ML20216D564

Special Rept:On 980204,discovered That Fire Detection Panel Was Apparently Not Communicating W/Several Local Fire Detectors.Caused by Faulty Computer Sys Cards.Replaced Four Computer Cards in Sys

ML20216D564
Person / Time
Site:	Catawba
Issue date:	03/05/1998
From:	Gordon Peterson DUKE POWER CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
NUDOCS 9803170116
Download: ML20216D564 (4)

Text

y Duke Pcmer Company A Mr Ewg Gmy Gutawba Nuclear Statinu

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• 4800 C ncord Road i York, SC 29745 Gary R. Petereon (803) 831-4251 omCE Vice President (803) 831-3426 fax March 5,~1938 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTENTION: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001

SUBJECT:

Duke Energy Corporation Catawba Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-413 and 50-414 Special Report Fire Protection Program This Special Report provides information concerning a degradation of the Fire Protection Program. On February 4, 1998, it was oiscovered that the Fire Detection Panel was apparently not communicating with several local fire detectors. During troubleshooting of the Fire Detection Panel, Catawba Nuclear Station personnel discovered that alarms for several areas were not functioning properly. It was further determined that some of the alarms had not beer functioning properly since December 24, 1997.

Catawba Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2 Facility Operating Licenses NPF-35 and NPF-52 require that Duke Energy Corporation implement and maintain in effect all provisions of the approved Fire Protection Program, as amended. It was determined that this degradation of the Fire Detection System constitutes a noncompliance with this license condition. Consequently, this occurrence was reported within twenty fcar hours of discovery pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 50.72 (Reference Event #33655, February 5, 1998), and this written follow-up is being provided within 30 days of the occurrence.

-Description of Event v

February 4, 1998, the fire protection panel operator and seieral maintenance technicians discovered that the status '

^r detectors from several zones was not being indicated on -

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.ae Fire Detection Panel "ALL POINTS LOG". Du;ing subsequent troubleshooting, it was discovered that two series.of alarms were not functioning properly, and that l 9003170116 980305

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. 1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission March 6, 1998 Page 2' there were'several additional areas of the station that were not being properly monitored by the system.

The system was declared inoperable, and fire watches were established for the affected zones in accordance with Selected Licensee CommitmentL16.9-6, Fire Detection Instrumentation. .Further troubleshooting and repairs to the Fire Detection Panel were initiated.

During subsequent . investiga' ion, "ALL POINTS LOG" historical printouts covering ~the period back to December 24, 1997, were reviewed. It was determined that some fire detection zones had been missing from the program since. January 21, 1998, and that some adc".tional zones had been missing since December 24, 1997. The absence of fire zones from the'"ALL POINTS LOG" indicates that the zones were not being scanned by the system. Since the zones were not being scanned, a fire in the'affected zones would not have been detected and alarmed by the fire detection system.

Three of the computer system cards, the microprocessor board, the RAM memory board, and the cassette interface board were replaced. Channel tests were run to ensure the panel was functioning properly. The panel was declared operable on_ February 5, 1998, and the fire watches were discontinued.

In order to confirm reliability of the system, a once per shift comparison _of the "ALL POINTS LOG" printout with the printout from the previous shift was initiated.

On February 7, 1998, the fire detection panel again malfunctioned. Fire watches were established tior the -

affected zones. Following this~ malfunction, the I/O computer board was replaced.

The pane. was restored to service cn1 February 7, 1998, and the_ fire watches discontinued. Hourly reviews of the "ALL

. POINTS LOG" were conducted until February 12, 1998. The hourly reviews were discontinued based on the absence of further problems with the Fire Detection System, and once ,

per shift reviews were re-established. 1 l

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-I U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission March 8, 1998 Page 3 Cause of Event This event has been attributed to failure of one or more of the computer cards in the Honeyuell Delta 1000 Fire Detection. computer. The1 failure of the card (s). caused loss of a portion.of the: memory / program used to identify the' fire zones to'be scanned and' alarmed. Efforts.to determine which board or combination of boards caused the failure were unsuccessful.

The malfunction of the Fire' Detection Panel was not detected during previous routine reviews of the "ALL FOINTS LOG" because-of inadequate guidance for the review.

Additionally, no error message was generated ~at the Fire l Protection Console when communications with the local fire detectors were lost'because of the particular failure mechanism.

Corrective Actions

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Four computer cards in the Fire Detection System computer were replaced, and the system was confirmed to be functioning properly.

The "ALL POINTS LOG" is normally printed and reviewed once per shift by the Fire Protection Console Operator.

Additional procedural-guidance for the review of the "ALL POINTS LOG" will be provided to the fire protection panel operators to ensure an adequate review is performed. This corrective action is a commitment.

Questions regarding this Special Report should be directed to M.H. Chernoff at (803) 831-3414.

Very trul ours,

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission March 8, 1998 Page 4

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XC:

L. A. Reyes U. S. Nuclear Regulatory-Commission Regional Administrator, Region II Atlanta Federal' Center 61 Forsyth St., SW, Suite 23T85 ,

Atlanta, GA 30303 1

-P. S. Tam NRC Senior Project Manager (CNS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

} Mail Stop O-14H25 Washington, DC 20555-0001 D. J. Roberts Senior Resident Inspector (CNS)

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Catawba Nuclear Site

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