Information Notice 1991-79, Deficiencies Found in Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Installation

Deficiencies Found in Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Installation

ML070180066
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, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	08/04/1994
From:	Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-91-079, Suppl 1, NUDOCS 9408030006
Download: ML070180066 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 August 4, 1994 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 91-79, SUPPLEMENT 1: DEFICIENCIES FOUND IN THERMO-LAG

FIRE BARRIER INSTALLATION

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information

notice (IN) supplement to alert addressees to additional problems that could

result from improperly installing Thermo-Lag 330-1 fire barriers to satisfy

NRC fire protection requirements for safe shutdown components. 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 are not NRC

requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.

Backqround

On December 6, 1991, NRC issued IN 91-79, "Deficiencies in the Procedures for

Installing Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Materials." The IN discussed Thermo-Lag

fire barrier configurations that were not installed in accordance with the

installation procedures published by the vendor, Thermal Science, Incorporated

(TSI). Most of the deficiencies were found by comparing TSI installation

procedures with records of methods and procedures used by licensees during

actual installation of Thermo-Lag fire barriers. In some cases, the

installation methods that deviated from installation procedures recommended by

the vendor were found to be unacceptable when subsequent qualification fire

endurance testing resulted in fire barrier failures. In other cases, fire

endurance test or engineering analysis had not been performed to support the

deviating installation.

Description of Circumstances

On July 15, 1994, Detroit Edison Company, the licensee for Enrico Fermi Atomic

Power Plant, Unit 2, (Fermi 2) notified NRC pursuant to Part 21, "Reporting of

Defects and Noncompliance," of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 21). The Notification reported deviations and defects in Thermo-Lag

fire barrier installation at Fermi 2. While removing and replacing Thermo-Lag

fire barriers, the licensee found deficiencies such as insufficient Thermo-Lag

trowel grade material on interferences, inconsistently positioned ribbed

9408030006 q

IN 91-79, Supp. 1 August 4, 1994 faces, insufficient cable protection at the fire stops, expanded metal missing

from wall assembly, Thermo-lag panels used in place of support steel, failure

to fasten the panels to the floor as required, and insufficient

clearance around fire dampers. It appears that installation records did not

reflect the "as-built" condition of these barriers. Employees from the P. R.

Sussman Company of Toledo, Ohio, installed the Thermo-Lag fire barriers at

Fermi 2.

The findings at Fermi 2 substantiate NRC concerns stated in IN 92-46, "Thermo- Lag Fire Barrier Material Special Review Team Final Report Findings, Current

Fire Endurance Tests, and Ampacity Calculation Error," June 23, 1992. The

concerns are that records of methods and procedures used during installation

of Thermo-Lag barriers may be inaccurate, incomplete, or missing.

Discussion

On December 17, 1992, NRC issued Generic Letter (GL) 92-08, "Thermo-Lag 330-1 Fire Barriers." The GL requested licensees to confirm that qualified Thermo- Lag fire barriers had been installed with appropriate procedures and quality

controls. Most licensees responded that they had followed the procedures

recommended by the vendor, TSI. The responses also indicated that most

licensees were waiting for the results of the industry test program sponsored

by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) before taking corrective actions.

By December 1993, it had become apparent to the NRC staff that the NEI test

program, alone, would not be sufficient to resolve the Thermo-Lag fire barrier

issues. Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.54(f), NRC issued requests

for additional information (RAI) to the licensees relying on Thermo-Lag to

meet Appendix R requirements. The RAI asked each licensee to submit detailed

information on such test assembly elements as material thickness, joints, bands, tie-wires, stress skin and supports. The RAI also requested each

licensee to state whether the parameters defining these elements were obtained

and verified and to describe the type and extent of the unknown parameters.

Many licensees did not supply the information requested but stated how they

would get it in the future.

In responding to the RAI, Detroit Edison Company advised NRC that it would not

wait for the results of the NEI test program and would resolve Thermo-Lag

issues at Fermi 2 by either removing or reclassifying Thermo-Lag fire

barriers. During these modifications the licensee found installation

deficiencies described above and reported them to NRC.

As noted in GL 86-10, Supplement 1, "Fire Endurance Test Acceptance Criteria

for Fire Barrier Systems Used to Separate Redundant Safe Shutdown Trains

Within the Same Fire Area," dated March 25, 1994, test specimens intended for

fire endurance qualification testing of fire barriers should represent the

construction of these barriers in material and workmanship. The findings at

Fermi 2 illustrate that examination of installation records may not be

sufficient to determine how the original Thermo-Lag fire barriers were

installed.

IN 91-79, Supp. I

August 4, 1994 Related Generic Communications

• IN 91-47, "Failure of Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material to Pass Fire

Endurance Test," August 6, 1991.

" IN 92-46, "Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material Special Review Team Final

Report Findings, Current Fire Endurance Tests, and Ampacity Calculation

Errors," June 23, 1992.

" Bulletin (BL) 92-01, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System to

Maintain Cabling in Wide Cable Trays and Small Conduits Free from Fire

Damage," June 24, 1992

• BL 92-01, Supplement 1, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System

to Perform its Specified Fire Endurance Function," August 28, 1992.

• GL 92-08, "Thermo-Lag 330-1 Fire Barriers," December 17, 1992.

• GL 86-10, Supplement 1, "Fire Endurance Test Acceptance Criteria for

Fire Barrier Systems Used to Separate Redundant Safe Shutdown Trains

Within the Same Fire Area," March 25, 1994.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.

Brian K. Grimes, Director

Division of Operating Reactor Support

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Daniele H. Oudinot, NRR

(301) 504-3731 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

'I4

Att..hment

IN 91-79, Supp. I

August 4, 1994 Page I of I

LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

94-54 Failures of General 08/01/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Electric Magne-Blast for nuclear power reactors.

Circuit Breakers to

Latch Closed

91-45, Possible Malfunction of 07/29/94, All holders of OLs or CPs

Supp. 1 Westinghouse ARD, BFD, for nuclear power reactors.

and NBFD Relays, and

A200 DC and DPC 250

Magnetic Contactors

94-42, Cracking in the Lower 07/19/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Supp. 1 Region of the Core Shroud for boiling water reactors

in Boiling-Water Reactors (BWRs).

94-53 Hydrogen Gas Burn Inside 07/18/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Pressurizer During Welding for nuclear power reactors.

94-52 Inadvertent Containment 07/15/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Spray and Reactor Vessel for nuclear power reactors.

Draindown at Millstone

Unit I

94-51 Inappropriate Greasing 07/15/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

of Double Shielded Motor for nuclear power reactors.

Bearings

94-50 Failure of General 07/14/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Electric Contactors for nuclear power reactors.

to Pull in at the

Required Voltage

94-49 Failure of Torque 07/06/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Switch Roll Pins for nuclear power reactors.

94-48 Snubber Lubricant 06/30/94 All holders of OLs or CPs

Degradation in High- for nuclear power reactors.

Temperature Environments

OL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 91-79, Supp. 1 August 4, 1994 Related Generic Communications

" IN 91-47, "Failure of Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material to Pass Fire

Endurance Test," August 6, 1991.

• IN 92-46, "Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material Special Review Team Final

Report Findings, Current Fire Endurance Tests, and Ampacity Calculation

Errors," June 23, 1992.

Bulletin (BL) 92-01, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System to

Maintain Cabling in Wide Cable Trays and Small Conduits Free from Fire

Damage," June 24, 1992 BL 92-01, Supplement 1, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System

to Perform its Specified Fire Endurance Function," August 28, 1992.

GL 92-08, "Thermo-Lag 330-1 Fire Barriers," December 17, 1992.

• GL 86-10, Supplement 1, "Fire Endurance Test Acceptance Criteria for

Fire Barrier Systems Used to Separate Redundant Safe Shutdown Trains

Within the Same Fire Area," March 25, 1994.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.

orig /s/'d by BKGrimes

Brian K. Grimes, Director

Division of Operating Reactor Support

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Daniele H. Oudinot, NRR

(301) 504-3731 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• see previous concurrence

OFFICE *SPLB/NRR *C:SPLB/NRR *D:DSSA/NRR *OGCB/NRR

NAME DHOudinot CEMcCracken MJVirgilio RJKiessel

DATE 07/29/94 07/29/94 07/29/94 07/29A44/`

OFFICE *Tech Ed *D:OI *C:OGCB/NRR . R R

NAME JMain JM JAFitzgerald ELDoolittle * 'Nes

DATE 07/27/94 08/01/94 08/01/94 08/Z /94 Document Name: 91-79SP1.IN

IN 94-xx

July xx, 1994 Related Generic Communications

• IN 91-47, "Failure of Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material to Pass Fire

Endurance Test," August 6, 1991.

" IN 92-46, "Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material Special Review Team Final

Report Findings, Current Fire Endurance Tests, and Ampacity Calculation

Errors," June 23, 1992.

• Bulletin (BL) 92-01, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System to

Maintain Cabling in Wide Cable Trays and Small Conduits Free from Fire

Damage," June 24, 1992

• BL 92-01, Supplement 1, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System

to Perform its Specified Fire Endurance Function," August 28, 1992.

• GL 92-08, "Thermo-Lag 330-1 Fire Barriers," December 17, 1992.

• GL 86-10, Supplement 1, "Fire Endurance Test Acceptance Criteria for

Fire Barrier Systems Used to Separate Redundant Safe Shutdown Trains

Within the Same Fire Area," March 25, 1994.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.

Brian K. Grimes, Director

Division of Operating Reactor Support

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Daniele H. Oudinot, NRR

(301) 504-3731 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

• see previous concurrence ________-_______

OFFICE

NAME

DATE

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DATE 07/27/94 07/ /94 07/f /94 07/ /94 Document Name: G:\RJK\NRCINS\NRCIN.474

IN 94-xx

July xx, 1994 Related Generic Communications

" IN 91-47, "Failure of Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material to Pass Fire

Endurance Test," August 6, 1991.

• IN 92-46, "Thermo-Lag Fire Barrier Material Special Review Team Final

Report Findings, Current Fire Endurance Tests, and Ampacity Calculation

Errors," June 23, 1992.

• Bulletin (BL) 92-01, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System to

Maintain Cabling in Wide Cable Trays and Small Conduits Free from Fire

Damage," June 24, 1992

• BL 92-01, Supplement 1, "Failure of Thermo-Lag 330 Fire Barrier System

to Perform its Specified Fire Endurance Function," August 28, 1992.

• GL 92-08, "Thermo-Lag 330-1 Fire Barriers," December 17, 1992.

• GL 86-10, Supplement 1, "Fire Endurance Test Acceptance Criteria for

Fire Barrier Systems Used to Separate Redundant Safe Shutdown Trains

Within the Same Fire Area," March 25, 1994.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager.

Brian K. Grimes, Director

Division of Operating Reactor Support

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Daniele H. Oudinot, NRR

(301) 504-3731 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

nrevious concurrence

see nrvious concurrence..

OFFICE SPLB/NRR C:SPLB/NRR D:DSSA/NRR OGCB/NRR

NAME DHOudinot CEMcCracken MJVirgilio RJKiessel / J

DATE 07/ /94 07/ /9,4-i, 07/ /94 071& 94 OFFICE *Tech Ed D:OI /) C:OGCB/NRR D:DORS/NRR

NAME JMain Ja ,:-JAFA'zgerald ELDool ittle BKGrimes

DATE 07/27/94 / 0 1/!/94 ) 07/ /94 07/ /94 uocument Name: U~:\K.JK\HrKLGiN-)\NKUiN.Q4/4

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