ML20197C520

Forwards 780928 NRC Memo Discussing Results of Recent Underwriters Lab Fire Protec Res Test.W/Encl ANO:7811050359, 7811160004,7811060106,7811050373

ML20197C520
Person / Time
Site:	05000580, 05000581
Issue date:	11/07/1978
From:	Barth C NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEGAL DIRECTOR (OELD)
To:	Bowers E, Cowan F, Shon F Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
NUDOCS 7811210116
Download: ML20197C520 (1)

Text

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%f ' ,.# h November 7,1978 Do Il#!g u e Elizabeth S. Bowers, Esq. , Chairman Dr. Frederick P. Cowan Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Apt. B-125 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 6152 N. Verde Trail Washington, D.C. 20555 Boca Rator, Florida 33433 Mr. Frederick J. Shon Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 7 .

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission f Washington, D.C. 20555 g

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In the Matter of c) --

Ohio Edison Company, et al. -

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Docket Nos. STN_50-580 and STN 50-581  %

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Dear Members of the Board:

The SEh has been issued and no safety hearings have been held. In accord with our notification procedures we are sendirg you a memorandum from the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to the Cornissioners dated September 29, 1978 discussing the results of a recently conducted fire protection research test by the Undentriters Laboratory for the Comission as part of the NRC's fire protection research program.

If the Board or the parties wish any additional information, please let us know.

Sincerely,

& A$g Charles A. Barth Counsel for NRC Staff,

Enclosure:

As Stated cc: (w/ enclosure)

Thomas A. Kayuha, Esq.

Jay Silberg, Esq. 7 81] 2]O ll4 Mrs. Evelyn Stebbins Mr. Robert W. Tufts Mr. Richard E. Febb Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Atomic Safety'and Licensing Board Panel '

Docketing and Service Section

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%ghi September 29, 1978

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Chaiman Hendrie Commissioner Gilinsky Comissioner Kennedy '

Commissioner Bradford N Comissioner Ahearne , ,,

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THRU: Executive' Director for Operations (J FROM: Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

NRC FIRE PROTECTION RESEARCH TEST 1

i On September 15, 1978, a fire test of a full-scale vertical cable tray -

l array was conducted at the Underwriters' Laboratory near Chicago, Illinois. It was part of the NRC-expedited fire protection research l program requested in the Comission's Order of April 13, 1978. The purpose of the test was to demonstrate the effectiveness of area sprinklers and mineral wool blanket type cable tray fire barriers in preventing damage to cables as a result of an exposure fire created by igniting two gallons of heptane. ,

The configuration of cables and fire protection features in the test ,

did not si alate any particular nuclear power plant. There are plants in operation and under construction for which the electrical cable tray configuration of the test was typical. However, based on the staff's ongoing fire protection reviews, we know of no operating plants with the configuration of fire protection features used in the test, although features of this type have been proposed for .

installation and are currently under review by the staff.

The test resulted in damage to some of the electrical cables. Prelim-inary analysis (see Enclosure 1) indicates that the configuration of fire protection features used in the test would not be acceptable for application in nuclear power plants. In particular, it appears that fire barriers for vertical trays in soce configurations may need to be designed to prevent entry of flamable fluids. A wick effect may also need to be considered in the design of fire barriers. The m- pnnnse of the_ fusible link sprinklers used in the test is also under s~ + w ~ m w,fgg 4.,

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