ML20116C159
| ML20116C159 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 04/12/1985 |
| From: | Goldberg J HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO. |
| To: | Martin R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| References | |
| ST-HL-AE-1224, NUDOCS 8504260328 | |
| Download: ML20116C159 (4) | |
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The Light E
f flouston Lighting & Power PO. Box 1700 liouston, Texas 77001 (713) 228-9211 April 12, 1985 ST-HL-AE-1224 File No.: G12.233 Mr. Robert D. Martin
$ @ [5' Q M g h Regional Administrator, Region IV p-Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(,
d.3 I '> 033 l
611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 1000 j
Arlington, Texas 76011 j
H South Texas Project Units 1 & 2 Docket Nos. STN 50-498, STN 50-499 First Interim Report Concerning Cracks In Structural Steel Used in HVAC Supports
Dear Mr. Martin:
On March 15, 1985 Houston Lighting & Power (HL&P) notified your office, pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e), of an item concerning cracks found in structural steel used in the fabrication of HVAC supports.
Enclosed please find our First Interim Report on this item.
Our next report will be submitted to your office on or before June 24, 1985.
If you should have any questions on this matter, please contact Mr.
Michael E. Powell at (713) 993-1328.
Very truly yours,
,T wwl; CJ.H.Goldberg Group Vice President, Nuclear JSP:yd
Attachment:
First Interim Report Concerning Cracks In Structural Steel Used in HVAC Supports f-h
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W2/NRC1/a 8504260328 850412 PDR ADOCK 05000498 6
ST-HL-AE-1224 Ilouston Lighting & Power Company File Number: G12.233 Page 2 cc:
Hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Director Brian E. Berwick, Esquire Division of Licensing Assistant Attorney General for Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation the State of Texas U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 12548, Capitol Station Washington, DC 20555 Austin, TX 78711 N. Prasad Kadambi, Project Manager Lanny A. Sinkin U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission 3022 Porter Street, N.W. #304 7920 Norfolk Avenue Washington, D.C.
20008 Bethesda, MD 20814 Oreste R. Pirfo, Esquire Claude E. Johnson Hearing Attorney Senior Resident Inspector /STP Office of the Executive Legal Director c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission P. O. Box 910 Washington, DC 20555 Bay City, TX 77414 Charles Bechhoefer, Esquire Dan Carpenter Chairman, Atomic Safety & Licensing Board Resident Inspector / South Texas Project U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Washington, DC 20555 P. O. Box 2010 Bay City, TX 77414 Dr. James C. Lamb, III 313 Woodhaven Road M. D. Schwarz, Jr., Esquire Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Baker & Botts One Shell Plaza Judge Ernest E. Hill Houston, TX 77002 Hill Associates 210 Montego Drive J. R. Newman, Esquire Danville, CA 94526 Newman & Holtzinger, P.C.
1615 L Street N.W.
Mr. Ray Goldstein, Esquire Washington, DC 20036 1001 Vaughn Building 807 Brazos Director, Office of Inspection Austin, TX 78701 and Enforcement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Citizens for Equitable Utilities, Inc.
Washington, DC 20555 c/o Ms. Peggy Buchorn Route 1, Box 1684 E. R. Brooks /R. L. Range Brazoria, TX 77422 Central Power & Light Company P. O. Box 2121 Docketing & Service Section Corpus Christi, TX 78403 Office of the Secretary U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission H. L. Peterson/G. Pokorny Washington, DC 20555 City of Austin P. O. Box 1088 Austin, TX 78767 J. B. Poston/A. vonRosenberg City Public Service Board P. O. Box 1771 San Antonio, TX 78296 W2/NRC1/a Revised 3/4/85
Attachment ST-HL-AE-1224 Page 1 of 2 South Texas Project Units 1 & 2 First Interim Report Concerning Cracks in Structural Steel Used on HVAC Supports I.
Summary On March 15, 1985, Houston Lighting & Power Company (HL&P) notified the NRC Region IV of a potentially reportable deficiency concerning cracks found in W6x25 steel being used to fabricate HVAC supports.
The deficiency was discovered during fabrication of the supports.
A potential safety hazard exists since the steel is used to support safety-related HVAC ductwork.
Failure of this ductwork could prohibit the HVAC system from performing its safety functions.
II. Description of Deficiency On March 15, 1985, HL&P notified the NRC Region IV of a potentially reportable deficiency concerning cracked structural shapes used by a site contractor (Intermech) to fabricate Seismic Category I supports for HVAC ductwork.
During fabrication of HVAC supports in the Intermech shop a crack was discovered in the web-to-flange junction of a piece of W6x25 steel shape. The crack ran intermittently along the twenty foot length of the piece.
In some locations the crack was visible to the unaided eye; in others it was concealed by the galvanized coating.
These particular structural shapes are used to fabricate HVAC ductwork supports. Some of the ductwork is safety-related and some of it is Seismic Category II/I, meaning it shall not fall and impact the operation of safety-related equipment.
Intermech established that W6x25 shapes of four different material heat numbers had been received from Northwestern Steel under a purchase order (P.O.) initiated on May 2, 1984.
Ultrasonic testing has been performed on samples from the four heat numbers received under the purchase order.
The test results indicate that the cracking is limited to the single initially suspect Heat No. 81191, and that cracking is not evident in the samples of the other three heat numbers.
III. Corrective Action An inspection program was implemented on the affected steel shapes utilizing an ultrasonic testing technique proven to be effective for the detection of cracks.
W2/NRC1/a
1 Attachment ST-HL-AE-1224 Page 2 of 2 In the first stage of the program a sample inspection of the four material heat numbers of the P.O. was performed and it was established that the cracking problem was restricted to Heat f;c. 01191.
In the second stage of the program all of the fabricated and/or installed W6x25 pieces directly identified to be from Heat No. 81191 or which could not be identified as not being from Heat No. 81191 were inspected visually and by ultrasonic testing. The inspection results indicated cracks in five installed pieces and in one fabricated piece in the laydown area.
These pieces were dispositioned to be rejected and replaced. The single piece of stock material from Heat No. 81191 where the cracking was initially discovered was also rejected.
Fabricated pieces and material stock from the other three heat numbers of the P.O. were dispositioned as acceptable for use.
IV.
Recurrence Control Recurrence Control will be addressed in the Final Report.
V.
Safety Analysis A safety hazard is assumed te exist because some of the material has already been accepted and used to fabricate supports. Were this deficiency to have remained uncorrected it could have adversely affected the safety of operations and is considered to be reportable pursuant to 10CFR50.55(e).
W2/NRC1/a L