Information Notice No. 87-28, Supplement 1: Air Systems Problems at U.S. Light Water Reactors

                                  UNITED STATES
                          NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                      OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555

                                December 28, 1987


Information Notice No. 87-28, SUPPLEMENT 1:  AIR SYSTEMS PROBLEMS AT 
                                                 U.S. LIGHT WATER REACTORS 


Addressees: 

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits for nuclear power 
reactors. 

Purpose: 

This information notice supplements Information Notice 87-28, dated June 22, 
1987 and provides recipients a copy of NUREG-1275, Vol. II, "Operating 
Experience Feedback Report-Air Systems Problems."  It is expected that 
recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities 
and consider actions, as appropriate, to avoid similar problems.  However, 
suggestions contained in this information notice do not constitute NRC 
requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required. 

Background: 

The NRC staff has been studying problems associated with instrument air 
systems for a number of years.  The results of these studies, including 
concerns relating to adverse effects on safety-related equipment from 
instrument air system failures, were recently identified in NRC Information 
Notice 87-28, dated June 22, 1987.  This information notice identified the 
availability of a case study report entitled "Air Systems Problems at U.S. 
Light Water Reactors," AEOD/C701, dated March 1987.  The report indicated that 
the performance of air operated safety-related components may not be in 
accordance with their intended safety function due to inadequacies in the 
design, installation, and maintenance of the instrument air system.  The 
enclosed copy of the updated case study report incorporates additional 
incidents where instrument air system failures have adversely affected 
facility operations. 

Discussion: 

The NRC staff considers events in which plant safety has been adversely af-
fected by degraded or malfunctioning air systems to be an indication that 
industry has not placed sufficient emphasis on the maintenance, design, and 
operation of air systems.  The staff, therefore, is in the process of 
developing guidance to ensure that licensees meet the commitments in their 
Final Safety Analysis Reports with regard to air systems and is also in the 
process of developing guidance on improvements to air systems that may be 


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                                                       December 28, 1987
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necessary to reduce the frequency of challenges to plant safety.  Appropriate 
regulatory actions will be taken either through interactions with industry to 
ensure comprehensive industry actions with respect to air systems or through 
the issuance of new regulatory requirements. 

No specific action or written response is required by this information notice.
If you have any questions about this matter, please contact the technical 
contact listed below or the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional 
office. 




                                   Charles E. Rossi, Director
                                   Division of Operational Events Assessment
                                   Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Technical Contact:  Jared Wermiel, NRR
                    (301) 492-9412

Attachment 1:  NUREG-1275, Vol. II, "Operating
               Experience Feedback Report -
               Air Systems Problems" 

Attachment 2:  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices