PNO-I-93-002, on 930106,small Fire Noticed in Wall Mounted Air Conditioning Unit in Coring Room.Caused by Buildup & Ignition of Zirconium Fines.State of CT Informed

PNO-I-93-002:on 930106,small Fire Noticed in Wall Mounted Air Conditioning Unit in Coring Room.Caused by Buildup & Ignition of Zirconium Fines.State of CT Informed

ML20127A696
Person / Time
Site:	07001100
Issue date:	01/06/1993
From:	Keimig R, Nimitz R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-93-002, PNO-I-93-2, NUDOCS 9301120042
Download: ML20127A696 (2)

DCS No: 0701100930106 Date: January 6,1993 j l

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN19302 l This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility: Licensee Emergency Classification:

Combustion Engineering, Inc. Notification of Unusual Event Windsor, Connecticut Alert Site Area Emergency General Emergency _ .

- Docket No.: 70-1100 X Not Applicable 1

License No.: SNM-1067 Event No.: NONE Event Location Code: FUE

Subject:

FIRE (POSSIBLE ZIRCONIUM) 1 At 7:48 a.m. on January 6,1993, a worker noticed a small fire in a wall mounted air conditioning unit in the coring room, located within Building 17, the Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Building. The worker activated a local fire alarm which resulted in activation of the Emergency Plan. The building was -

' evacuated, the local : Ire department was notified, and the response team responded to the location of the alarm. The team fot.nd that the worker had put out the fire using a hand held extinguisher and therefore, canceled the fire department response. Thcre were no personnel injuries and no contamination

' or radiation was involved. No special nuclear material was located in the room and the building remained under control throughout the event. There was no evidence of fire outside the building.

i-Workers were permitted to re-enter the facility about 20 minutes later.

4 The licensee initiated an investigation into the cause of the event. A preliminary review indicates that .

the fire may have been caused by a build-up and the subsequent ignition of zirconium fines, which are pyroforic, within the air conditioner. The coring room is used for cutting of zirconium fuel grid cages.

This information is current as of 11:00 a.m. on January 6,1993. There has not been any media interest -

2 in this matter, however, NRC Region I is prepared to respond to media inquires. - NRC Region I personnel are monitoring the licensee's actions. The State of Connecticut has been informed.

CONTACT: R. L. Nimitz R. R. Keimig 215-337-5267 215-337-5255 9301120042 930106 PDR IfvE PNO-1-93-oo2 PDR v\

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2-DCS No: 0701100930106 Date: January 6,1993 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCUR.RENCE PN19302 DISTRIBUTION:

OWFN hiNIlIl L-St. HL Mail: ADM:DMB Chairman Selin AEOD" PDR RES DOT:Trans only" Comm. Rogers IRM Comm. Curtiss OlG *

• NRC Ops Ctr**

Comm. Remick .__. ,

Comm. de Planque INPO" '

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OCAA OIP NSAC* * '

%m Phillips OCA EDO ACRS" OGC NMSS OPA NRR** (Phone Verif: A. Byrdsong 964-1168 or 964-1166)

OE OSP Regional OfGces _ R.I Resident Office EWW OlG Licensee:

(Reactor Licensxs)

-c.,% .. % rs.wra Region I Form 83 (Rev. November 1992) w

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