ML18149A361

Forwards Proposed Test Protocol for Demonstrating Acceptability of Using 35% oxygen-enriched Breathing Air in open-circuit self-contained Breathing Apparatus.Protocol Revises 860516 Ltr by Using Flame Ignition Test

ML18149A361
Person / Time
Site:	Surry, North Anna, 05000000
Issue date:	10/06/1986
From:	Stewart W VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.)
To:	Harold Denton, Rubenstein L Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
85-816A, NUDOCS 8610160009
Download: ML18149A361 (5)

Text

• .,

e e VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND PowER COMPANY RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23261 W. L. STEWART VICE PRESIDENT NUCLEAR OPERATIONS October 6, 1986 Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Serial No. 85-816A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation NO/PML:vlh Attn: Mr. Lester S. Rubenstein, Director Docket Nos. 50-280 PWR Project Directorate No. 2 50-281 Division of PWR Licensing-A 50-338 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 50-339 Washington, D.C. 20555 License Nos. DPR-32 DPR-37 NPF-4 NPF-7 Gentlemen:

VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY SURRY POWER STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 NORTH ANNA POWER STATION UNIT NOS. 1 AND 2 RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM REQUEST FOR CONCURRENCE OF TEST PROTOCOL Our letter dated May 16, 1986 (Serial No.85-816) proposed test protocol for demonstrating the acceptability of using 35% oxygen enriched breathing air in our open-circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This letter amends our previous submittal by replacing the flame propagation test with a flame ignition test as recommended by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the contractor performing similar respirator flammability testing for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As a result of our conversations with LLNL, we have concluded that flame ignition is a more appropriate test than flame propagation to determine the adequacy of our SCBA application for emergency use and fire fighting. The enclosed attachment provides the proposed test protocol and a summary of the proposed flame ignition testing.

If you have any questions regarding the proposed testing, please contact us.

Very truly yours, W. L. Stewart Attachment

~~'"'8610160Cf09 861006-~- --

PDR ADOCK 05000280 p PDR Aool

~**

cc: Dr. J. Nelson Grace Regional Administrator NRC Region II Mr. W. E. Holland NRC Senior Resident Inspector Surry Power Station Mr. J. L. Caldwell NRC Senior Resident Inspector North Anna Power Station Mr. Chandu P. Patel NRC Surry Project Manager PWR Project Directorate No. 2 Division of- PWR Licensing-A Mr. L.B. Engle NRC North Anna Project Manager PWR Project Directorate #2 Division of PWR Licensing~A

__ J

e ATTACHMENT Proposed Test Protocol And Summary

Proposed Test Protocol and Summary

Purpose:

The purpose of the proposed testing is evaluate the potential for ignition of a Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA) Custom 4500 Dual- Purpose Breathing Apparatus using 35% oxygen enriched breathing air.

Equipment to be tested:

Fire ignition testing will be performed on the MSA Custom 4500 Dual-Purpose Breathing Apparatus.

Test Organization:

NASA, White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California - dependent on availability.

Test Setup:

In our proposed test, the subject breathing apparatus will be fully assembled with the facepiece connected to an anthropometric head form.

This head form will be connected to a breathing machine which will.cycle the apparatus in a manner identical to the NIOSH testing done to determine SCBA service time. The entire breathing apparatus will be inside a test chamber which will simulate the containment environment with regard to temperature and pressure. The anthropometric head form will include a hair piece and a fire fighter helmet and coat to simulate surfaces and appurtenances which could potentially serve to collect and hold any exhausted oxygen enriched breathing air. This is considered to be a conservative test configuration.

Test Protocol:

Flame Ignition Test: The objective of this test is to assess whether the in-containment use of 35% oxygen enriched breathing air for firefighting or spark producing applications is acceptable.

Initial Conditions:

Test chamber will be maintained at 21% oxygen, 79% nitrogen, 14.7 psia pressure and 130°F. (Atmospheric pressure is considered the most conservative test condition in terms of fire ignition. In subatmosphere conditions, the reduced pressure environment would tend to impede fire ignition. The proposed test pressure would be representative of a situation following the breaking of containment vacuum. Based on the test results, it will be determined whether further testing at subatmospheric pressures should be performed. The specified test chamber temperature conservatively represents localized average containment temperatures but

i.

does not attempt to account for localized temperature effects due to a fire.)

The test cycle will consist of the following steps:

1) With breathing tube and facepiece containing a breathing gas mixture comprised of 40% oxygen, 60% nitrogen and pressurized to 1.5 11 of water above ambient pressure, "flash over" will be initiated.

("Flash over" is simulated by two short bursts of flame directly into the facepiece, approximately 2 seconds each, followed by a long burst of 10 seconds.)

2) Flame ignition, combustion severity and time sequence will be noted and recorded on film.

3) If no significant ignition results are noted, repeat steps 1 and 2 following the inducement of a facepiece mask leak by inserting a small dowel rod between the facepiece and the anthropometric head form.

4) A second test, consisting of steps 1 through 3, will be run with the facepiece and breathing tube containing standard compressed air as the breathing gas if significant ignition was observed using oxygen enriched breathing air.

Test Report: Following test completion, the results will be evaluated and conclusions will be made by Virginia Electric and Power Company and MSA. A summary of these test results and conclusions will be provided to the NRC for review and appropriate action.