Regulatory Guide 1.156

Environmental Qualification of Connection Assemblies for Nuclear Power Plants

ML13038A426
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Issue date:	11/30/1987
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
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Task EE 404-4 RG-1.156
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,- tRRE(;(, U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION November 1987 lop REGULATORY GUIDE

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH

REGULATORY GUIDE 1.156 (Task EE 4044)

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF CONNECTION ASSEMBLIES

FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

B. DISCUSSION

Criterion 1II, "Design Control," of Appendix B, "Quality IEEE Std 572-1985, "Qualification of Class I E Connec- Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel tion Assemblies for Nuclear Power Generating Stations,"*

Reprocessing Plants," to 10 CFR Part 50, "Domestic published in September 1985, was prepared by Subcom- Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities," requires, mittee 2, "Qualification," of the Nuclear Power Engineering among other things, that, where a test program is used to Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics verify the adequacy of specific design features, it include Engineers (IEEE) and was approved by the IEEE Standards suitable qualification testing of a prototype unit under the Board on December 13, 1984 (and amended on September most adverse design conditions. 25, 1987). This standard describes basic procedures for qualifying connection assemblies (for example, quick- Section 50.49, "Environmental Qualification of Electric disconnect connection assemblies and environmental seals Equipment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plants," in combination with cables as assemblies).

of 10 CFR Part 50 requires that certain electric equipment important to safety be qualified for its application and Guidance on seismic qualification for this equipment is specified performance. Section 50.49 also states require- suggested in Regulatory Guide 1.100, "Seismic Qualifica- ments for establishing environmental qualification methods tion of Electric and Mechanical Equipment for Nuclear

.nd qualification parameters. Power Plants" (Proposed Revision 2, Task EE 108-5).

This regulatory guide describes a method acceptable to Section 50.49 of 10 CFR Part 50 defines three categories the NRC staff for complying with the Commission's regula- of electric equipment that are required to be environmentally tions with regard to the environmental qualification of qualified: (1) safety-related equipment, (2) nonsafety-related quick-disconnect connection assemblies and environmental equipment whose failure could adversely affect safety-related seals in combination with cables or wires as assemblies for equipment, and (3) certain post-accident monitoring service in nuclear power plants. The environmental qualifica- equipment. This regulatory guide provides an acceptable tion is to ensure that connection assemblies can perform method of qualifying quick-disconnect connection assemblies their safety functions during and after a design basis event. and environmental seals in combination with cables or wires as assemblies for all three categories of equipment.

The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has been consulted concerning this guide and has concurred in IEEE Std 572-1985 contains references to other national the regulatory position. standards. Those standards that are referenced but not endorsed by NRC are expected to be used in a manner Any information collection activities mentioned in this consistent with regulatory practice.

regulatory guide are contained as requirements in 10 CFR Part 50, which provides the regulatory basis for this guide. *Copies may be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and The information collection requirements in 10 CFR Part 50 Electronics Engineers Service Center,445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331, have been cleared under OMB Clearance No. 3150-0011. Piscataway, NJ 08855.

USNRC REGULATORY GUIDES The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions:

Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the public methods acceptable to the NRC staff of implementing 1. Power Reactors 6. Products specific parts of the Commission's regulations, to delineate tech- 2. Research and Test Reactors 7. Transportation niques used by the staff in evaluating specific problems or postu- 3. Fuels and MaterialslFacilities 8. Occupational Health lated accidents, or to provide guidance to applicants. Regulatory 4. Environmental and Siting 9. Antitrust and Financial Review Guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance with 5. Materials and Plant Protection 10. General them is not required. Methods and solutions different from those set out in the guides will be acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings requisite to the Issuance or continuance of a permit or Copies of issued guides may be purchased from the Government license by the Commission. Printing Office at the current GPO price. Information on current GPO prices may be obtained by contacting the Superintendent of This guide was issued after consideration of comments received from Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box the public. Comments and suggestions for improvements in these 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082, telephone (202)275-2060 or guides are encouraged at all times, and guides will be revised, as (202)275-2171.

appropriate, to accommodate comments and to reflect new informa- tion or experience.

Issued guides may also be purchased from the National Technical Written comments may be submitted to the Rules and Procedures Information Service on a standing order basis. Details on this Branch, DRR, ADM, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Washington, DC 20555. Springfield, VA 22161.

C. REGULATORY POSITION

Except in those cases in which the applicant or licensee proposes an acceptable alternative method for complying When used in conjunction with Regulatory Guide 1.89, with specified portions of the Commission's regulations, the

"Environmental Qualification of Certain Electric Equip- methods described herein will be used in the evaluation of ment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plants," the the qualification of connection assemblies, within the scope procedures described by IEEE Std 572-1985 are acceptable of this guide, for nuclear power plants as follows:

to the NRC staff for satisfying the Commission's regula- tions pertaining to the environmental qualification of 1. Plants for which the construction permit is issued quick-disconnect connection assemblies and environmental after November 30, 1987, seals in combination with cables or wires as assemblies for service in nuclear power plants to ensure that the connec- tion assemblies can perform their safety functions. 2. Plants for which the operating license application is docketed 6 months or more after November 30,

D. IMPLEMENTATION

1987, The purpose of this section is to provide information to applicants and licensees regarding the NRC staff's plans for 3. Plants for which the applicant or licensee voluntarily using this regulatory guide. commits to the provisions of this guide.

1.156-2

VALUE/IMPACT STATEMENT

BACKGROUND VALUE/IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Heretofore, no guidance specific to the qualification of Value connection assemblies has been published by NRC.* In September 1985, IEEE issued IEEE Std 572-1985, The standard endorsed by this regulatory guide represents

"Qualification of Class 1E Connection Assemblies for a national consensus on qualification methods to ensure the Nuclear Power Generating Stations," which provides reliability and function of connection assemblies used in specific guidance for the qualification of connection nuclear power plants. It provides a standardized approach so assemblies for use in nuclear power plants. This regulatory that industry and the NRC staff may have common under- guide endorses IEEE Std 572-1985 without exceptions. standing on connection assembly qualification and testing procedures, thus minimizing related engineering costs by the applicant and review costs for the staff.

This regulatory guide was issued for public comment in May 1987 as Task EE 404-4. No comments were received Impact from the public, therefore, the guide is being issued with no changes as Regulatory Guide 1.156. This regulatory guide does not impose any new ,osts or obligations on licensees or applicants. Thus, no adverse impact

• Regulatory Guide 1.131, "Qualification Tests of Electric will result from the issuance of this guide. The guidance was Cables, Field Splices, and Connections for Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants," was issued for public comment in August developed through the national consensus standards process

1977 but not published following public comment. and reflects current NRC and industry practice.

.U.S. G.F.O. 1987-202-29-2:602?8

1.156-3

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