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Fire Barrier Penetration Seals in Nuclear Power Plants (NUREG-1552, Supplement 1)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: December 1998
Date Published
: January 1999

Prepared by:
C.S. Bajwa
K.S. West

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Office Of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

In NUREG-1552, "Fire Barrier Penetration Seals in Nuclear Power Plants," the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff documented the results of its comprehensive technical assessment of penetration seals. Subsequently, the staff assessed new information for new insights. The results of the updated assessment are documented in this report. Nuclear power plants use the "defense in depth" concept of echelons of fire protection to achieve a high degree of fire safety. Fire barrier penetration seals, which are one element of the fire protection defense-in-depth concept, are designed to confine a fire to the area in which it started or to protect plant systems and components within an area from a fire outside the area. For the reasons given in this report, it is the staff's judgment that, generically, typical penetration seal deficiencies do not equate to a lack of adequate protection or result in undue risk to public health and safety. It is the staff's opinion that continued licensee attention to existing penetration seal programs and continued NRC reviews and inspections are adequate to (1) provide reasonable assurance that penetration seal problems are discovered and resolved and (2) maintain public health and safety.

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