Information Notice 1995-32, Thermo-Lag 330-1 Flame Spread Test Results

Thermo-Lag 330-1 Flame Spread Test Results
	ML031060314
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:	08/10/1995
From:	Crutchfield D; Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	;
References
	IN-95-032, NUDOCS 9508040074
	Download: ML031060314 (8)
	v • d • e

v1_

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 August 10, 1995 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 95-32: THERMO-LAG 330-1 FLAME SPREAD TEST RESULTS

Addressees

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power

reactors.

Purpose

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

notice to alert addressees to the results of the NRC flame tests of

will

Thermo-Lag 330-1 fire barrier panels. It is expected that recipientsand consider this

review the information for applicability to their facilities330-1 fire

information, as appropriate, in their review of Thermo-Lag notice are not

barriers. However, suggestions contained in this information

NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is

required.

Description of Circumstances

On January 12, 1995, the NRC Staff conducted two flame spread tests of

Thermo-Lag 330-1 panels at U.S. Testing, Fairfield, New Jersey. The National

The

Institute of Standards and Technology provided technical assistance. Materials

tests were conducted in accordance with American Society of Testing 1994, E84 (ASTM E84), Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials,"guidance

which is the test method referenced in the NRC fire protection

documents.

Both of the Thermo-Lag test specimens were constructed of 5/8-inch nominal

by 25-foot long

thickness Thermo-Lag 330-1 panels. A nominal 20-inch wide in a face-down

Thermo-Lag specimen was placed in the top of the tunnel furnace

position. The test specimen becomes the furnace ceiling. Athe gas burner at one

end of the furnace provided about 5,000 Btus per minute for 10-minute test

period. An inducted air flow pulled the gas flame downstream. Flame travel

in

along the surface of the Thermo-Lag specimen was observed the flamewindows

through

spread

the side of the furnace. The test laboratory calculated specimen

ratings on the basis of the distance the flame traveled down the test

and the elapsed time for maximum flame spread.

Texas

The Thermo-Lag panels for the first test specimen were purchased from Peak plant.

Utilities Electric Company from warehouse stock for the Comanche latex top coat

These panels were coated at the point of manufacture with a

and supplier

that was applied by Thermal Science, Inc. (TSI), the manufacturer

of Thermo-Lag fire barrier materials. The maximum flame spread measured was

about 2.4 meters [8 feet] at 1 minute and 23 seconds into the test.

PDdx :E 0-Pef - T5- 03, 9SOI&' D

9508040074 Q0ri

A'

K-2 K>/ IN 95-32 August 10, 1995 37. The Thermo-Lag

This measurement equated to a flame spread rating of from TSI, were not

panels for the second test specimen, which were purchased specimen was 2.4 meters

topcoated. The maximum flame spread measured for thisThis measurement equated

[8 feet] at 7 minutes and 20 seconds into the test.

to a flame spread rating of 25.

Discussion

burning characteristics

Flame spread tests are used to determine the surface test results are used

of materials when exposed to a test fire. Flame spread materials and are

to compare the surface burning characteristics of different

introduced when a material

one consideration in assessments of the fire hazard spread rating, the greater

is used in an area. The higher the numerical flame board and red oak

the flammability hazard. For example, cement-asbestos have flame spread

flooring, which are used to calibrate the test furnace, ratings of 0 and 100, respectively.

in several NRC

NRC staff guidelines regarding flame spread are,contained to fire

documents. For example, although it is not directly applicable

in part, that

barriers, Branch Technical Position APCSB 9.5-1 states, materials, and

insulation

"[i]nterior wall and structural components, thermal be non-combustible.

radiation shielding materials and sound-proofing shouldby a nationally

Interior finishes should be non-combustible or listed or less...." In

recognized testing laboratory...for a flame spread 25 spread in its definition

addition, Standard Review Plan 9.5.1 addresses flame a noncombustible

of noncombustible materials. It states, in part, that a surfacing

material has "a structural base of noncombustible material...with

rating not higher than 50...."

not over 1/8-inch thick that has a flame spread

written response. If

This information notice requires no specific action or please contact

notice, you have any questions about the information in this NRR project manager.

the technical contact listed below or the appropriate

Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Patrick M. Madden, NRR

(301) 415-2854 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

164],J- gnC/

" achment

IN 95-32 August 10, 1995 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

95-31 Motor-Operated Valve 08/09/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Failure Caused by Stem for nuclear power reactors.

Protector Pipe Inter- ference

95-30 Susceptibility of Low- 08/03/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Pressure Coolant Injection for nuclear power reactors.

and Core Spray Injection

Valves to Pressure Locking

94-66, Overspeed of Turbine- 06/16/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Supp. 1 Driven Pumps Caused by for nuclear power reactors.

Binding in Stems of

Governor Valves

95-29 Oversight of Design and 06/07/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Fabrication Activities for nuclear power reactors.

for Metal Components Used

in Spent Fuel Dry Storage

Systems

95-28 Emplacement of Support 06/05/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Pads for Spent Fuel Dry for nuclear power reactors.

Storage Installations at

Reactor Sites

95-27 NRC Review of Nuclear 05/31/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Energy Institute, for nuclear power plants.

NThermo-Lag 330-1 Combustibility Evaluation

Methodology Plant Screening

Guide'

95-26 Defect in Safety- 05/31/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Related Pump Parts due for nuclear power reactors.

to Inadequate Heat

Treatment

94-61, Corrosion of William 05/25/95 All holders of OLs or CPs

Supp. 1 Power Gate Valve Disc for nuclear power reactors.

Holders

OL - Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

K>

IN 95-32 August 10, 1995 This measurement equated to a flame 5;pread rating of 37. The Thermo-Lag

panels for the second test specimen, which were purchased from TSI, were not

topcoated. The maximum flame spread measured for this specimen was 2.4 meters

[8 feet] at 7 minutes and 20 seconds into the test. This measurement equated

to a flame spread rating of 25.

Discussion

Flame spread tests are used to determine the surface burning characteristics

of materials when exposed to a test fire. Flame spread test results are used

to compare the surface burning characteristics of different materials and are

one consideration in assessments of the fire hazard introduced when a material

is used in an area. The higher the numerical flame spread rating, the greater

the flammability hazard. For example, cement-asbestos board and red oak

flooring, which are used to calibrate the test furnace, have flame spread

ratings of 0 and 100, respectively.

NRC staff guidelines regarding flame spread are contained in several NRC

documents. For example, although it is not directly applicable to fire

barriers, Branch Technical Position APCSB 9.5-1 states, in part, that

"[i]nterior wall and structural components, thermal insulation materials, and

radiation shielding materials and sound-proofing should be non-combustible.

Interior finishes should be non-combustible or listed by a nationally

recognized testing laboratory...for a flame spread 25 or less...." In

addition, Standard Review Plan 9.5.1 addresses flame spread in its definition

of noncombustible materials. It states, in part, that a noncombustible

material has "a structural base of noncombustible material...with a surfacing

not over 1/8-inch thick that has a flame spread rating not higher than 50...."

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 NRR project manager.

orig /s/'d by DMCrutchfield

Dennis M. Crutchfield, Director

Division of Reactor Program Management

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical contact: Patrick M. Madden, NRR

(301) 415-2854 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

DOCUMENT NAME: 95-32.IN

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IN 95-XX

July xx, 199 equated to a flame spread rating of 37. The Thermo-Lag panels for the second

test specimen, which were purchased from TSI, were not topcoated. The maximum

flame spread measured for this specimen was 2.4 meters [8 feet] at 7 minutes

and 20 seconds into the test. This measurement equated to a flame spread

rating of 25.

Discussion

Flame spread tests are used to determine the surface burning characteristics

of materials when exposed to a test fire. Flame spread test results are used

to compare the surface burning characteristics of different materials and are

one consideration in assessments of the fire hazard introduced when a material

is used in an area. The higher the numerical flame spread rating, the greater

the flammability hazard. For example, cement-asbestos board and red oak

flooring, which are used to calibrate the test furnace, have flame spread

ratings of 0 and 100, respectively.

NRC staff guidelines regarding flame spread are contained in several NRC

documents. For example, although it is not directly applicable to fire

barriers, Branch Technical Position APCSB 9.5-1 states, in part, that

1[i]nterior wall and structural components, thermal insulation materials, and