ML19250G966
| ML19250G966 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/11/1981 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bradford P NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19250G967 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-81-201 NUDOCS 8106100118 | |
| Download: ML19250G966 (5) | |
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MAY 1 1 1331 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Commissioner Bradford FROM:
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
FIRE PROTECTION RESEARCH AT SANDIA During a meeting with you on April 3,1981, you requested that NRR provide its viewt on the competency of Sandia to perform fire protection research.
It is our view that Sandia has an excellent research organization and has developed a competent staff for the conduct of NRC-sponsored confirmatory research.
In the fire protection research area, Saridia ha: successfully per-formed a large number of tests, the results of which have intisenced our safety reviews. Sindia has also subcontracted some of the NRC tests to well-known research facilities such as Underwriters Laboratories.
In the opinion of some of the NRR staff, there have been occasions when Sandia has not fully used the services of fire protection research consultants that are knowledgeable of the fire protection programs in nuclear power plants and how th? V:,t results will be used in the licensing process. As a result, some tes% may not have been representative of real life circumstances or nuclear poa r plant configurations. Also NRR believes that.some Sandia tests have duplicited tests carried out at facilities such as NBS. However, NRR staff is : sot directly involved in the day-to-day direction of the fire protec-tion e search program and, therefore, is not cognizant of the overall picture s
tbc may dictate or make it cost-effective to carry out the research at Sandia instead of another laboratory, such as NBS.
Also as you requested, RES management has directly reviewed the Sandia fire prot tction program with the key Sandia staff involved. The conclusions of RES management are consistent with the foregoing NRR views. Sandia staff beran its activities in this arer from a base of extensive experience in the coeduct of qualification tests cader a number of environments. Moving from tha. base into a general progren of fire research necessitated a considerable learn 59 curve.
RES management concludes that Sandia has succeeded in developing adequatc competency in this area although greater use could have been beneficially made of input from concerned knowledgeable fire protection experts and organiza-tions, such as ASTM and NBS, in the planning of specifics of the p opram.
Regarding the question of changing contractors, RES believes it woulo Mt be cost-effective to change at this time; Sandia has essentially completed i+s
@3 learning curve atd a cost-effective program is in place. However, even more efforts could be rade to obtain input from outside fire protection experts, m\\6' and Sandia will be pressed to do that.
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Commissioner Bradford FROM:
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
FIRE PROTECTION RESEARCH AT SANDIA During a meeting with you on April 3,1981,. you requested that NRR provide its views on the competency of Sandia to perform fire protection research.
It is our view that Sandia has an excellent research organization and has developed a competent staff for the conduct of NRC-sponsored confimatory research.
In the fire protection research area, 5.dia 1.as successfully per-fomed a large number of tests, the results of which have influenced our safety reviews. 'Sandia has also subcontracted some of the NRC tests to well-known research facilities such as Underwriters Laboratories.
In the opinion of some of the NRR staff, there have been occasions when Sandia has not fully used the services of fire protection research consultants that are knowledgeable of the fire protection programs in nuclear power plants and hov: the test results will be used in the licensing process. As a result, some tests may not have been representative of real life circumstances or nuclear power plant configurations. Also, NRR believes that some Sandia tests have duplicated tests carried out at facilities such as NBS. However, NRR staff is not directly involved in the day-to-day direction of the fire protec-tion research program and, therefore, is not cognizant of the overall picture that may dictate or make it' cost-effective to carry out the research at Sandia instead of another laboratory, such as NBS.
Also, as you requested, RES management has directly reviewed the Sandia fire protection program with the key Sandia staff involved. The conclusions of
-RES management are not_inconsisten_t with the foregoing NRR views. Sandia staff began its activities in this areaxfrom a base of extensive experience in the conduct of qualification tests under a number of environments. Moving from that hase into a general program of fire research necessitated a considerable learning curve. RES management concludes that Sandia has succeeded in developing adequate competency in this atua although greater use could have been beneficially made of input from concerned knowledgeable fire protection experts and organiza-tions, such as ASTM and NBS, in the planning of specifics of the program.
-Regarding the question of changing contractors, Research believes it would not be cost-effective to change at this time; Sandia has essentially completed its le:rning curve and a cost-effective program is in place. ~~liowever, even more efforts could be made to obtain input from outside fire protection experts, hnd Sandia will be pressed to do that.
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,,4 Comissioner Bradford In summary, except for some perceived deficiencies in utilization of consultants and organizations kncwledgeable in fire protection problems generally and in those unique to nuclear power plants, we believe that the Sandia fire protection research has been conducted in an acceptable manner. We intend to instruct Sandia to aggressively seek broad peer review both of program planning and results as this program progresses.
(S;gned)Ylumm L Dutb William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations cc Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Gilinsky Comissioner Ahearne SECY OGC DPE DISTRIBUTION Central hTes RES CIRC RES SUBJ RES RF DET SUBJ DET RF bec: WJDircks TARehm RBMinogue EGCase GAArlotto HRCenton RVrilmer C0off SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES FOR NRR.
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L : <t k s<g too HEMOPANDUM FOR:
Commissioner Bradford FROM:
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
FIRE PROTECTION RESEARCH AT SANDIA During a meeting with you on April 3, you requested that NRR provide its view on the competency of Sandia to perform fire protection research.
It is our view that Sandia has an excellent research organization and a competent staff for the conduct of NRC-sponsored confirmatory research.
In the fire protection research area, Sandia has successfully performed a large number of tests, the results of which have influenced our safety reviews.
Sandia has also sub-contracted some of the NRC tests to well-known research facilities such as Underwriters Laboratories.
In the opinion of some of the NRR staff, there have be. ten occasions when Sandia has not fully used the services of fire protection re:earch consultants that are knowledgeable of the fire protection programs in nitclear power plants and how the test results will be used in the licensing process.
As a result, some tests may not have been representative of real life circumstances or nuclear power plant configurations. Also, NRR believes that some Sandia tests have duplicated tests carried out at facilities such as MBS. However, NRR staff is not directly involved in the day to day direct?on of the fire protection research program and, therefore, is not cognizant t,f the overall picture that may dictate or make it cost-effective to carry out the research at Sandia instead of another laboratory, such as HBS.
In summary, except for the perceived deficiency in utilization of consultants knowledgeable in fire protection problems unique to nuclear power plants, we believe that the Sandia fire protection research has been conducted in an acceptable manner.
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations cc: Chairman Hendfie Commissioner Gilinsky T
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Commissioner Ahearne SECY OGC OPE F
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MEMOPJSDUM TOR:
Consissioner Bradford p/p i
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William J. Dircks gC Executive Director for Operations (i
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SUBJECT:
FIREPROTEt$10ftRESEARCHATSANDIAJ L;t't&'d vie $\\ s I
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[Q ruring a meeting with you on hpril 3, you requested tha.t ifRR provide wf y
on the cor.rctency of Andia f,o per' form fire protection research.
It is our view that Landia hr.s an uctilent r1tsearch organization and a competent staff for the conduct of liRC-sponsored confittatory rest;erch.
In the fire protection research area, Sandia het successfully performed a large number of tests, the results of which have influenced our safety reviews.
Sandin has also sub-contracted some of the NRC tests to well-known research facilities such as Underwriters Laborctories.
In the opinion of sorse cf the NRR staff, there have teon occasions when Sandia has not fully used t'he services of fire prote-tion restarch consultants that are knowledgeable of the fire protection programs in naclear power plants and how the test results will be used in the licensing process.
As a result, some tests may not have beco representative of real life circumstances or nuclear power plant configurations. Also, HRR believes that some Sandia tests have duplicated tests carried out at fac111tiet such as MBS.
However. HRet staff is not directly involved in the day to day direction of the fire protection rescerch progran and, therefore, is not cognizant of the overall picture that r.cy dictate or make it cost-effective to carry out the res earch at Sandia instead of another laboratory, such as NBS.
In suw.ary, except for the perceived deficiency in utilizatice of consultants knowledgeable in fire protection problems unique to nuclear power plants, we believe that the Sandia fire pmtection research has been conducted in an acceptah1e snenner.
W1111am J. Dircks Executive Dire: tor for Dperations cc: Ehairman Hendfie Comissioner Gilinsky Comissioner Ahearne SECY OSC OPE P0DR OR!BIMAL
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