Regulatory Guide 1.156

Environmental Qualification of Connection Assemblies for Nuclear Power Plants

ML13038A426
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/30/1987
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
To:
References
Task EE 404-4 RG-1.156
Download: ML13038A426 (4)

,- tRRE(;(, U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION November 1987REGULATORY GUIDElop OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCHREGULATORY GUIDE 1.156(Task EE 4044)ENVIRONMENTAL QUALIFICATION OF CONNECTION ASSEMBLIESFOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTSA. INTRODUCTIONCriterion 1II, "Design Control," of Appendix B, "QualityAssurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and FuelReprocessing Plants," to 10 CFR Part 50, "DomesticLicensing of Production and Utilization Facilities," requires,among other things, that, where a test program is used toverify the adequacy of specific design features, it includesuitable qualification testing of a prototype unit under themost adverse design conditions.Section 50.49, "Environmental Qualification of ElectricEquipment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plants,"of 10 CFR Part 50 requires that certain electric equipmentimportant to safety be qualified for its application andspecified performance. Section 50.49 also states require-ments for establishing environmental qualification methods.nd qualification parameters.This regulatory guide describes a method acceptable tothe NRC staff for complying with the Commission's regula-tions with regard to the environmental qualification ofquick-disconnect connection assemblies and environmentalseals in combination with cables or wires as assemblies forservice in nuclear power plants. The environmental qualifica-tion is to ensure that connection assemblies can performtheir safety functions during and after a design basis event.The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards hasbeen consulted concerning this guide and has concurred inthe regulatory position.Any information collection activities mentioned in thisregulatory guide are contained as requirements in 10 CFRPart 50, which provides the regulatory basis for this guide.The information collection requirements in 10 CFR Part 50have been cleared under OMB Clearance No. 3150-0011.B. DISCUSSIONIEEE Std 572-1985, "Qualification of Class I E Connec-tion Assemblies for Nuclear Power Generating Stations,"*published in September 1985, was prepared by Subcom-mittee 2, "Qualification," of the Nuclear Power EngineeringCommittee of the Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) and was approved by the IEEE StandardsBoard on December 13, 1984 (and amended on September25, 1987). This standard describes basic procedures forqualifying connection assemblies (for example, quick-disconnect connection assemblies and environmental sealsin combination with cables as assemblies).Guidance on seismic qualification for this equipment issuggested in Regulatory Guide 1.100, "Seismic Qualifica-tion of Electric and Mechanical Equipment for NuclearPower Plants" (Proposed Revision 2, Task EE 108-5).Section 50.49 of 10 CFR Part 50 defines three categoriesof electric equipment that are required to be environmentallyqualified: (1) safety-related equipment, (2) nonsafety-relatedequipment whose failure could adversely affect safety-relatedequipment, and (3) certain post-accident monitoringequipment. This regulatory guide provides an acceptablemethod of qualifying quick-disconnect connection assembliesand environmental seals in combination with cables or wiresas assemblies for all three categories of equipment.IEEE Std 572-1985 contains references to other nationalstandards. Those standards that are referenced but notendorsed by NRC are expected to be used in a mannerconsistent with regulatory practice.*Copies may be purchased from the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers Service Center,445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331,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 thepublic methods acceptable to the NRC staff of implementing 1. Power Reactors 6. Productsspecific parts of the Commission's regulations, to delineate tech- 2. Research and Test Reactors 7. Transportationniques used by the staff in evaluating specific problems or postu- 3. Fuels and MaterialslFacilities 8. Occupational Healthlated accidents, or to provide guidance to applicants. Regulatory 4. Environmental and Siting 9. Antitrust and Financial ReviewGuides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance with 5. Materials and Plant Protection 10. Generalthem is not required. Methods and solutions different from those setout in the guides will be acceptable if they provide a basis for thefindings requisite to the Issuance or continuance of a permit or Copies of issued guides may be purchased from the Governmentlicense by the Commission. Printing Office at the current GPO price. Information on currentGPO prices may be obtained by contacting the Superintendent ofThis guide was issued after consideration of comments received from Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Boxthe public. Comments and suggestions for improvements in these 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082, telephone (202)275-2060 orguides 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 TechnicalWritten comments may be submitted to the Rules and Procedures Information Service on a standing order basis. Details on thisBranch, DRR, ADM, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road,Washington, DC 20555. Springfield, VA 2216 C. REGULATORY POSITIONWhen used in conjunction with Regulatory Guide 1.89,"Environmental Qualification of Certain Electric Equip-ment Important to Safety for Nuclear Power Plants," theprocedures described by IEEE Std 572-1985 are acceptableto the NRC staff for satisfying the Commission's regula-tions pertaining to the environmental qualification ofquick-disconnect connection assemblies and environmentalseals in combination with cables or wires as assemblies forservice in nuclear power plants to ensure that the connec-tion assemblies can perform their safety functions.D. IMPLEMENTATIONThe purpose of this section is to provide information toapplicants and licensees regarding the NRC staff's plans forusing this regulatory guide.Except in those cases in which the applicant or licenseeproposes an acceptable alternative method for complyingwith specified portions of the Commission's regulations, themethods described herein will be used in the evaluation ofthe qualification of connection assemblies, within the scopeof this guide, for nuclear power plants as follows:1. Plants for which the construction permit is issuedafter November 30, 1987,2. Plants for which the operating license application isdocketed 6 months or more after November 30,1987,3. Plants for which the applicant or licensee voluntarilycommits to the provisions of this guide.1.156-2 VALUE/IMPACT STATEMENT

BACKGROUND

VALUE/IMPACT ASSESSMENTHeretofore, no guidance specific to the qualification ofconnection assemblies has been published by NRC.* InSeptember 1985, IEEE issued IEEE Std 572-1985,"Qualification of Class 1E Connection Assemblies forNuclear Power Generating Stations," which providesspecific guidance for the qualification of connectionassemblies for use in nuclear power plants. This regulatoryguide endorses IEEE Std 572-1985 without exceptions.This regulatory guide was issued for public comment inMay 1987 as Task EE 404-4. No comments were receivedfrom the public, therefore, the guide is being issued with nochanges as Regulatory Guide 1.156.*Regulatory Guide 1.131, "Qualification Tests of ElectricCables, Field Splices, and Connections for Light-Water-CooledNuclear Power Plants," was issued for public comment in August1977 but not published following public comment.ValueThe standard endorsed by this regulatory guide representsa national consensus on qualification methods to ensure thereliability and function of connection assemblies used innuclear power plants. It provides a standardized approach sothat industry and the NRC staff may have common under-standing on connection assembly qualification and testingprocedures, thus minimizing related engineering costs by theapplicant and review costs for the staff.ImpactThis regulatory guide does not impose any new ,osts orobligations on licensees or applicants. Thus, no adverse impactwill result from the issuance of this guide. The guidance wasdeveloped through the national consensus standards processand reflects current NRC and industry practice..U.S. G.F.O. 1987-202-29-2:602?81.156-3 UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20555OFFICIAL BUSINESSPENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300FIRST CLASS MAILPOSTAGE Et FEES PAIDUSNRCPERMIT No. G-671~VCSoc ý -ý