Morning Report for July 21, 2005

Headquarters Daily Report

• N/A

N/A

Part 21 2005-0026 - Circuit Breaker Replacement Primary Bushings Not Tested to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards

Licensee/Facility: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Dockets: License No:

Notification: MR Number: H-2005-0018 Date: 07/14/2005

Source Document: Letter

Reviewer: TABATABAI, OMID

Discussion:

Part 21 2005-0026 - Circuit Breaker Replacement Primary Bushings Not Tested to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards

While investigating the dedication process of a different circuit breaker component, GE Energy-Nuclear (GE) discovered that ANSI testing had not been accomplished for the AM breaker primary bushings used in Magne-Blast circuit breakers. The replacement primary bushings were provided by GE Supply PSC, Sharon Hills, PA, and supplied to Watts Bar and Peach Bottom, Units 2 and 3, by GE as safety-related components. The NRC is issuing this morning report to inform all licensees of this issue since additional licensees may have obtained these devices through other dedicating entities.

Previously, the GE product department produced Magne-Blast circuit breakers and switchgear, that was qualified to the appropriate ANSI C37 standards. When the GE breaker plant operation facility was closed, GE contracted with a vendor to manufacture primary bushings. The contractor uses a similar but not identical insulating material, and has variations in the manufacturing process for the bushing construction. GE dedication specifications addressed the replacement insulation material, but not the variation in the manufacturing process. An implicit assumption in the GE dedication specification was that testing in compliance with the applicable ANSI standard had been completed.

GE has determined that design tests in accordance with certain ANSI C37 Industry Standards for Switchgear were not performed prior to implementation of bushing design changes for Parts Q0845D0123G001, and Q0845D0124G001 and G003, which have been delivered to Peach Bottom 2, 3 and Watts Bar 1 for use as replacement primary bushings in Magne-Blast circuit breakers.

Recommendations:

1. For primary bushings purchased under the identified purchase orders and placed in inventory, GE recommends that the primary bushings in inventory should not be installed until after successful completion of the ANSI standards testing.

2. For primary bushings purchased under the identified purchase orders and installed in Magne-Blast circuit breakers, GE recommends that no corrective or preventive action should be taken at this time pending completion of the ANSI standards testing.

General Electric's complete report is available in ADAMS with accession number ML052000333.

Accession Numbers:

Accession No	Accession Date
ML052000333	07/14/2005

Contacts:

Name	Office Abbrev	Phone No	E-Mail
TABATABAI, OMID	NRR	(301) 415-6616	OTY@nrc.gov