Information Notice 1985-40, Deficiencies in Equipment Qualification Testing and Certification Process

Deficiencies in Equipment Qualification Testing and Certification Process

ML031180380
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, 05000000, Zimmer, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant, Skagit, Marble Hill, Crane
Issue date:	05/22/1985
From:	Jordan E NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-85-040, NUDOCS 8505200600
Download: ML031180380 (4)

SSINS No.: 6835 IN 85-40

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 22, 1985 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 85-40: DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT QUALIFICATION

TESTING AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Addressees

license (OL) or a construction

All holders of a nuclear power reactor operating

permit (CP).

Purpose

that quality-related deficiencies

This information notice is to alert licenseesapproval, and certification process

in the qualification documentation, review, Branch (VPB) of the NRC during its

have been identified by the Vendor Programobservations suggest that some vendor

review of qualification activities. NRC not provide a sufficient basis for

qualification activities and practices may

qualification certification.

information for specific and generic

It is suggested that recipients review this supporting environmental qualification

applicability to ensure that documentation is complete. Suggestions

of safety-related equipment at their facilities

NRC requirements; therefore, no

contained in this notice do not constitute

specific action or response is required.

Description of Circumstances

1, June 1984), and IEEE Standards

10 CFR 50.49, Regulatory Guide 1.89 (Revision information demonstrating qualifi-

323-1974 and 323-1983 each require auditablelicensee management and the NRC that

cation to provide continuing assurance to period during which it is installed

equipment in use is qualified for the entire B, provides quality assurance

in the nuclear power plant. 10 CFR 50, Appendix of qualification files. IEEE

requirements for the generation of all elements

Regulatory Guide 1.89), requires that

Standard 323-1974, Section 8 (endorsed by be reviewed and approved by the

individual elements of qualification files inspected vendor qualification

licensee. Since July 1982, the VPB has actively Inspections have been performed

efforts for compliance to these NRC requirements.

testing laboratories, architect-engineers, at manufacturing facilities, independent

and nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) vendors.

examples where more active licensee

NRC observations at the vendor level provideshould have occurred. In some cases, participation in the qualification effort to justify because of documen- certification of qualification is now difficult Some examples of NRC findings

tation and test practices employed by vendors.

follow.

8505200600

IN 85-40

May 22, 1985 1. Qualification activities not performed under a QA

10 C 5, Appenx program consistent with

I

o Qualification testing of Class lE equipment

appropriate QA programs. was conducted without

o No QA requirements were imposed on organizations

related services (such as irradiation, providing safety- associated with the qualification process.calibration, and analyses)

2. Qualification test report conclusions not

test data not availab e supported by test data or

o Test profiles shown in qualification reports

during test. were not actually achieved

o Reports identified specimens or materials

those actually tested. that were different from

o Test records showed inadequate sensitivity/resolution

of test equipment.

o Documentation required by the standards

was not available (test plans, equipment referenced in the test report

lists, and calibration records).

° Test anomalies werenot adequately reported or evaluated.

o Similarity between test specimens and items

established. to be qualified was not

3. Documentation to support the validity of

for lifetime oftheequipment qualification not maintained

o Supporting test data were destroyed after

five years.

4. Inadequate review, approval, or certification

of test results

o Interfaces/responsibilities of organizations

qualification process were not clearly involved in the

defined.

o Test reports contained statements that testing

"guidelines" or "intent" of standards referencedsatisfied the

in the specification.

Detailed descriptions of NRC findings and

published in NUREG-0040, "Licensee Contractor results of these inspections are

Report," Volumes 6, 7, and 8. This report and Vendor Inspection Status

is

and it can be obtained from the Superintendent published quarterly by the NRC,

Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, of Documents, U.S. Government

Washington, D.C. 20013-7982.

IN 85-40

May 22, 1985 Correspondence with contractors and vendors relative to the inspection data

contained in NUREG-0040 is placed in the NRC Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20555.

Discussion:

The deficiencies described in this notice resulted from the review of a vendor's

qualification activities against the applicable procurement document requirement

or, in the case of generic qualification, against the applicable QA criteria.

An overall assessment of identified deficiencies (1) suggests that some vendor

qualification activities may not adequately support the applicable NRC require- ments, and (2) emphasizes the need for increased licensee attention to the adequacy

of their vendor procurement control practices for qualification activities and

the definition of responsibilities and interfaces in the qualification process.

Documentation from vendors and test laboratories form the basis for meeting the

equipment qualification requirements of paragraphs (d), (e), (f) and (j) of 10 CFR 50.49. This documentation may include procurement specifications, test plans, test procedures, test logbooks, qualification test reports, test data, analyses

and corrective action to resolve test anomalies, test configurations and

interfaces, and quality assurance information.

The NRC staff considers the above-identified deficiencies to be representative

examples of problems with vendors and test laboratories providing qualification

services to other vendors and user utilities. Although there may be specific

problems applicable to a particular utility, the staff expects that user

utilities will consider the overall applicability of the above information in

establishing qualification of safety-related equipment.

No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you have

any questions regarding this notice, please contact the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate NRC regional office or this office.

ar l. orian, Director

Divis n of Emergency Preparedness

and ngineering Response

Office of Inspection and Enforcement

G. T. Hubbard, IE

(301) 492-9759 Attachment: List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 85-40

May 22, 1985 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED

IE INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to

85-39 Auditability of Electrical 5/22/85 All power reactor

Equipment Qualification facilities holding

Records At Licensees' an OL or CP

Facilities

85-38 Loose Parts Obstruct Control 5/21/85 All PWR facilities

Rod Drive Mechanism designed by B&W

holding an OL or CP

85-37 Chemical Cleaning Of Steam 5/14/85 All pressure water

Generator At Milestone 2 reactor facilities

holding an OL or CP

84-55 Seal Table Leaks At PWRs 5/14/85 All power reactor

Sup. 1 facilities holding

an OL or CP

85-20 Motor-Operated Valve Failures 5/14/85 All power reactor

Sup. 1 Due To Hammering Effect facilities holding

an OL or CP

85-36 Malfunction Of A Dry-Storage, 5/9/85 All licensees

Panoramic, Gamma Exposure possessing gamma

Irradiator irradiators

84-52 Inadequate Material 5/8/85 All power reactor

Sup. 1 Procurement Controls On facilities holding

The Part Of Licensees And an OL or CP

Vendors

85-35 Failure Of Air Check Valves 4/30/85 All power reactor

To Seat facilities holding

an OL or CP

85-34 Heat Tracing Contributes To 4/30/85 All power reactor

Corrosion Failure Of Stainless facilities holding

Steel Piping an OL or CP

84-84 Deficiencies In Ferro- 4/24/85 All power reactor

Rev. 1 Resonant Transformers facilities holding

an OL or CP

DL = Operating License

CP = Construction Permit