Information Notice No. 86-17: Update of Failure of Automatic Sprinkler System Valves to Operate
SSINS No : 6835
IN 86-17
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20555
March 24, 1986
Information Notice No. NO 86-17: UPDATE OF FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
SYSTEM VALVES TO OPERATE
Addressees:
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a
construction permit (CP)
Purpose:
This is a notice of the continuing problems of the operational failure of
6-inch deluge and pre-action fire protection water control valves,
identified as Model C, manufactured by Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of
America (ASCOA) of Cleveland, Ohio This notice supplements information
contained in Information Notice (IN) 84-16, issued on March 2, 1984
It is expected that recipients will review the information for applicability
to their facilities and consider actions, if appropriate, to preclude
similar problems from occurring at their facilities However, suggestions
contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC requirements;
therefore, no specific action or written response is required
Description of Circumstances:
The NRC received a copy of a notification from ASCOA in January of 1986
stating that previous instructions issued to customers in late 1984 or early
1985 concerning maintenance to the 6-inch Model C deluge and pre-action
valve was inadequate to prevent the failure-to-actuate problems that had
been experienced In September of 1983, Mississippi Power and Light reported
the failure of one of these valves to actuate during a fire in the emergency
diesel/generator and the failures of two other identical valves to actuate
during tests These events and subsequent licensee findings are detailed in
IN 84-16 That information notice stated that ASCOA was evaluating the
failures
In June of 1984, ASCOA concluded in a letter to NRC that the Grand Gulf
events were plant unique In November of 1984, ASCOA informed the NRC that
three separate reports of the 6-inch Model C valve failing to actuate under
certain circumstances had caused them to re-evaluate their previous
conclusion They provided NRC with an advanced copy of instructions to
customers on the nature of the problem, identification of affected systems,
and a recommended course of action to be taken to correct the problem ASCOA
stated this notification would be sent to all their nuclear customers
8603190248
IN 86-17
March 24, 1986
Page 2 of 2
The most recent ASCOA instructions (circa January 1986) supersede the
previous instructions and state that the previously recommended maintenance
procedure is inadequate These instructions provide what is termed a
"temporary solution " A tentative date for availability of a permanent
solution, additional information for identification of affected valves, and
a course of action described by ASCOA as "required" for the elimination of
the problem are also given However, it is not clear that this notification
has been sent to all nuclear customers Licensees who have not received this
communication from ASCOA are encouraged to contact their ASCOA
representative for this important information
No specific action or written response is required by this notice If you
have any questions about this matter, please contact the Regional
Administrator of the appropriate regional office or this office
Edward L Jordan Director
Division of Emergency Preparedness
and Engineering Response
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Technical Contact: Mary S Wegner, IE
301-492-4511
Attachment: List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices
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