The Barrier Technology Handbook - (Generic Letter 78-19)

GL78019 

                               UNITED STATES 
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                          WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555 
                                     
                               June 12, 1978 

All Power Reactor Licensees and Applicants 

Gentlemen: 

This letter and enclosed Sandia Barrier Technology Handbook, dated November 
1977, are being sent to all licensees authorized to operate a nuclear power 
reactor and to all applicants with applications for a license to operate or 
construct a power reactor. 

The Barrier Technology Handbook is designed to provide state-of-the-art 
information on the role of barriers in security and is provided as a 
reference document. Feedback on this handbook is encouraged from all 
recipients and should be addressed to Dr. Samuel C. T. McDowell, Assistant 
Director for Research and Development, Division of Safeguards and Security, 
DOE.  

                                        Sincerely, 

                                        James R. Miller, Assistant Director 
                                          for Reactor Safeguards 
                                        Division of Operating Reactors 

Enclosure:
Barrier Technology Handbook 

cc w/o enclosure: 
  Service List 
.

Gentlemen: 

Enclosed for your information is a copy of the document SAND77-0777, 
"Barrier Technology Handbook". 

As part of DOE's responsibilities related to safeguarding government-owned 
nuclear facilities, the Office of Safeguards and Security is conducting an 
R&D program in fixed facility physical protection. This program is carried 
out primarily at Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is 
directed at developing safeguards technology that can be applied to existing
DOE facilities and facilities in the design stage. The program includes, 
e.g., development of methodology for assessments and design evaluations; 
equipment development in areas of entry control and intrusion detection; 
evaluation of barriers; development of engineered safeguard system concepts 
and hardware for LWR and LMFBR fuel cycle facilities. 

The enclosed handbook is intended as a working document to: 

     o    provide general barrier system philosophy and the role of barriers
          in a physical security system; 

     o    provide a central source of barrier penetration times for physical
          protection systems effectiveness evaluations, and to aid designers
          of safeguards systems in the selection of cost-effective barriers;
          and 

     o    provide descriptions of concepts for upgrading existing barriers 
          and advanced concepts for new or replacement barriers. 

We plan to update the handbook periodically as needed revisions are 
identified.  Also, results from our continuing R&D program and programs of 
other agencies will be added as appropriate. 

If you have any questions on the handbook or other aspects of our safeguards
R&D program, please feel free to call me or other members of the R&D staff. 

                                        Sincerely, 

                                        Samuel C. T. McDowell 
                                        Assistant Director for Research 
                                          and Development 
                                        Office of Safeguards and Security 


Enclosure: 
Barrier Technology Handbook