[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 43400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18543]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Fire Dynamics Tools (FDTs)--Quantitative Fire Hazard Analysis 
Methods for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fire Protection 
Inspection Program, Availability of NUREG

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is announcing the completion 
and availability of Draft NUREG-1805, ``Fire Dynamics Tools (FDTs)--
Quantitative Fire Hazard Analysis Methods for the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission Fire Protection Inspection Program,'' dated June 
30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Draft NUREG-1805 is available for inspection and copying for 
a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland. As of July 8, 2003, you may also electronically access NUREG-
series publications and other NRC records at NRC's Public Electronic 
reading Room at www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html.
    A free single copy of Draft NUREG-1805, to the extent of supply, 
may be requested by writing to Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Reproduction and Distribution Services Section, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Printing and Graphics Branch, Washington, DC 20555-000; 
facsimile: 301-415-2289; e-mail: [email protected].
    Some publications in NUREG-series that are posted at NRC's Web site 
address www.nrc.gov/NRC/NUREGS/indexnum.html are updated regularly and 
may differ from the last printed version.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naeem Iqbal or Mark H. Salley, Office 
of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: 301-415-3346 or 301-415-2840.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC), Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Systems 
Safety and Analysis (DSSA), Plant Systems Branch (SPLB), Fire 
Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section has developed 
quantitative methods, known as ``Fire Dynamics Tools (FDTs),'' to 
assist regional fire protection inspectors in performing fire hazard 
analysis (FHA). These methods have been implemented in spreadsheets and 
taught at the NRC's quarterly regional inspector workshops. The goal of 
the training is to assist inspectors in calculating the quantitative 
aspects of a postulated fire and its effects on safe nuclear power 
plant (NPP) operation. FDTs were developed using state-of-the-art fire 
dynamics equations and correlations that were pre-programmed and locked 
into Microsoft Excel[reg] spreadsheets. These FDTs will enable the 
inspector to perform quick, easy, first-order calculations for the 
potential fire scenarios using today's state-of-the-art principles of 
fire dynamics. Each FDTs spreadsheet also contains a list of the 
physical and thermal properties of the materials commonly encountered 
in NPPs.
    The FDTs are intended to assist fire protection inspectors in 
performing risk-informed evaluations of credible fires that may cause 
critical damage to essential safe-shutdown equipment. This is the 
process required by the new reactor oversight process (ROP) in the 
NRC's inspection manual. In the new ROP, the NRC is moving toward a 
more risk-informed, objective, predictable, understandable, and focused 
regulatory process. Key features of the new program are a risk-informed 
regulatory framework, risk-informed inspections, a significance 
determination process (SDP) to evaluate inspection findings, 
performance indicators, a streamlined assessment process, and more 
clearly defined actions that the NRC will take for plants based on 
their performance.
    This NUREG addresses the technical bases for FDTs, which were 
derived from the principles developed primarily in the Society of Fire 
Protection Engineers (SFPE) Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Protection Handbook, 
and other fire science literature. The subject matter of this NUREG 
covers many aspects of fire dynamics and contains descriptions of the 
most important fire processes. A significant number of examples, 
reference tables, illustrations, and conceptual drawings are presented 
in this NUREG to expand the inspector's appreciation in visualizing and 
retaining the material and understanding calculation methods.
    The content of the FDTs encompasses fire as a physical phenomenon. 
As such, the inspector needs a working knowledge of algebra to 
effectively use the formulae presented in this NUREG and FDTs. Acquired 
technical knowledge or course background in the sciences will also 
prove helpful. The information contained in this NUREG is similar to, 
but includes less theory and detail than, an undergraduate-level 
university curriculum for fire protection engineering students.
    The goal of this NUREG is to develop a common body of knowledge of 
commercial NPP fire protection and fire science to enable the inspector 
to acquire the understanding, skills, and abilities necessary to 
effectively apply principles of fire dynamics to analyze the potential 
effects of a fire in an NPP. The FDTs will advance the FHA process from 
a primarily qualitative approach to a more quantitative approach. The 
development of this NUREG, the FDTs, and the quarterly inspector 
workshops conducted in 2001-2002 are the NRC's first steps in achieving 
that goal.
    Fire is a complex subject and transfer of its concepts to useful 
pursuits is a challenge. We hope that this NUREG and the FDTs can make 
a difference in the NRC's fire protection inspection program, 
specifically risk-informed fire protection initiatives such as the SDP 
and risk-informed inspection of associated circuits.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23 day of June, 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John N. Hannon,
Chief, Plant Systems Branch, Division of Systems Safety and Analysis, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-18543 Filed 7-21-03; 8:45 am]
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