ML20070E248

Special Rept Spr 910001:on 910108,degraded Foam Seal Fire Barrier Identified.Caused by Seal Foam Matl Contracting & Pulling Away at Edges Where Matl Adheres to Fixed,Adjoining Walls.Barrier Reworked to Initial Condition

ML20070E248
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	02/12/1991
From:	Skolds J SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTRIC & GAS CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
References
ONO-910003, SPR-910001, NUDOCS 9103050294
Download: ML20070E248 (2)

Text

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• Bouth Cerchne Ils etric & Gas Company n b los

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FEB 121991 1 91 FEBi5 A10: 48 Mr. S. D. Ebneter Regional Administrator U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II Suite 2900 101 Marietta Street, NW Atlani.a. GA 30323

SUBJECT:

VIRGIL C. SUMMER NUCLEAR STATION DOCKET NO. 50/395 OPERATING LICENSE NO. NPF 12 SPECIAL REPORT (SPR 910001)(ONO910003)

On January 8, 1991, during performance of Surveillance Test Procedure STP-728.028 " Fuel Handling Building Fire Barrier Inspection," a degraded foam seal fire barr %r was identified between the Auxiliary Building and fuel Handling Building, located in the " rattle" space alongside the Reactor Building. The fire seal in question starts at the 412' elevation and extends upward..alongside the Reactor Building, to the 511' elevation.

Upon detection of the degraded fire carrier condition, the affected barrier was compensated for as required per SAP-131A, " Fire Service Equipment / Systems Operability Requirements." Engineering was consulted to ensure the barrier requirements (i.e., steam propagation, fire protection, etc.) were being satisfied.

The results of the Engineering disposition, per NCN 4081, stated that the seal would supply an adequate pressure boundary, but was degraded as a fire barrier based on existing conditions, and therefore compensatory fire protection measures should remain in effect until the fire barrier is reworked to a conforming condition.

This report is being submitted as required by Technical Specification 6.9.2 and by SAP-131A, " Fire Service Equipment / Systems Operability," due to the fact that the degraded barrier could not be repaired within 7 days of discovery. The 7 day limit was exceeded due to the unavailability of replacement foam seal material and the amount of physical repair work involved in replacing-the damaged foam seal barrier.

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Mr. S. D. Ebneter SPR910001(ONO910003)

Page 2 of 2 i The cause of this event is attributed to the seal foam material contracting and pulling-away at the edges where the seal foam material adheres to the i fixed, adjoining walls. This contraction resulted in gaps exceeding the l acceptance criteria for the Fire Barrier Surveillance Test Procedure. Plant operating. history does not indicate any operational transients or changes in l a environmental conditions which would have directly resulted in this type of degradation to-the.affacted barrier. Plant historical documentation

- indicates this to be_the first such replacement of this barrier since initial ,

installation in January 1983. A review of the results from-similar type  !

surveillances performed recently showed.that the present surveillance program j is adequate in maintaining the fire barriers in accordance with the VCSNS Fire Protection' Program.

The safety significance of_this event is minimal due to the fact that-fire detection equipment, which would have' aided in early identification of a fire

. occuring in these areas, was available on both sides of the affected fire barrier. Additionally,- the affected fire barrier was still intact and would have provided some= isolation capability, but not the 3-hour rating as .

required by the VCSNS Fire Protection Program, 1

The barrier has been reworked to its initial condition and is in compliance with fire and other barrier requirements.

Very truly your 4  %

John L.' Skolds WTR:JLSiled c: . O. W. Dixon Jr. Marsh & McLennan R. R. Mahan Document Control Desk R. J. White INP0 Records Center General Managers ANI Library G. F. Wunder NSRC C. A. Price RTP, (ONO910003)

HRC Resident inspector file (018.05-&818.08)

J. B.-Knotts Jr.--

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