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Federal Regulations, Codes, &
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ASME Section XI Meeting Notes - March 2005 |
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Introduction Prepared By: Company: Progress Energy Meeting Dates: February 28 – March 3, 2005 Meeting Location: Meeting Notes General Announcements 1. Next Section XI
meeting is in 2. NRC Report · Next Draft Reg. Guide 1.147 (Revision 14) was published for public comment on August 3, 2004. This will cover up to Supplement 6 of 2001 Code Cases. The public comment period closed on September 2, 2004. The staff has developed responses to the comments, and the draft final guide package is currently under review. Publication is scheduled for July 2005. · Draft Revision 15 to Reg. Guide 1.147 is nearly complete. The guide addresses Code Cases in Supplement 7 through Supplement 12 to the 2001 Edition. This guide will be published for public comment shortly after the Revision 14 is published final. · The final amendment to 10 CFR 50.55a incorporating by reference the 2001 Edition up to and including the 2003 Addenda of the ASME Code, was published on October 1, 2004. The rule became effective November 1, 2004. 3. The process of annulling code cases. Code cases that have been incorporated into a code edition and addenda that the NRC has endorsed through 10CFR50.55a, AND are in the Regulatory Guide are annulled. The rest will be reaffirmed. 4. Plastic pipe - some utilities are pursuing
relief requests to use plastic pipe for repair replacement activities on
class 3 systems. Section XI is
establishing a Task Group to work with Section III and the SWG on nonmetallic
materials to develop rules for using plastic or polyethylene pipe. 5. A new Task Group reporting the SG-NDE has been created to address supplemental Eddy Current examinations. This is a method for characterizing flaws on dissimilar metal welds that have been examined from the ID. Code Committee Protocol
A quick lesson on code committee protocol is provided. Typically, a code item starts at Task Group (TG) level and must work its’ way through BNCS before it gets published. Here is the pecking order. TG – Task Group WG – Working Group SG – Subgroup SC XI – Subcommittee Section XI MC – Standards Committee (Items can still pass with 3 negative votes if it’s a “second consideration” vote.) BNCS – Board of Nuclear Codes and Standards Some Popular “Groups”; TG on Alloy 600 TG on Boric Acid Corrosion WGISIO – ISI Optimization WGISC – Inspection of Systems and Components WGRBI – Risk Based Inspection WGPT – Pressure Test WGIWE/IWL – Containment WGGR – General Requirements SGWCS – Water Cooled Systems SGNDE – Nondestructive Evaluation SGRRM – Repair, Replacement, and Modifications SGES – Evaluations and Standards SCXI – Subcommittee Section XI Code Committee Items 1. Task Group on Alternative NDE Methods for
Repair/Replacement/Modification (RRM) Activities. The TG did not meet. Still trying to resolve an issue concerning
using ASME XI acceptance criteria vs. Section III. A technical paper will be developed to
address this issue. 2. Task Group on Boric Acid. Addressed negative votes received at Standards Committee on Code Case N-722. This Code Case provides visual examination (bare metal) requirements for Alloy 600/182/82 components. A quick summary is as follows: · Each RFO: RPV hot leg nozzle to pipe, SG hot leg nozzle to pipe, Primary side hot leg instrument connections, all Pressurizer penetrations & connections, piping hot leg instrument connections & full penetration welds. · Every other RFO: RPV BMI · Once per interval: All other connections and welds. The Code Case passed SCXI, and is letter balloted at Standards Committee. 3. Proposed Code Case N-729, Alternative Examination Requirements for PWR Closure Heads with Partial-Penetration Nozzle Welds. The new Code Case provides alternative examination requirements for PWR closure heads with partial-penetration nozzle s fabricated with Alloy 600/82/182 and nozzles fabricated with PWSCC resistant materials. Item passed SCXI. 4. A proposed Code Case on Alternative Examination Requirements for BWR RPV Shell Welds (BWR VIP-05) was brought up for discussion, again. This item was tabled for several years until a White Paper could be developed. The item received minor editorial comments at the WGISC. The item will be brought back at May 2005 meeting for a vote. 5. A proposed Code Case on Alternative Examination Requirements for Vessels with Wall Thickness 2 Inches or Less. The Code Case is different from N-435. This Code Case uses susceptibility criteria to determine what examination requirements are appropriate. It requires Appendix VIII when performing UT. Item passed WGISC. Goes to SGWCS. 6. Code change to clarify using Gross Structural Discontinuity in selecting ISI welds. The definition of Gross Structural Discontinuity per Section III will no longer be used for ISI weld selection. The selection will be based sorely on stress. Item passed SGWCS. Goes to SCXI. 7. Proposed Code change to perform visual
examination of Regenerative and Residual Heat Exchanger in lieu of volumetric
and surface examination. Very good
code change for those of you who can not exempt these heat exchangers due to
size and Code class. Passed
SGWCS. Received several comments at
SCXI. Will be brought back at the May
2005 meeting. 8. A proposed Code Case and change to eliminate surface and volumetric examination requirement on RPV head to flange weld. Will be brought back at the May 2005 meeting for a vote (WGISC). 9. A proposed Code Case and change to
eliminate Category B-M-1 valve body weld examination. Mr. 10. Code action to remove inservice inspection of snubbers passed Standards Committee, and is at BNCS. 11. Proposed Code Case (N-711) using risk
insights to determine the minimum required examination coverage for Class 1
and 2 piping welds. Passed SGWCS. This item will be letter balloted at SCXI. NRC will be given time to review and
provide comments. 12. A presentation on the proposed Code Case N-733 for repairing small-bore nozzles using a mechanical nozzle seal assembly (MENSA) was presented and discussed. The item passed SCXI. Goes to BNCS. 13. Revision to Code Case N-522. Currently this code case allows Appendix J testing in lieu of the rules in Table IWC-2500-1, Category C-H. This revision extends this alternative to repair/replacement pressure testing. Passed SGWCS. Goes to SCXI. 14. Proposed revision to Code Case N-586,
Alternative Additional Examination Requirements for Class 1, 2, and 3 Piping,
Components, and Supports. This
revision incorporates NRCs concern/comments. The revision requires the root cause
evaluation to consider other piping systems than the one containing the
original flaws or relevant conditions.
Passed BNCS. 15. Proposed Code Case N-735 to eliminate the
requirement to perform successive examinations on flaws that are not service
induced. Passed WGISC. The action will be taken to SGE&S for
additional work on addressing degradation mechanisms. 16. Proposed Code Case N-731, Alternative Class
1 System Leakage Test Pressure Requirements.
This new proposed Code Case allows Class 1 system leakage test
pressure to be lowered for portions of Class 1 safety injection systems where
the portions are continuously pressurized during an operating cycle. Passed BNCS. Will be published in Supplement 5 of 2004
Edition. 17. Appendix I - Ultrasonic Examinations. Two major changes are proposed. First, the current Appendix does not define
the coverage requirements for dissimilar and overlaid piping welds and the
nozzle inside corner region. Second,
many utilities are submitting for relief to use Appendix VIII qualified
procedures for examination of the RPV flange welds and other vessel welds, in
lieu of Article 4 Section V. The
proposed revision allows for the use of Appendix VIII qualified procedures
without the need for relief, and without the need for examinations from the
flange face or seal surface. Passed
BNCS. Will be published in the 2005
Addenda. 18. Revision to Code Case N-638-1, Ambient
Preheat Machine GTAW Temperbead Requirements. This change revises the SA302 Grade B
limitation and impact testing, NDE, and interpass
temperature requirements. Requirements
to monitor welding process temperatures were also added. Item out for letter ballot at Standards
Committee. 19. Revision to category C-B, C-F-1 and C-F-2
to address examination of reinforcing plates with partial penetrations. The Code is being revised to add a note to
address reinforcement pads that are fillet welded to both the nozzle and
vessel or both sections of pipe, completely encasing the branch connection
welds. Out for letter ballot at
Standards Committee. 20. Revise IWA-6230(b) to
remove the reference to inspections performed during a refueling outage.
Rewording of IWA-6230(b) is needed to clarify that the summary report should
also include inspections performed outside of the refueling outage (such as
on-line examinations) and not just those inspections performed during the refueling
outage. Out for letter ballot at
Standards Committee. Inquiry Session Note:
To expedite the Code Inquiry process, all inquiries must be received
by the ASME office ( The following Requirement Inquiries were approved. 1. Q. Do IWA-2310 and IWA-2314 limit the amount of presentation time that the NDE Instructor, for methods other than ultrasonic examination (which is addressed by VI-4210), may delegate to individuals with specific subject matter expertise, e.g., specialized NDE equipment, metallurgy, welding, etc., for specialized training during a course of instruction where that training is in their area of expertise? Reply. NO 2. Q. Is it a requirement of IWB-2200(a) that preservice examinations be extended to include essentially 100% of Class 1 piping welds except for those piping welds exempted from examination by IWB-1220(a), (b), or (c)? Reply. YES 3. Q. Is it a requirement of Table IWB-2500-1, Examination Category B-J that the number of circumferential butt welds, branch welds, or socket welds in the reactor coolant system Class 1 piping subject to examination equal 25% of the total number of circumferential butt welds, branch welds, or socket welds in the reactor coolant system Class 1 piping? Reply. YES, provided the total does not include welds exempted by IWB-1220, or welds in Item No. B9.22 (2003 Addenda through 2004 Edition). 4. Q. Do the requirements of IWC-2500-1, Examination Categories C-F-1 and C-F-2, determine both the piping welds to be examined as part of the preservice inspection requirements and the welds to be examined as part of the inservice inspection requirements? Reply. YES. However, only those welds selected for inservice inspection require the preservice inspection. 5. Q. Is it a requirement of Section XI that piping welds not required to be examined as part of the preservice inspection requirements be designed and arranged to allow access to meet the examination requirements of Section XI? Reply. YES, as required by IWA-1400(b) The following Intent Inquiries were approved by SCXI. (Note 1: Intent Inquires require approval of SCXI members, and need accompanying code change. Note 2: Occasionally, Requirement Inquires goes to SCXI because the inquiry did not get a unanimous vote at Inquiry Session.). No Intent Inquires was addressed. |
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