Information Notice No. 88-48: Licensee Report of Defective Refurbished Valves

                                  UNITED STATES
                          NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                      OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION

                                  July 12, 1988


Information Notice No. 88-48:  LICENSEE REPORT OF DEFECTIVE REFURBISHED 
                                   VALVES 


Addressees: 

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

Purpose: 

This information notice is being provided to alert licensees to potential 
problems with refurbished valves.  It is expected that recipients will review 
this information for applicability to their facilities and consider action, 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. 

Description of Circumstances: 

In April 1988, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) informed the NRC about a poten-
tial problem concerning Vogt 2-inch valves (Vogt Figure No. SW 12111), which 
were leaking steam at the bonnet and packing.  According to PG&E, the valves 
were purchased from a local supply company in May 1986 and installed in non-
safety-related applications.  Although the supply company is now out of 
business, additional information was obtained by PG&E that indicated that the 
valves, although supplied as new, were actually shipped from CMA International 
of Vancouver, Washington, a valve salvage supply house.  Henry Vogt Company 
examined the valves at the Diablo Canyon plant and determined that it had not 
manufactured the valves.  The valves at Diablo Canyon had square flanges, and 
all Vogt-manufactured valves have round flanges. 

Discussion: 

NRC again stresses the importance of the licensee's role in ensuring that 
procurement activities for both safety-related and non-safety-related com-
ponents and materials are given attention commensurate with their importance. 
Had an adequate review of the source of the valves been performed, this 
problem would have been identified and salvage valves would not have been 
installed. 

On the basis of discussions with Vogt representatives, these valves would not 
be appropriate as replacement valves in safety-related applications.  These 
valves are full-port design; that is, the valve port is the same size as the 




8807120291
.                                                            IN 88-48 
                                                            July 12, 1988 
                                                            Page 2 of 2 


inside diameter of the pipe.  Vogt valves designed and sold for safety-related
use are standard-port design; that is, the valve port is slightly smaller than 
the inside diameter of the pipe.  Vogt representatives were not aware of any 
full-port design valves sold for safety-related applications to nuclear power 
plants. 

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:  Edward T. Baker, NRR
                    (301) 492-3221 

Attachment:  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices
.                                                            Attachment
                                                            IN 88-48 
                                                            July 12, 1988 
                                                            Page 1 of 1

                             LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
                            NRC INFORMATION NOTICES 
_____________________________________________________________________________
Information                                  Date of 
Notice No._____Subject_______________________Issuance_______Issued to________

88-47          Slower-Than-Expected          7/14/88        All holders of OLs
               Rod-Drop Times                               or CPs for PWRs. 

88-46          Licensee Report of            7/8/88         All holders of OLs
               Defective Refurbished                        or CPs for nuclear
               Circuit Breakers                             power reactors. 

88-45          Problems In Protective        7/7/88         All holders of OLs
               Relay and Circuit                            or CPs for nuclear
               Breaker Coordination                         power reactors. 

88-44          Mechanical Binding of         6/24/88        All holders of OLs
               Spring Release Device                        or CPs for nuclear
               in Westinghouse Type                         power reactors. 
               DS-416 Circuit Breakers 

88-43          Solenoid Valve Problems       6/23/88        All holders of OLs
                                                            or CPs for nuclear
                                                            power reactors. 

88-42          Circuit Breaker Failures      6/23/88        All holders of OLs
               Due to Loose Charging                        or CPs for nuclear
               Spring Motor Mounting Bolts                  power reactors. 

88-41          Physical Protection           6/22/88        All holders of OLs
               Weaknesses Identified                        or CPs for nuclear
               Through Regulatory Ef-                       power reactors. 
               fectiveness Reviews (RERs) 

88-40          Examiners' Handbook for       6/22/88        All holders of OLs
               Developing Operator                          or CPs for nuclear
               Licensing Examinations                       power reactors. 

88-39          LaSalle Unit 2 Loss of        6/15/88        All holders of OLs
               Recirculation Pumps With                     or CPs for BWRs. 
               Power Oscillation Event 

88-38          Failure of Undervoltage       6/15/88        All holders of OLs
               Trip Attachment on General                   or CPs for nuclear
               Electric Circuit Breakers                    power reactors. 
_____________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License
CP = Construction Permit