Information Notice 1986-17, Update of Failure of Automatic Sprinkler System Valves to Operate

Update of Failure of Automatic Sprinkler System Valves to Operate

ML031220606
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, Skagit, Marble Hill
Issue date:	03/24/1986
Revision:	0
From:	Jordan E L NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-86-017, NUDOCS 8603190248
Download: ML031220606 (3)

11$ O GINAL SINS No.: 6835IN 86-17UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENTWASHINGTON, DC 20555March 24, 1986IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-17: UPDATE OF FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERSYSTEM VALVES TO OPERATE

Addressees

All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or aconstruction permit (CP).

Purpose

This is a notice of the continuing problems of the operational failure of 6-inchdeluge and pre-action fire protection water control valves, identified as ModelC, manufactured by Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America (ASCOA) ofCleveland, Ohio. This notice supplements information contained in InformationNotice (IN) 84-16, issued on March 2, 1984.It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability totheir facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude similarproblems from occurring at their facilities. However, suggestions contained inthis information notice do not constitute NRC requirements; therefore, nospecific action or written response is required.

Description of Circumstances

The NRC received a copy of a notification from ASCOA in January of 1986 statingthat previous instructions issued to customers in late 1984 or early 1985concerning maintenance to the 6-inch Model C deluge and pre-action valve wasinadequate to prevent the failure-to-actuate problems that had been experienced.In September of 1983, Mississippi Power and Light reported the failure of oneof these valves to actuate during a fire in the emergency diesel/generator andthe failures of two other identical valves to actuate during tests. These eventsand subsequent licensee findings are detailed in IN 84-16. That informationnotice stated that ASCOA was evaluating the failures.In June of 1984, ASCOA concluded in a letter to NRC that the Grand Gulf eventswere plant unique. In November of 1984, ASCOA informed the NRC that threeseparate reports of the 6-inch Model C valve failing to actuate under certaincircumstances had caused them to re-evaluate their previous conclusion. Theyprovided NRC with an advanced copy of instructions to customers on the natureof the problem, identification of affected systems, and a recommended course ofaction to be taken to correct the problem. ASCOA stated this notification wouldbe sent to all their nuclear customers.8603190248 IN 86-17March 24, 1986 The most recent ASCOA instructions (circa January 1986) supersede the previousinstructions and state that the previously recommended maintenance procedure isinadequate. These instructions provide what is termed a "temporary solution."A tentative date for availability of a permanent solution, additional informationfor identification of affected valves, and a course of action described by ASCOAas "required" for the elimination of the problem are also given. However, it isnot clear that this notification has been sent to all nuclear customers.Licensees who have not received this communication from ASCOA are encouraged tocontact their ASCOA representative for this important information.No specific action or written response is required by this notice. If you haveany questions about this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator ofthe appropriate regional office or this office.wa L. Jordan, DirectorDivisi of Emergency Preparednessand Engineering ResponseOfficedof Inspection and Enforcement

Technical Contact:

Mary S. Wegner, IE301-492-4511

Attachment:

List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices Attachment 1IN 86-17March 24, 1986LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUEDIE INFORMATION NOTICESInformation Date ofNotice No. Subject Issue Issued to86-16Failures To Identify Contain- 3/11/86ment Leakage Due To InadequateLocal Testing of BWR VacuumRelief System Valves86-1586-1486-13Loss Of Offsite Power CausedBy Problems In Fiber OpticsSystemsPWR Auxiliary Feedwater PumpTurbine Control ProblemsStandby Liquid ControlSystem Squib Valves FailureTo FireTarget Rock Two-Stage SRVSetpoint DriftInadequate Service WaterProtection Against Core MeltFrequency3/10/863/10/862/21/862/25/862/25/86All power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll BWR facilitiesholding an OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CP86-1286-1184-69Sup. 1Operation Of Emergency DieseGenerators1 2/24/86All power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CP86-1086-09Safety Parameter DisplaySystem MalfunctionsFailure Of Check And StopCheck Valves Subjected ToLow Flow ConditionsLicensee Event Report (LER)Format Modification2/13/862/3/862/3/86All power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CPAll power reactorfacilities holdingan OL or CP86-08OL = Operating LicenseCP = Construction Permit