Information Notice No. 83-06: Nonidentical Replacement Parts

                                                            SSINS No.: 6835 
                                                            IN 83-06       

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
                                     
                              February 24, 1983

Information Notice No. 83-06:   NONIDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS 

Addressees: 

All nuclear power plant facilities holding an operating license (OL) or 
construction permit (CP). 

Purpose: 

This information notice is provided as a notification of continuing problems
with replacement parts which differed sufficiently from the parts, they 
replaced to cause improper operation of the components. It is expected that 
recipients will review the information for applicability to their 
facilities. No specific action or response is required. 

Description of Circumstances: 

In October 1980, Beaver Valley filed an LER reporting the failure of a pump 
discharge check valve to seat properly when the pump was shut down. The 
licensee attributed the problem to binding between an anti-rotation device 
on the valve disc and the disc swing arm. Since this was the third time the 
licensee had experienced similar problems with this style of Velan valves, 
after correcting the immediate problem, additional efforts were directed 
toward longer term resolution. As described in greater detail (Attachment 
1), the licensee found that replacement discs, installed as part of leakage 
correction maintenance, differed from the original discs enough to cause the
problem. A total of 24 valves of this make and type are installed at the 
facility. To finally resolve this problem, spare compatible discs were 
installed, and maintenance procedures were improved. All 24 valves now have 
had compatible discs installed. 

Other examples are cited below where replacement parts were found to be 
unacceptably different from those they replaced. 

AEC Regulatory Operations Bulletin 74-06 issued in May 1974 described a 
situation where the manufacturer determined that certain Westinghouse Type 
W-2 control switches could be defective, and recommended inspection and any 
necessary repair. Examination of repair kits that were supplied showed that 
some of the replacement parts were unacceptable. 




8212060366
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                                                         IN 83-06         
                                                         February 24, 1983 
                                                         Page 2 of 2      

IE Bulletin 75-03 issued in March 1975, described a situation where ASCO 
operated air pilot valves required heavier upper disc springs than lower 
disc springs. The springs are intended to be color coded and carry different 
part numbers, but otherwise appear generally identical. In 1975, some repair 
kits contained the wrong springs. 

Information Notice No. 82-56, issued in December 1982, identified a 
situation where three different modifications of Robertshaw control valves 
and parts are known to be in use, for which depending on circumstances, a 
valve or replacement part may or may not be interchangeable. 

TVA reported another example in December 1982. TVA ordered battery chargers 
for Bellefonte from Power Conversion Products, Inc. (PCP). To satisfy 
Bellefonte specifications, PCP modified standard circuit boards. Apparently 
the standard part identification was not changed. When TVA ordered 
replacement boards by part number, standard boards were supplied. When the 
replacement boards were installed, the chargers operated erratically. 

No written response to this notice is required. If you have any questions 
regarding these matters, please contact the Administrator of the appropriate
NRC Regional Office or this office. 


                                   Edward L. Jordan Director 
                                   Division of Emergency Preparedness 
                                     and Engineering Response 
                                   Office of Inspection and Enforcement 

Technical Contact:  J. B. Henderson
                    301-492-9654

Attachments:
1.   LER  PABVS1 80-074-03X, Rev. 1 with attachment
2.   List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices