electri- cal equipment caused by the space heater.

It is recommended that recipients review their use of space heaters to preclude

problems that could result from inadequate controls.

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

John Jankovich, NRR

(301) 492-1167 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• OGCB:DOEA:NRR *RIV *PPMB:ARM C/OtCB:DOEA:NRR D/DOEA:NRR

JJankovich TechEd CHBer linger CERossi

01/03/89 01/03/89 01/04/89 01 /89 01/ /89

IN 89-XX

January xx, 1989 Licensee personnel removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a

parking lot which was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was maintained in

the parking lot until completely depressurized. No other problems were re- ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.

Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac- tice. The NRC is concerned that the use of space heaters may not have received

the level of evaluation that is warranted. Licensees should consider the

following items prior to placing a space heater into service:

1. Fire hazards or combustibles in the area of the space heater.

2. Damage or effect on the operability of equipment in the vicinity of the

space heater.

3. Effect on the environmental qualification of electrical equipment that

could occur due to the space heater causing accelerated aging.

It is recommended that recipients review their use of space heaters to preclude

problems which could result from inadequate controls.

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

John Jankovich, NRR

(301) 492-1167 Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

OGCB: DOEA:NRR :A ARM C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR D/DOEA:NRR

JJankovich M TechEd CHBerlinger CERossi

01/ 3/89 U VlP /89 01/ e//89 01/ /89 01/ /89