Information Notice 1979-05, Use of Improper Materials in Safety-Related Components

Use of Improper Materials in Safety-Related Components

ML031180120
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford, 05000000
Issue date:	03/21/1979
Revision:	0
From:	NRC/IE
To:
References
IN-79-005, NUDOCS 7903300180
Download: ML031180120 (3)

UNITED STATESNUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONOFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20555March 21, 1979IE Information Notice No.79-05USE OF IMPROPER MATERIALS IN SAFETY-RELATED COMPONENTSTwo instances of the addition of Improper materials to safety-relatedcomponents during maintenance have recently been identified by NRCinspections.Materials on Valve Seating SurfacesAn NRC inspector found that maintenance personnel at the Surry nuclearpower plant had added wax or grease to certain valve seating surfaces.These valves included the containment spray and recirculation sprayisolation valves. This material could have affected the measured leakrate through these containment penetrations. VEPCO personnel said thatthe material was believed to have been added to prevent damage to thevalve seating surfaces during dry valve testing. It had not been removedfollowing completion of the maintenance procedure. VEPCO personnel alsoreported that a lack of any definitive administrative guidance as towhat lubricants, if any, could be used during valve maintenance,contributed to this problem. The corrective action included modifica-tion of the procedures to include more precise Inspection by qualitycontrol personnel following valve maintenance.Grease in SnubbersAn NRC inspector found that maintenance personnel at the Browns Ferrynuclear power plant had added grease to the hydraulic fluid reservoirsof eight Bergen-Paterson snubbers. The grease had mistakenly beenadded, during a scheduled lubrication procedure, through the alemitetype fittings used for normal fluid addition. A similar error involvingthirteen snubbers had previously been made at this facility. At thattime the decision had been made to Install a different type of fittingon the snubbers. However, the replacement parts had not arrived in tinefor installation prior to the more recent lubrication. At the time ofthe earlier occurrence, TVA personnel had removed the affected snubbersand tested them for lock-up and bleed rate. The results had been withinspecification. Nevertheless, the units had been disassembled and cleanedprior to reinstallation. NRC inspectors witnessed the disassembly of oneof the later set of greased snubbers (a four-inch unit). Approximatelyone cubic inch of grease was found in the reservoir. Although the grease 9038001 80 IE Information Notice No. 79-05March 21, 1979Grease in Snubbers (continued)had been in the reservoir for only four days, and stroking cf thesnubbers was limited to that which occurred during its removal,grease was found in the control valve assembly and the snubbercylinder. All of the recently greased snubbers were replaced byspare units.These two occurrences illustrate the necessity of controllingconstruction and maintenance practices through the use of care-fully developed procedures designed to prevent errors, such as theintroduction of foreign materials into safety-related components.This information is provided as a notification of a possibly significantmatter. It is expected that recipients will review the information forpossible applicability to their facilities. No specific action or responseis requested at this time. If further NRC evaluations so indicate, an IECircular or Bulletin will be issued to recommend or request soecific li-censee actions. If you have questions regarding this matter, pleasecontact the Director of the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Enclosure:

Listing of IE InformationNotices Issued in 1979 IE InformationMarch 21, 1979Notice No. 79-05LISTING OF IE INFORMATION NOTICESISSUED IN 1979InformationNotice No.SubjectDateIssued79-0179-0279-0379-0479-05Bergen-Paterson HydraulicShock and Sway ArrestorAttempted Extortion -Low Enriched UraniumLimitorque Valve GearedLimit Switch LubricantDegradation ofEngineeredSafety FeaturesUse of Improper Materialsin Safety-RelatedComponents2/2/792/2/792/9/79Issued To .All power reactorfacilities with anOL or a CPAll Fuel FacilitiesAll power reactorfacilities with anOL or a CP2/16/79 All power reactorfacilities with anOL or a CP3/21/79 All power reactorfacilities with anOL or CP