Information Notice 1989-04, Potential Problems from the Use of Space Heaters

Potential Problems from the Use of Space Heaters

ML031180484
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, Three Mile Island, 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
Issue date:	01/17/1989
From:	Rossi C E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
References
IN-89-004, NUDOCS 8901100172
Download: ML031180484 (6)

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 January 17, 1989 NRC INFORMATION

NOTICE NO. 89-04: POTENTIAL

PROBLEMS FROM THE USE OF SPACE HEATERS

Addressees

All holders of operating

licenses or construction

permits for nuclear power reactors and test and research reactors.

Purpose

This information

notice is being provided to alert addressees

to potential problems from the use of space heaters. It is expected that recipients

will review the information

for applicability

to their facilities

and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.

However, suggestions

contained

in this information

notice do not constitute

NRC requirements;

therefore, no specific action or written response is required.Description

of Circumstances:

On December 7, 1988, with the Fort Calhoun Station in cold shutdown and de-fueled, an onsite release of toxic chlorine gas occurred.

The chlorine gas leaked from a chlorine gas cylinder when the fusible plug melted because of the proximity

of a space heater.The licensee stores the chlorine gas cylinders, used in the purification

process of Missouri River water for plant cooling systems, in a ventilated, enclosed room approximately

4 by 6 feet. To keep the cylinders

warm in prepa-ration for use, a 13-kW heater was placed in the room. It appears, based on the licensee's

initial investigation, that the fusible plug became overheated

because of the close proximity

of the heater to the cylinder and melted. The melting point of the plug is approximately

160 0 F. The melted fusible plug initiated

the release of the chlorine gas.The licensee detected the chlorine leak by the odor of chlorine gas in the area adjacent to the gas bottle storage room. The area was immediately

evacuated.

A total of 22 individuals

affected by inhalation

of the gas were transported

to a hospital by the rescue squad. The most severe effect on any individual

was minor lung and nasal passage irritation.

All individuals

have been released from the hospital.00172 O R /

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 Licensee personnel

removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the parking lot until it completely

depressurized.

No other problems were re-ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac-tice. However, the use of space heaters may not have been fully evaluated.

It is important

that licensees

consider the following

items before placing a space heater into service: 1. Fire hazards or combustibles

in the area of the space heater.2. Damage to or effect on the operability

of equipment

by the space heater.3. Effect of accelerated

aging on the environmental

qualification

of electri-cal equipment

caused by the space heater.Recipients

may wish to review their use of space heaters to preclude problems that could result from inadequate

controls.No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice.-If you have any questions

about this matter, pTease contact one 6f the technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate

regional office.a E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contacts:

P. C. Wagner, RIV (817) 860-8127 John Jankovich, NRR (301) 492-1167 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices

Attachment

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED NRC INFORMATION

NOTICES Information

Date of Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to 89-03 Potential Equipment Electrical

Problems 1/11/89 All fuel cycle and major nuclear materials licensees.

89-02 88-23, Supp. 1 89-01 88-46, Supp. 2 88-101 88- 100 88-99 88-98 Criminal Prosecution

of Licensee's

Former President for

Intent

ional

Safety Violations

Potential

for Gas Binding of High-Pressure

Safety Injection

Pumps During a Loss-of-Coolant

Accident Valve Body Erosion Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished

Circuit Breakers Shipment of Contaminated

Equipment

between Nuclear Power Stations Memorandum

of Understanding

between NRC and OSHA Relating to NRC-licensed

Facilities

(53 FR 43950, October 31, 1988)Detection

and Monitoring

of Sudden and/or Rapidly Increasing

Primary-to- Secondary

Leakage Electrical

Relay Degradation

Caused by Oxidation

of Contact Surfaces 1/9/89 1/5/89 1/4/89 12/30/88 12/28/88 12/23/88 12/20/88 12/19/88 All holders of a U.S. NRC specific license.All holders of OLs or CPs for PWRs.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.All major nuclear materials

licensees and utilities

holding CPs and OLs.All holders of OLs or CPs for PWRs.All holders of OLs or CPs for nuclear power reactors.OL = Operating

License CP = Construction

Permit

IN 89-04 January 17, 1989 Licensee personnel

removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the parking lot until it completely

depressurized.

No other problems were re-ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac-tice. However, the use of space heaters may not have been fully evaluated.

It is important

that licensees

consider the following

items before placing a space heater into service: 1. Fire hazards or combustibles

in the area of the space heater.2. Damage to or effect on the operability

of equipment

by the space heater.3. Effect of accelerated

aging on the environmental

qualification

of electri-cal equipment

caused by the space heater.Recipients

may wish to review their use of space heaters to preclude problems that could result from inadequate

controls.No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice.If you have any questions

about this matter, please contact one of the technical contacts listed below or the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate

regional office.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contacts:

P. C. Wagner, RIV (817) 860-8127 John Jankovich, NRR (301) 492-1167 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices*OGCB:DOEA:NRR

• RIV *PPMB:ARM

• C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

JJankovich

TechEd CHBerlinger

01//s/89 01/03/89 01/03/89 01/04/89 01/09/89 01//4889 IN 89-XX January xx, 1989 Licensee personnel

removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a parking lot that was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was kept in the parking lot until it completely

depressurized.

No other problems were re-ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.Discussion:

_r & s The use of space eaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac-tice. The NRC i concerned

that the use of space heaters may not have been fully evaluated.:/icensees-ateid-consider

the following

items before placing a space heater into service: 1. Fire hazards or combustibles

in the area of the space heater.2. Damage to or effect on the operability

of equipment

by the space heater.3. Effect of accelerated

aging on the environmental

qualification

of electri-cal equipment

caused by the space heater.It is recommended

that recipients

review their use of space heaters to preclude problems that could result from inadequate

controls.No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice.If you have any questions

about this matter, please contact the technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate

regional office.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John Jankovich, NRR (301) 492-1167 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices*OGCB:DOEA:NRR

• RIV *PPMB:ARM

C/OtCB:DOEA:NRR

D/DOEA:NRR

JJankovich

TechEd CHBer linger CERossi 01/03/89 01/03/89 01/04/89 01 /89 01/ /89 IN 89-XX January xx, 1989 Licensee personnel

removed the leaking cylinder from the storage room to a parking lot which was downwind of the plant. The cylinder was maintained

in the parking lot until completely

depressurized.

No other problems were re-ported after the cylinder was placed in the parking lot.Discussion:

The use of space heaters at plants during the winter months is a common prac-tice. The NRC is concerned

that the use of space heaters may not have received the level of evaluation

that is warranted.

Licensees

should consider the following

items prior to placing a space heater into service: 1. Fire hazards or combustibles

in the area of the space heater.2. Damage or effect on the operability

of equipment

in the vicinity of the space heater.3. Effect on the environmental

qualification

of electrical

could occur due to the space heater causing accelerated

equipment

that aging.It is recommended

that recipients

review their use of space heaters to preclude problems which could result from inadequate

controls.No specific action or written response is required by this information

notice.If you have any questions

about this matter, please contact the technical contact listed below or the Regional Administrator

of the appropriate

regional office.Charles E. Rossi, Director Division of Operational

Events Assessment

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical

Contact: John Jankovich, NRR (301) 492-1167 Attachment:

List of Recently Issued NRC Information

Notices OGCB: DOEA:NRR JJankovich

M 01/ 3/89 U VlP /89:A ARM TechEd 01/ e//89 C/OGCB:DOEA:NRR

CHBerlinger

01/ /89 D/DOEA:NRR

CERossi 01/ /89