ML20239A504

Insp Rept 70-1201/98-04 on 980727-31.No Violations Noted. Major Areas Inspected:Review Licensee Fire Protection Program

ML20239A504
Person / Time
Site:	07001201
Issue date:	08/21/1998
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II)
To:
Shared Package
ML20239A503	List: ML20239A501 ML20239A504
References
70-1201-98-04, 70-1201-98-4, NUDOCS 9809090275
Download: ML20239A504 (8)

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U. s NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION II Docket No.: 70-1201 License No.: SNM-1168 i

i Report No.: 70-1201/98-04

. Licensee: Framatome Cogema Fuels Facility: Lynchburg Manufacturing Facility location: Lynchburg, VA 24506 Dates: July 27-31. 1998 Inspector: W. Tobin Fuel Facility Inspector Approved By: E. McAlpine. Chief Fuel Facilities Branch Division of Nuclear Materials Safety Enclosure 9009090275 990821 PDR ADOCK 07001201 C PDR l

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EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

Framatome Cogema Fuels l

NRC Inspection Report No. 70s 1201/98-04 This routine announced inspection was conducted by one regional-based l

inspector during the week of July 27-31. 1988, to review the licensee's fire protection program. Within the areas inspected. the program for preventing, detecting and suppressing fires was found to be adequate to protect worker safety and meet NRC requirements.

l Fire Safety:

e Housekeeping had been stressed by both management and employees as.

I' evidence by the low fireload 9. the facility. (Paragraph 2.b.(1)).

e Fire Brigade membership has been depleted due to recent retirements and resignations has reduced the Brigade to four volunteers.

(Paragraph 2.b.(3)).

e Drawings attached to the Pre-Fire Plan require revision.

(Paragraph 2.b.(1)).

Attachments:

Persons Contacted and Exit Meeting List of Items Opened and Closed

, List of Acronyms l

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REPORT DETAILS

1. Summary of Plant Status During this assessment period, there were no unusual plant occurrences.

Routine rod loading and assembly operations were conducted. Normal decontamination and refurbishment activities were also ongoing at the Servic Equipment Refurbishment Facilities (SERF).

2. Fire Protection (88055) (04)

a. Inspection Scope License Conditions No. 2.7. " Inspection and Audit". No. 6.2. " Fire Protection". No. 6.3 " Power Supply" and No. 10.5. " General Fire Protection" were the criteria for inspecting the licensee's fire protection program.

The licensee's implementing procedures (Series SL 13xx) and various engineering drawings, which are identified elsewhere in this report, were also used to determine adequacy of the program and compliance with the License Conditions.

Issues identified by the fire insurer, as well as other issues identified in a prior NRC fire protection inspection (Report No. 97-04) were reviewed to determine resolution.

b. Findings and Observations (1) Fire Prevention Within the licensee *s management staff, the primary responsibility for the fire protection program rests with the Regulatory Compliance Officer who is assisted on a daily basis by a Safety Technician who conducts routine maintenance testing. They utilize various procedures to perform their duties:

No. SL1308 - Emergency Procedure No. SL1309 - Emergency Equipment Maintenance No. SL1316 - Fire Equipment Control No. SL1323 - Ignition Source Permit i

l The Regulatory Compliance Officer reports to the (Acting)

Manager of Safety and Licensing who chairs the Safety Review Board. The inspector reviewed various documents which documented the activities of the Safety Review Board, its quarterly meetings, its membership and its safety related

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i . 2 agenda. The inspector also reviewed the last two previous insurer's fire inspections and noted the licensee's positive response to several findings. The mezzanine to SERF No. 3 has been protected by a sprinkler system, and the wooden walls of the Computer Room, the Swage Area and the Retention Tank Area were replaced with fire resistant material.

Additionally, the licensee intends to sprinkler the storage mezzanine area of the S-2 Building in 1999.

The licensee voluntarily' participated in a safety inspection from the Virginia Department of Labor which resulted in several improvements such as the installation of fire doors.

improved housekeeping and additional signs and fire extinguishers being placed at key locations.

During the inspector's tours of the facility, the use of timed commercial grade coffee urns was observed. This was in lieu of personal coffee pots which could be left on at the end of the work day. There is a site-wide "No Smoking Policy" in effect. The frequency and path of security patrols throughout the offices and manufacturing areas provided a periodic fire-watch in addition to the obvious security function.

While conducting a walkdown of the Pre-Fire Plan, the inspector discovered that Drawings No. PE 1422E and No. PE 1439E. which are enclosed with the Plan and are used to locate fire hydrants and post valves, were inaccurate as r

to the current location of such equipment. Post valve No. 17 was not correctly shown on the Drawings at its present location, hydrant No. 18 was not accurately numbered in the Drawings and there was no hydrant No. 19 contrary to the Drawings. The licensee acknowledged the need to update l

and correct the drawings. An Inspector Follow-up Item (IFI) will track the effort to validate the drawings in the Pre-Fire Plan (IFI 70-1201/98-04-01).

During a review of Procedure No. 1316. Fire Equipment Control, the inspector confirmed that the licensee had added to the monthly test records the flame detector in the Cleaning Room and also the self-closing fire door (smoke detection activated) located at the ramp from the i Manufacturing Area to the North Offices. These two devices l

were discussed in Inspection Report 70-1201/97-04 as being absent from the Procedure's monthly test record, and therefore were not being routinely tested. The inspector confirmed that currently these devices were being tested.

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i 3 but noted that in the Procedure there was no text addressing i

the unique method / frequency for testing these particular devices. The licensee acknowledged the need for text and guidance in the Procedure. As part of the previously opened IFI. the NRC will track this effort to improve the testing l guidance in Procedure No. 1316 (IFI 70-1201/98-04-01).

t (2) Fire Detection During several tours of the facility. the inspector observed the presence of heat, smoke and flash \ flame detectors at the appropriate locations. Independent of the licensee. the l

inspector randomly chose various detectors, sprinklers, pull boxes, annunciators and public address speakers to verify operability. This included the flash \ flame detector inside the 'High Speed Screw Machine" where the presence of zirconium grinding chips present a fire hazard. Other detectors included the heat detector in the ceiling of the Compressor Room adjacent to SERF No. 4. and the smoke detector in the S-1 Building. It was noted that in accordance with vendors specification the detectors were spaced at 30 foot intervals. It was further verified by the inspector that all detectors alarmed.at the Security Station audio-visually, and at either SERF No. 4 or at the Fire q

Panel located in the Manufacturing Facility. .

Inspection Report 70-1201/97-04 documented an offsite notification from the Security Station concern. The licensee issued cellular telephones to the security officers so that, in addition to redundant land-lines. there now exists an independent capability to call for offsite assistance. Officers were aware of this capability.

Discussica with the Electrical Supervisor and a visual inspection of the emergency power supply revealed the capacity to maintain the fire detection system in an 4 uninterruptable condition. The inspector was informed that every July 4th there is a planned power outage and that the ,

local batteries keep the system energized to include the j fire / criticality annunciation public address system.

(3) Fire Suppression As stated above, the inspector chose several sprinkler systems to verify operability: the standpipe of SERF No. 3 and the standpipe of the Shipping and Receiving area l were tested for the inspector. Water flow alarms J

. 4 annunciated locally as well as at the redundant alarm panels. The inspector conducted a valve alignment walkdown and found no system to be out of service.

The availability of Class A.B.'C and D fire extinguishers was observed. All G1 containers inspected by the inspector were full and adequately located. The inspector noted that some G1 cans were painted red, some were white and some were black. The licensee stated that it would use red color ,

cans. l At the Machine Shop, the G1 powder is located in plastic reservoirs over the top of the zirconium cans, thus assuring the powder would automatically drop down onto the fire.

Other cans are constructed such that in the event of a flash fire the operator need only to pull a lever under the can which would cause the G1 powder to drop down into the can.

The inspector observed the availability of fire hoses, fire ,

blankets, opened post valves, hydrants and flammable liquid I storage cabinets.  !

The licensee was using a different fire vehicle because the old fire truck was no longer in service. The inspector verified the operability of the newer vehicle and the availability of hoses. nozzles, axes and other appropriate equipment.

A review of training records revealed that the Fire Brigade currently had only four members. They had State certified training as well as specialized site specific training. The licensee was offering several incentives to recruit more employees to join the Brigade.

The inspector reviewed correspondence dated July 16, 1998. I documenting the training of the Concord Volunteer Fire Department at the pond onsite and the use of a 1200 gallon pumper truck using the pond's " dry hydrant". Other training occurred on March 19 with other rescue and ambulance organizations.

c. Conclusion Housekeeping was improved. Membership in the Fire Brigade needed  !

to be improved. An IFI will track verification of the accuracy of the revised Pre-Fire Plan drawings and the improved text of the procedure used for routine testing.

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3. Exit Meeting 1

The Exit Meeting was held on July 31 with those so identified in the Attachment to this report in attendance. .The licensee was informed of the findings of the inspector, no dissenting comments were voiced. The I licensee acknowledged the inspector's concern over the reduced membership of the Fire Brigade and responded that management considered that to be a challenge. The license also acknowledged the issues ,

i identified as IFI No. 98-04-01 and informed the inspector that revisions to the Plan (drawings) and procedure would be expedited.

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1 ATTACHMENT INSPECTION PROCEDURES USED

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No. 88055 FIRE PROTECTION i

LIST OF PERSONS CONTACTED Licensee

• T. Allsep, Acting Manager of Licensing G. Canady, Area Supervisor S. Davenport. Area Supervisor

• D. Driscoll, Regulatory Compliance Officer R. Irvin. Fire Brigade Captain E. Jenkins, Facilities Manager R. Joseph. Maintenance Manager M. Krams. Fire Brigade Member J. Matheson, Plant Manager

• A. Mc Kim, Manager of Quality Assurance - Health and Safety D. White Safety Technician Other employees contacted included engineers, technicians, security and office personnel.

• Indicates attendance at the Exit Meeting on July 31, 1998.

LIST OF OPEN AND CLOSED ITEMS 1 Item Number Status Description 70-1201/98-04-01 Open Pre-Fire Plan drawings are were {

inaccurate. Procedure No. SL 1316 needs text to explain the conduct of some tests (Paragraph 2.b.(1)).

LIST OF ACRONYMS USED IFI - Inspector Followup Item SERF - Service Equipment Refurbishment Facility c______