The control room area ventilation systems and control building layout and structures are reviewed to assure that plant operators are adequately protected against the effects of accidental releases of toxic and radioactive gases and to assure that the control room can be maintained as the backup center from which technical center personnel can safely operate in the case of an accident. A key parameter affecting control room habitability under the conditions described in GDC-19 and SRP[1] Section 6.4 is the magnitude of control room air infiltration rates. Current estimates of these rates are based on data relating to buildings that are substantially different than typical nuclear power plant control room buildings. Additional experimentally measured air exchange rates of operating reactor control rooms are needed to develop an improved data base. This NUREG-0471[2] task will facilitate compliance with the following staff requirements and guidance: (1) GDC-19 of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50,[3] "Control Room," and (2) SRP[4] Sections 6.4, "Control Room Habitability System," and 9.4.1, "Control Room Area Ventilation Systems."
Work performed by NRR, including experimental measurement of air exchange rates of selected operating reactor plant control rooms, resulted in revised review procedures and have been incorporated into Rev. 2 of SRP[5] Section 6.4 (July 1981) and is being applied to plants under licensing review. The review of this issue with respect to operating plants is also being implemented in accordance with TMI Action Plan Item III.D.3.4, "Control Room Habitability Requirements," as required by NUREG-0737.[6]
On August 18, 1982, the ACRS issued a letter[7] on control room habitability which presented recommendations for staff consideration. These recommendations that relate to control room infiltration aspects of control room habitability pertain primarily to achieving more effective implementation of existing criteria rather than to revising technical and design criteria. The staff response[8] to the ACRS on January 31, 1983 did not recommend revising existing design criteria but made the following comments: (1) recommended increased training of NRC and licensee personnel on control room habitability systems inspection and test procedures, (2) stated that assistance has been requested from INPO on tests conducted by industry organizations on control room HVAC systems, and (3) provided results of an LER review of control room HVAC system surveillance testing over the past 5 years, which established a profile on component failure but did not reveal any total loss of control room habitability.
Based on the accomplishments above, this issue has been RESOLVED and is being implemented.
[1] NUREG-0800, "Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (1st Ed.) November 1975, (2nd Ed.) March 1980, (3rd Ed.) July 1981.
[2] NUREG-0471, "Generic Task Problem Descriptions (Categories B, C, and D)," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, June 1978.
[3] Federal Register Notice 45 FR 37011, "Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities Regulation (10 CFR Parts 30, 40, 50, and 70)," May 30, 1980.
[4] NUREG-0800, "Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (1st Ed.) November 1975, (2nd Ed.) March 1980, (3rd Ed.) July 1981.
[5] NUREG-0800, "Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (1st Ed.) November 1975, (2nd Ed.) March 1980, (3rd Ed.) July 1981.
[6] NUREG-0737, "Clarification of TMI Action Plan Requirements," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, November 1980, (Supplement 1) January 1983.
[7] Letter to N. Palladino from P. Shewmon, "Control Room Habitability," August 18, 1982. [8207180073]
[8] Letter to J. Ray from W. Dircks, "August 18, 1982, ACRS Letter on Control Room Habitability," January 31, 1983. [8302100196]
Page Last Reviewed/Updated 06/24/2025