ML20074A587

Advises of Plan to Use Public Address Sys for Local Fire Alarms in Reactor Bldg.Plan Meets Intent of NFPA 72D-1975 as Committed in Section E.1(a) of Fire Protection Review Plan. NRC Approval Requested by 830701

ML20074A587
Person / Time
Site:	Mcguire, McGuire
Issue date:	05/06/1983
From:	Tucker H DUKE POWER CO.
To:	Adensam E, Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8305130192
Download: ML20074A587 (2)

Text

r DUKE POWER GOMPANY P.O. nox 33189 GHARLOTD$, N.O. 28342 HALH. TUCKER ren.epuose

_q=,=,== May 6, 1983 (704) ara-4sa Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Attention: Ms. E, G. Adensam, Chief Licensing Branch No. 4 Re: McGuire Nuclear Station Docket Nos. 50-369, 50-370

Dear Mr. Denton:

Local fire alarms will be provided by July 1, 1983 for all fire zones as stated in our letter of September 30, 1982. Duke Power plans to use the public address system for local fire alarms inside containment. This results in two technical deviations from the recommendations of NFPA 72D-1975 which were not identified in the McGuire Nuclear Station Fire Protection Review, Revised September 1982. Duke Power is committed in the Fire Protection Review to comply with the intent of the NFPA standard; we believe the use of the public address system for local fire 11 arms inside containment does comply with that intent. We request that the NRC staff provide their concurrence with this position.

In accordance with Section E.1(b) of the McGuire Nuclear Station Fire Protection Review, activation of any fire detector results in an audible local alarm in the area of activation as well as an audible and visual alarm in the Control Room.

In developing the local fire alarm capability for the reactor containment, Duke has determined that broadcasting an automatically initiated, unique tone over the public cddress system would provide the necessary local alarm. The unique tone will sound only inside the reactor containment. Audible and visual ~ alarming will occur in the Control Room. Locally placed bells will be provided in all other areas (including the annulus). The public address system is currently used for three other alarms with unique tones: the reactor building radiation alarm, the evacuation alarm and the site assembly alarm. The response of individuals to all four of the unique tone alarms will involve evacuation of the reactor con-tainment, which is the objective of the local fire alarm.

The use of the public address system for local alarming in the reactor building will result in two deviations from the letter of NFPA 72D-1975:

Paragraph 2471 requires that amplifier and tone generator equipment be provided with trouble alarms to signal component failure. The public address system is frequently used when the reactor building is accessible.

Any equipment failure would be readily apparent without component super-vision.

Cyh !

8305130192 830506 PDR ADOCK 05000369 F pon

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S Harold R. Denton May 6, 1983 Page 2 Paragraph 2551-C requires that fire alarm, supervisory and trouble signals take precedence over all other signals. The public address is also used for reactor building radiation alarms, evacuation alarms and site assembly alarme. These alarms will have higher priority than the distinct fire alarm. However, response of individuals in the area would involve evacuation for each of these functions. Therefore, using the public address system would meet the intent of the referenced paragraph.

The following inserts to the McGuire Nuclear Station Fire Protection Review are planned to address these deviations:

Section E.1(a)

" Paragraph 2471 - Trouble alarms on the Reactor Building local alarms (public address system) are not provided. -Any equipment failure will be readily apparent due to the frequent use of the public address system when the reactor building is accessible."

" Paragraph 2551-C - The distinct local fire alarm broadcast over the public address system in the reactor building could have a lower priority than the reactor buildirg radiation alarm, evacuating alarm, or the site assembly alarm which are broadcast in the same manner. The response of personnel will be the same for all four of the above alarms inside the reactor building."

Duke believes that use of the public address system for local fire alarms in the reactor building meets the intent of NFPA 72D-1975 as committed in Section E.1(a) of the McGuire Fire Protection Review and will revise the Fire Protection Review to accurately reflect station conditions after receiving NRC approval.

Please provide NRC approval .by July 1,1983 of our plans for local fire alarms inside containment. We will be available to answer any questions concerning this if necessary.

Very truly yours,

\kA a.Twsu~w Hal-B. Tucker REH:jfw cc: Mr. James P. O'Reilly, Regional Administrator Mr. W. T. Orders U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC Resident Inspector Region II McGuire Nuclear Station 101 Marietta Street, NW, Suite 2900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 .