Upgrading Safety Systems
New Equipment Reduces Fire Threat at Soviet-Designed Reactors
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US Dept. of Energy Office of International Nuclear Safety and Cooperation 1000 Independence Ave S.W. Washington, DC 20585 (202) 586-6641 https://insp.pnnl.gov:2080/ |
A fire at a nuclear power plant can be catastrophic. If a fire injures personnel or damages a plant's safety systems, operators may be unable to shut down the reactor safely. The result could be damage to the reactor core and release of radioactive material.
U.S. experts are working with Russian and Ukrainian specialists to conduct safe-shutdown analyses, which identify fire risks that could lead to damage of a plant's safety systems at Soviet-designed nuclear power plants. The United States also is providing materials and equipment to improve capabilities to prevent, detect, contain, and suppress fires. Unlike U.S. nuclear power plants, which rely on sprinkler systems to suppress fire, Soviet-designed plants rely on large brigades of dedicated fire personnel. These brigades need to be able to detect fires reliably and alert staff immediately. They also must have the equipment to fight fires effectively. To meet these needs, the United States is supplying fire- and smoke-detection systems, radio systems, and equipment such as fire extinguishers, hose nozzles, coats, boots, helmets, and breathing gear. This basic equipment is essential for fighting fires. The United States also is supplying materials to prevent the occurrence and the spread of fires. In 1992, the first Western visitors to Soviet-designed plants found such conditions as unprotected electrical circuits, conducting wire sprayed with flammable material, and fire doors that sealed poorly and were made of wood. To address these risks, the United States has supplied fire-retardant sealants to coat electrical cables and seal the room-to-room penetrations through which the cables pass. U.S. specialists have worked with Atomremmash (a Russian company) and Askenn Concern (a Ukrainian company) to develop expertise in manufacturing effective fire doors. As a result, these companies have produced 525 fire doors in Russia and 375 fire doors in Ukraine that are being installed in various nuclear power plants. A Texas company, Promatec, initially received U.S. Department of Energy support to provide fire safety equipment to Soviet-designed plants. The products include cable coating and penetration sealant materials, as well as confinement isolation coating materials to reduce leakage from confined spaces. The DOE projects helped Promatec become recognized within the former Soviet Union. As a result, the company has been able to sell materials directly to the plants in amounts that far exceed the value of the initial support they received from the United States. U.S.-supported fire safety improvements include the upgrades listed in the chart below:
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