Regulatory Guide 1.129

Maintenance, Testing and Replacement of Large Lead Storage Batteries for Nuclear Power Plants

ML003740104
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/28/1978
From:	Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
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References
RG-1.129, Revision 1
Download: ML003740104 (2)

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

Revision 1 February 1978 REGULATORY

GUIDE OFFICE OF STANDARDS

DEVELOPMENT

REGULATORY

GUIDE 1.129 MAINTENANCE, TESTING, AND REPLACEMENT

OF LARGE LEAD STORAGE BATTERIES

FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

A. INTRODUCTION

Criterion

18, "Inspection and Testing of Electric Power Systems." of Appendix A, "General Design Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants." to 10 CFR Part 50, 'Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities.' " requires that electric power systems im portant to safety be designed with a capability to test periodically the operability and functional perform ance of the components of the systems. such as on site power sources. Criterion X1, "Test Control," of Appendix B, "'Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants," 10o 0 CFR Part 50 requires that a test program be estab lished tc ensure that all testing required to demon strate that structures, systems, and components will perform satisfactorily in service is identified and per formed in accordance with Aritten test procedures that incorporate the requirements and acceptance lim its contained in applicable design documents.

Para graph 50.34(b)(6)

of 10 CFR Part 50 requires that the final safety analysis report include, among other things, plans for conduct of normal operations.

in cluding maintenance, surveillance, and periodic tpst ing of structures, systems, and components.

This regulatory guide describes a method acceptable to the NRC staff for performing the maintenance, testing, and repiacement of large lead storage batteries for all types o: nuclear power plants. The Adisory Commit tee on Reactor Safeguards has been consulted con cerning this guide and has concurred in the regulatory position.

B. DISCUSSION

IEEE Std 450-1975. "IEEE Recommended Prac tice for Maintenance.

Testing and Replacement of Large Lead Storage Batteries for Generating Stations and Substations," dated May 29, 1975, was prepared *Lines indicate substantive changes from previous issue.by the Working Group on Batteries, Station Design Subcommittee, of the Power Generation Committee and was approved by the Institute -of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Board on February 27, 1975. It was subsequently approved and desig nated N41.15-1976 by the American National Stand ards Institute on January 8, 1976. The provisions of the standard include mainte nance, test schedules, testing procedures, and re placement criteria for large lead storage batteries.

The standard does not include surveillance and test ing of the d.c. system, even though the battery is part of that system. This standard contains requirements indicated by the verb "shall" and recommendations indicated by the verb "should." The recommenda tions as well as the requirements of the standard were evaluated with respect to importance to safety. All recommendations are considered to be of sufficient importance to safety to be endorsed along with the requirements given in the standard.

C. REGULATORY

POSITION Conformance with the requirements and recom mendations for the maintenance, testing. and re placement of large lead storage batteries for nuclear power plants that are specified by IEEE Std 450 1975. "IEEE Recommended Practice for Mainte nance, Testing and Replacement of Large Lead Stor age Batteries for Generating Stations and Substa tions, provides an adequate basis for complying with the requirements of the Commission's regula tions with respect to the maintenance, testing. and replacement of large lead storage batteries, subject to the following:

'Copies niMy be obtained from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, United Engineering Center, 345 East 47th Street, New York, New York 1001

7. USNRC REGULATORY

GUIDES Comments should be sent to the Secretary of the Comnission US Nuclea, Ra,, Regu:atory Guides are issued to describe and rake avwlabic to the public method latory Commission Washington.

0 C 20555. Attention Dockelng and acceotable to the NRC staff of implernnting spec i. Darts of the Commissio's Branch regiiations

• o delineate lechnilques usd bv the staff in eva:ualing spýeific protleecs The guidesare issued in the followsirng ten broaJ divisions or postulated accidents, or to provide guidance tc app..can-n Regulatory Guides are nOt subsitutes for regulatons.

and compliance w-it them is not rteuired 1. Power Reactors 6 Products Methods and solutions different from th.Sf se! O< i, Ihi guides will be accept 2 Research ard Test Reactors 7. Transportaior ah if they provide a basts to. the findings reourste to tic issiurici or continuance

3 Fuets and Materials Facilities

8. Occupationa, Hteatr, or a peri or license by the Cornmi-t-, 4. Enironmdental andSitrng

9. Antitrust 5 Materials and Plant Protection

10 General Comments and suggestions for in these guides are encouraged at at! Requests for single copies of issued guides twhief may be reproducedI

or lor la times ano gLi es will be revised. as appropriate, to accommodate comment,.

ano Reenst on an automaltc distiebuon list for single copies Of future Ouides or Iiaert to refie. ntc .-niormation or experience This guide wal -re.wseos s rea divisions sould be made in writing To US Nucpar Reoqlarou i Coi mss., ubsirlhv comn-er-t received from the publ an a 1,'ona staff reuiea. Washington CC 20555, Attention Director.

Divisison r Docuriuni Cuirro, I. The battcry ser\ ice test discussed in Subsection

4.3, "Service.I

and described in Subsection

5.6, "Service Test Description," should be performed in addition to the battery performance discharge test. The battery service test should be performed during refueling operations or at some other outage, with "intervals between tests not to exceed 18 months. In addition, if the system design is changed so that the previous service test is no longer a valid test of the capability of the battery to meet the changed design requirements of the system, the user should conduct the service test for the new system design. 2. Section 8. "Standards References," of IEEE Std 450-1975 lists additional standards.

The specific applicability or acceptability of these referenced standards has been or will be covered separately in other regulatory guides, where appropriate.

D. IMPLEMENTATION

The purpose of this section is to provide informa tion to applicants and licensees regarding the NRC. staff's plans for using this regulatory guide. This guide reflects current NRC staff practice.

Therefore, except in those cases in which the appli cant or licensee proposes an acceptable alternative method for complying with specified portions of the Commission's regulations, the method described herein is being and will continue to be used in the evaluation of submittals in connection with construc tion permit applications until this guide is revised as a result of suggestions from the public or additional staff review.