ML060720094

Y020060048 - Nuclear Regulatory Commission'S Approval of the Bar-lock Reinforcing Bar Splice

ML060720094
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar, Sequoyah
Issue date:	02/23/2006
From:	Rich Smith Erico International
To:	Sheron B NRC/NRR/ADES
Shared Package
ML060740040	List: ML060720094 ML060740158
References
TAC MD0314, Y020060048
Download: ML060720094 (2)

Text

Original Due Date: 03/21/2006 Ticket Number: 020060048 Document Date: 02/23/2006 NRR Received Date: 03/09/2006 From: TACs:

Robert Smith MD0314 To: *** YELLOW ***

Brian Sheron For Signature of: Routing:

Dyer Borchardt NRR Mailroom

==

Description:==

Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of the Bar-lock reinforcing bar splice Assigned To:

Contact:

DE MAYFIELD, MICHAEL E Special Instructions:

Robert G. Smith Technical Consultant Erico Products, Inc.

P. 0. Box 1921 Southern Pines, NC 28388 Phone: 910-692-3934 Fax: 910-692-3773 E-mail: smith43peyahoo.com February 23,2006 Brian Sheron, Associate Director for Engineered and Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Dear Mr. Sheron:

We have exchanged correspondence (you to me, Oct. 27, '03) on the subject of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of the Bar-lock reinforcing bar splice and the language used in the Federal Register to describe the reasons for approval; initially for Sequoia and more recently for the Watts Bar shield building domes.

Paragraph One of TVA Docket No. 50-390 Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (WBN) Unit 1, Rhea County, Tennessee (start at lin'. 17), "The Bar-lock coupler qualification tests detailed in Topical Report 24370-TR-C-001-A demonstrate that the Bar-lock coupler meets the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) strength requirements and is, therefore, acceptable for use in nuclear safety related applications." To me, that implies that Bar-lock splice has been submitted to ACI-ASME Committee 359 for approval and been qualified as meeting the ASME B&PV Code,Section III, Div. 2. As yet the ASME-ACI Code Committee has not yet examined the essential variables of the system and there has been no proposal to consider this system under the Code, for the use of the Bar-lock in containments, also nuclear safety related structures.

As you say in your letter of October 27, 2003, "We have a shared interest" in clarification in this matter. The Office of'Nuclear Reactor Regulation has two active ACI-ASME Code Committee members in-house. In the interest of clarity, it would seem appropriate to ask one of them to edit future NRC action concerning splices of steel reinforcement to the Federal Register.

I would appreciate your help in resolving this matter.

Sincerely, Robert G. Smith Cc: Chris Skmma, Secretary Joint ACI-ASME Code Committee 359