ML20012C240

Part 21 Rept Re Defective Pieces of ASTM A500 Square Tubing Mfg by UNR-Leavitt.Initially Reported by Licensee on 900215. Limited Number of 29 Pieces Determined to Actually Be Defective,Per TVA Visual Insp.Matl Will Be Returned

ML20012C240
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	02/16/1990
From:	Burger N SISKIN STEEL & SUPPLY CO., INC.
To:	Murley T NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
REF-PT21-90, REF-PT21-90-029-000 PT21-90-029-000, PT21-90-29, NUDOCS 9003200358
Download: ML20012C240 (2)

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Siem$vant (Jb;eSuppty Co. l 4A onoeveemm i 615I756 3671 1901 RIVERFRONT PARKWAY CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE 37401  ;

February 16, 1990 , 1 2

I

~ Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Mr. Thomas Muriey l 1

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Attentlon: Document Control Desk )

. Washington,. DC 20555 l l

Geni 1emen:

SUBJECT:

TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY - BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT l Contract Number'88NJC-81416A 10 CFR 21 Report on Square Tubing L

On February 14, 1990, following inspection, i t was determined- that there was a defect pertaining to-a iimited number of pieces of ASTM A500 Square Tubing, 4" x 4" x 1/2" wall x 20' long, manufactured by UNR-Leavitt. .The defect was determined reportable in accordance

[ < with 10 CFR 21.. Jerry Pearson, Assistant Vice-President Sales, and Nelson Burger, Manager - TVA Sales (both of SISKIN-STEEL), notifled l

?

Jack . Ramsey of the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulatton by telephone on February.15, 1990. This letter serves as the five^(5)

' day report required by 10 CFR 21.21(6)(2).

'SISKIN^ STEEL & SUPPLY CO., INC. contracted with the TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY to furnish the aforementioned material on subject contract. SISKIN STEEL is a Steel Service Center (Warehouse), not a manufacturing ateel mi l i ;- therefore, SISKIN proceeded to procure o this material specifically for this particular TVA ' con t rac t. The Square Tubing was purchased from the manufacturer, UNR-Leavitt, l

located in Chicago, Illinois. The entire lot consisted of one (1)

Reat Number, T63148. We purchased this material on our Purchase Order Number C33587, dated August 4, 1988, and delivered the subject 29 pieces to Browns ' Ferry Nucl ear Plant on October 14, 1988. The

? 20' long Tubing in question is not a standard item normally~ stocked and' distributed by SISKIN STEEL & SUPPLY COMPANY.

~The nature of the defect is a deep seam defect in the longitucinal butt joint of the Welded Tubing. The Tube Steel began to split along the welded seam during the fabrication of pipe support. The weld defect resulted from a lack of fusion occurring during the l

automatic welding process. The defect could cause potential 1

invalidation of the design data that was used for structural design.

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.Dirsctor, Officc ofi Nuclear' Reactor Regulation w Mr. Thomas Nuriey J U.S. Nucl Page 2 d*. f' 2ear Regulatory Commission February 16, 1990 A'ccording to TVA Engineers, the presence of the defect will lower the resistance of the Tubing to fatigue loading. The use of this material in high stress applicatlons could potenttalIy r in support failure, thereby compromising the ability of the sesul ystem t to withstand a seismic event or mitigate the effects of an accident.

Although a 10 CFR 21 reportability determination has been made, there is no immediate safety concern with this material. One (1) unit of HVAC duct support was fabricated, but will be completely removed and replaced.

Three (3) other supports were in the fitup phase, but were never -

instalied. In addition to these facts, Browns Ferry NucIear Plant

? is currently in cold shutdown.

The subject material was purchased by the TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY and furnished by SISKIN STEEL & SUPPLY COMPANY in accordance with ASTM A500 Grade B. This particular specification requires only visual inspectton of the welded area. UNR-Leavitt (manufacturer) goes beyond this minimum inspection requirement by randomly flare and flange testing somptes of the Tubing being produced.

-According to available data, indications are this material defect is confined to the one (1) Heat Number, T63148. Per visual inspection at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, not every piece indicates a defect, only a limited number of pieces within this heat lot. Therefore, it appears that a limited number of the 29 pieces is actually defective.

The unused stock has been segregated from acceptable material and is ,

being controlled by TVA personnel. The HVAC support unit already in the plant will be removed and replaced. The ' three (3) supports presently in the fitup phase will be scrapped and not installed.

All subject material will be returned to SISKIN STEEL for appropriate disposition. Until such material is returned to SISKIN STEEL, TVA personnel is responsible for the removal and refusal to use this Tubing. Such actions are to begin immediately at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.

If there are any questions regarding this matter, please contact me at 615/756-3671.

Yours very truly, SISKIN STEEL & SUPPLY CO., INC.

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Ne son Burger Manager, TVA Sales NB:alb CC: Jack Ramsey, J. B. Carden !!!