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ASME Section XI Meeting Notes - February 2004		Site Updates
Introduction Prepared By: Dajun Song and Jerry Crider Company: Progress Energy Meeting Dates: February 23 - 26, 2004 Meeting Location: Tampa, Florida Meeting Notes General Announcements 1. Next Section XI meeting is in Nashville, TN. The meeting dates, 05/10/04 – 05/14/04. The Opryland Hotel, (615) 883-2211. $159.00/night. Please make your reservations by April 8, 2004. 2. NRC Report. · Next Draft Reg. Guide (Revision 14) will be published for public comment in April 2004. This will cover up to Supplement 6 of 2001 Code Cases. · The NRC staff has completed its formal review of the changes to the ASME Code incorporated into the 2001 Edition through the 2003 Addenda. The proposed rule was published for public comment on January 7, 2004. Public comments must be submitted by March 22, 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. ISI/NRC Symposium will be held sometime in 2005. Jack Spanner will serve as the chairman. 5. Snubber testing portion in IWF-5000 will be removed from Section XI. Testing will be covered by ISTD. The visual examination will stay in Section XI. Code Committee Protocol A quick lesson on code committee protocol. 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. Incorporated comments from letter ballot. The Draft code was presented to SG NDE and RRM. Item passed SG NDE. Will be on SCXI agenda for May 2004 meeting. 2. Task Group on Boric Acid. Task Group focused on two major areas – the ability to detect leaks in borated systems and actions taken when a leak is identified. A code change to address “evaluation and corrective actions” was presented to WGISIO. Comments from WGISIO will be incorporated, and be brought back to WGISIO in May 2004 meeting. However, the “evaluation and corrective actions” portion of the TG action will be put on “hold” until similar action in WG Pressure Test goes through the Code Committee. Additionally, the task group will meet with Alloy 600 TG to develop visual examination requirements (VT-2 vs. VT-5, and frequency). 3. A presentation on the proposed Code Case for repairing small-bore nozzles using a mechanical nozzle seal assembly (MNSA) was presented and discussed. Currently, the NRC considered the use of a MNSA as a temporary repair (based on discussion, the NRC does not believe that ASME Section III addresses this application). For clarification, several inquiries have been approved saying that Section III does allow the use of a MNSA. Based on the discussions, the SG agreed to form a new Task Group to address the use of a MNSA. The Task Group’s actions are to draft an inquiry on whether Section XI allows its use and, then evaluate whether further Code action is required. 4. Proposed code change and code case (N-702). This item reduces the BWR IRS and nozzle-to-shell welds exam from 100% to 25%. In addition, for IRS, VT-1 can be used in lieu of volumetric exam. It excludes feedwater nozzles and operating control rod drive return line nozzles. Again, the issue is whether or not this item should include 1 mill or 0.5 mill wire for VT-1 exam. This item received 5 negative Letter Ballots at Standards Committee (Main Committee). The negatives were addressed and reaffirmed at SCXI. One lone negative at SCXI was Mr. Norris of NRC (the code cases does not address 1 mill or 0.5 mill wire for VT-1 exam). The Code Case was approved by BNCS on 2/20/04, and will be published in Supplement 12. Excellent Code Case to pursue. 5. 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 SCXI. Out for letter ballot at Standards Committee. 6. Proposed code change (IWX-1220). This action is to revise the exemption criteria to clarify that the primary and secondary sides of heat exchangers are to be handled separately, and clarify that components surrounded by exempt components are themselves exempt. Passed Standards Committee. At BNCS. 7. Mr. Owen Hedden of Westinghouse is working on a Code Case (N-691) to extend the 10-year interval RPV ISI exams by 10 or more years. This means performing the RPV exams once every 20 years. The weld category includes B-A, B-D, and B-J. White Paper is written. Pilot plants have been identified. This item passed Standards Committee (Main Committee). The NRC would like to see the pilot plant study before passing judgment. This looks very promising. Passed BNCS. Published in Supplement 11. 8. Proposed code case to eliminate surface examination of Class 1 socket welds that are not susceptible to outside surface attack. Item passed WGISC. SGWCS decided to incorporate this item into Code Case N-663. Passed SGWCS. At SCXI. Good Code Case for those who are not going to implement RI-ISI. 9. An item to clarify code and Code Case (N-652) requirements. Basically, it clarifies that bolting on all steam generators require examination. The code and Code Case imply otherwise. This item (code change and Code Case revision) passed Standards Committee. At BNCS. 10. Proposed code case using risk insights to determine the minimum required examination coverage for Class 1 and 2 (3, if using Risk-Informed ISI) piping welds. Passed SGWCS. At SCXI. 11. Proposed Code change to perform visual examination of Regenerative and Residual Heat Exchanger in lieu of volumetric and surface examination. At WGISCS for further discussion. Very good code change for those of you who can not exempt these heat exchangers due to size and Code class. 12. Proposed Code Case and Code change to eliminate the requirement to perform successive examinations on flaws that are not service induced. At WGISC. 13. Proposed Code change to address Stepped Bolting. Current code does not address this bolting configuration. At WGISC. 14. Action item to request NRC remove limitation on use of IWB-1220(d). This limitation is stated in 10CFR50.55a(b)(2)(xi). Letter was forwarded to SCXI for approval. Inquiry Session Note: To expedite the Code Inquiry process, all inquiries must be received by the ASME office (Oliver Martinez, Secretary) two weeks prior to the Code meeting. The following Requirement Inquires was approved. Q. Is it a requirement of Section XI, IWA-2310, that a candidate meet all the training, testing, and experience requirements required for the level of certification being sought prior to initial certification, or certification to a higher level, in accordance with the requirements of an Edition and Addenda of Section XI that references ANSI/ASNT CP-189, as amended by the requirements of the governing Edition and Addenda of Section XI? Reply. YES Q. When there is evidence of leakage in the form of boric acid residue from a bolted connection, is it a requirement of IWA-5250 (a)(2) that bolting be removed and examined for evidence of degradation even when the boric acid residue does not come in contact with any of the bolts? Reply. YES, however Code Case N-566-2 provides an alternative. Q. Is it a requirement of Code Case N-504-2 that the weld reinforcement repair be examined in accordance with the requirements of the Construction Code identified in the applicable Repair/Replacement Plan? Reply. NO Q. Is it a requirement of IWA-4440(b)(1) that the words “…certify, by signing the PQR…” require that such certification be performed by handwritten signature on the document? Reply. NO. Where electronically controlled authorization procedures are implemented, such electronic authorization/signature is an acceptable means of certification. Q. IWA-4340 of the 1998 Edition with 2000 Addenda or later requires that the flaw be characterized and evaluated to determine its cause and projected growth; the modification must meet the Construction Code for provision of structural integrity of the item such that it no longer relies on the defective area; and in lieu of reexamination of the defective area, the Owner is required to prepare a plan for additional examination to detect propagation of the flaw beyond the limits of the modification, and where practical, to validate the projected growth. When the provisions of IWA-4340 are used for mitigation of defects by modification, is it a requirement that the defect be removed or reduced to an acceptable size? Reply. NO Q. Does IWA-4000 or IWA-7000, as applicable, permit defective pressure-retaining material to be replaced by modification meeting the Construction Code provisions for structural integrity of the item, such that it no longer relies on the defective area, without removal of the defect? Reply. YES The following Intent Inquiries was approved by SCXI. (Note 1: Typically Intent Inquires require approval of SCXI members, and need an accompanying code change. Note 2: Occasionally, Requirement Inquires goes to SCXI because the inquiry did not get a unanimous vote at Inquiry Session.). Q. Is it the intent of Section XI, IWA-2310 that personnel certified to IWA-2300 requirements of an Edition and Addenda of Section XI that references SNT-TC-1A and who are being certified to the same level of certification by a new employer or recertified by the same employer to the IWA-2300 requirements of an Edition and Addenda of Section XI that references ANSI/ASNT CP-189, are required to receive additional training or additional experience prior to certification or recertification? Reply. NO Q. Is it the intent of Section XI, IWA-2310, that a candidate meet all the ANSI/ANST CP-189 initial training and experience requirements when the individual was previously or is currently certified under ANSI/ASNT CP-189 and recertification to the same level is being sought under a later edition of ANSI/ASNT CP-189? Reply. NO Q. When applied to the 1995 Edition with the 1996 Addenda, or Editions and Addenda up to and including the 2001 Edition, is it the intent of Code Case N-504-2 paragraph (g)(2) to apply the evaluation requirements for SAW and SMAW weld metal from Tables IWB-3641-1 and IWB-3641-2 in lieu of Tables IWB-3641-5 and IWB-3641-6? Reply. YES Q. Is it the intent of IWE-2500(c)(1) in the 1992 Addenda through 1997 Addenda and IWE-2500(b)(1) in the 1998 Edition through 2000 Addenda that a VT-1 visual examination need only be performed on one side of a component if only that side is subject to augmented examination? Reply. YES. IWE-2500(b)(1), 2001 Edition, provides clarification for surface areas requiring augmented examination. (NOTE: This intent inquiry is a revision to already published inquiry, XI-1-01-49) Q. Is it the intent of IWA-6220(f) to report the percentage of system pressure test completed? Reply. NO (NOTE: Did not receive unanimous vote at Inquiry Session)
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