Nuclear Fire Protection Services

Fire Hazard Analysis (FHA)

Systematic identification and evaluation of fire hazards throughout the plant. FHAs characterize ignition sources, combustible loading, fire barriers, detection and suppression coverage, and safe shutdown implications for each fire area and zone.

• Fire area and zone characterization
• Combustible loading inventories and heat release calculations
• Detection and suppression adequacy evaluation
• NRC RG 1.189 and NFPA 805 Chapter 4 methodology
• FHA updates for plant modifications and license renewal

NFPA 805 Transition Support

Licensing basis transitions from deterministic 10 CFR 50 Appendix R to the risk-informed, performance-based framework of NFPA 805 and 10 CFR 50.48(c). We support the full NEI 04-02 process from gap analysis through license amendment request.

• Appendix R to NFPA 805 gap analysis
• Performance-based compliance alternative development
• NEI 04-02 transition methodology implementation
• Fire PRA quality and uncertainty analysis
• License Amendment Request (LAR) technical basis support

Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Analysis

Circuit analysis to demonstrate that safe shutdown can be achieved following fires in each fire area or zone. Covers separation, detection, manual actions, and alternative shutdown paths in accordance with NEI 00-01 guidance and NRC review.

• Safe shutdown system and train identification
• Spurious operation and hot short circuit analysis
• NEI 00-01 Rev. 3 cable and raceway tracing
• Manual operator action feasibility evaluation
• Alternative shutdown panel capability verification

Fire Protection Program Development & Audit

Creation, revision, and independent audit of the site Fire Protection Program against 10 CFR 50.48, NFPA 805, and NRC Regulatory Guide 1.189. Includes procedure development, self-assessment support, and NRC inspection readiness.

• Fire Protection Program document development
• Procedure and implementing document reviews
• Independent Fire Protection Program audits
• NRC inspection readiness walkthroughs
• Corrective action trending and closure support

Combustible Control Program

Development and implementation support for combustible control programs managing both temporary and permanent combustibles in radiologically controlled and safety-significant areas, consistent with NFPA 805 Section 3.3 and plant licensing basis.

• Combustible loading baseline surveys
• Temporary combustible permit system development
• Permanent combustible evaluation and justification
• Transient combustible control procedure writing
• Annual combustible loading verification walkthroughs

Fire Watch & Impairment Program Support

Staffing, training, and programmatic support for hot work fire watch, fire protection system impairments, and compensatory measures. Ensures continuous fire protection coverage during maintenance outages and planned impairments.

• Qualified fire watch personnel for hot work coverage
• Fire protection system impairment tracking
• Compensatory measure implementation and verification
• Roving patrol and continuous watch scheduling
• Fire watch training program development

Fire PRA Integration & Support

Probabilistic Risk Assessment support for fire-initiated scenarios, including fire ignition frequency analysis, fire scenario definition, fire-induced circuit failure modeling, and integration with plant risk models under NUREG/CR-6850 methodology.

• Fire scenario selection and frequency analysis
• NUREG/CR-6850 / EPRI 1011989 methodology application
• Fire-induced equipment failure probability development
• Fire PRA peer review support (ASME/ANS PRA Standard)
• Risk-informed decision making for fire protection changes

Appendix R Compliance Analysis

For plants maintaining 10 CFR 50 Appendix R licensing basis, we provide compliance analyses covering separation requirements, detection and suppression, fire barrier qualification, and alternative and dedicated shutdown capability per BTP 9.5-1 criteria.

• Appendix R safe shutdown path analysis
• Fire barrier separation analysis and documentation
• Detection and suppression equivalency evaluations
• BTP 9.5-1 compliance verification
• Appendix R exemption request technical basis

Epoxy Intumescent Coatings

Two-component epoxy intumescent systems expand up to 50× their original thickness upon fire exposure, creating an insulating char barrier that maintains cable function and structural integrity. Applied by spray, brush, or trowel to cable trays, conduit, and structural steel.

• Fire resistance ratings: 1, 2, and 3-hour configurations
• Tested per ASTM E119 and IEEE 634
• Radiation-resistant formulations for RCA applications
• Decontaminable and repairable surfaces
• Expansion ratio: 25:1 to 50:1 upon activation at 350–400°F

Fire Barrier Wraps & Blankets

Flexible ceramic fiber and mineral wool wraps for individual cables, conduit bundles, and equipment enclosures. Provide removable fire protection in areas requiring frequent maintenance access without loss of rated performance.

• 1- and 2-hour rated configurations
• Tool-free removal and reinstallation
• Compatible with cable trays and junction boxes
• Low smoke and halogen formulations
• Seismic Category I installation qualification

Penetration Fire Stops

Qualified fire stop assemblies for electrical and mechanical penetrations through fire-rated walls and floors. Engineered to maintain the fire rating of the barrier while accommodating cables, conduits, piping, and HVAC penetrations.

• Through-penetration fire stop systems (TPFS)
• Tested per ASTM E814 (UL 1479)
• Intumescent pillows, putty, collars, and cast systems
• Engineering Equivalency calculations for new penetrations
• Inspection, repair, and replacement support

Structural Steel Fire Proofing

Spray-applied and board fireproofing systems protect structural elements supporting safety-related equipment against loss of load-carrying capacity during design-basis fire events.

• Cementitious and intumescent spray systems
• 2- and 3-hour ASTM E119 rated assemblies
• Qualified for nuclear seismic requirements
• Inspection protocols and repair procedures
• AISC fire design basis documentation

NFPA 801

Standard for Fire Protection for Facilities Handling Radioactive Materials

Covers fire protection requirements for research reactors, fuel processing, waste handling, and other radioactive material facilities outside the scope of NFPA 803/805.

NFPA 803

Standard for Fire Protection for Light Water Nuclear Power Plants (Prescriptive)

Deterministic prescriptive requirements for fire protection systems, barriers, and programs at light water reactors. Often used alongside 10 CFR 50 Appendix R compliance analyses.

NFPA 804

Standard for Fire Protection for Advanced Light Water Reactor Electric Generating Plants

Addresses fire protection requirements specific to advanced passive LWR designs and Generation III+ plants including AP1000, ESBWR, and similar concepts.

NFPA 805

Performance-Based Standard for Fire Protection for Light Water Reactor Electric Generating Plants

The NRC-endorsed risk-informed, performance-based fire protection standard. Endorsed via 10 CFR 50.48(c); NEI 04-02 provides the transition methodology from Appendix R.

NFPA 850

Recommended Practice for Fire Protection for Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations

Covers fire protection for turbine halls, switchgear rooms, hydrogen systems, transformer yards, and other balance-of-plant areas common to all generating facilities.

NFPA 13

Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems

Governs the design and installation of automatic sprinkler systems. Referenced for nuclear applications in conjunction with NFPA 805 and site-specific fire suppression system design.

NFPA 15 & 16

Water Spray and Foam-Water Sprinkler Systems

Covers deluge and water spray systems (NFPA 15) used for transformer and oil-filled equipment protection, and foam-water systems (NFPA 16) for hydrocarbon hazard areas in nuclear balance-of-plant.

NFPA 25

Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems

Establishes minimum inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) requirements for sprinklers, standpipes, fire pumps, and water storage tanks to ensure operational readiness.

NFPA 72

National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

Covers design, installation, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems. Applied to nuclear facility fire detection coverage requirements and system surveillance testing intervals.

NFPA 80

Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives

Governs installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire doors used as fire barrier boundary opening protectives throughout nuclear facilities.

NFPA 101

Life Safety Code

Establishes minimum egress, exit access, and emergency lighting requirements. Applied in nuclear facility design for occupancy classification, travel distance, and means of egress from fire areas.

NFPA 12 & 12A

Carbon Dioxide and Halon Extinguishing Systems

Covers total flooding and local application CO₂ systems (NFPA 12) used in cable spreading rooms and control rooms, and Halon 1301 systems (NFPA 12A) still maintained in legacy nuclear applications.

10 CFR 50.48

Fire Protection

The primary NRC regulation governing fire protection at nuclear power plants. Paragraph (b) references Appendix R for older plants; paragraph (c) authorizes the NFPA 805 performance-based alternative.

10 CFR 50 Appendix R

Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power Facilities

Deterministic fire protection requirements for plants licensed prior to January 1, 1979. Covers fire area definition, safe shutdown paths, separation, detection, and suppression criteria.

NRC Regulatory Guide 1.189

Fire Protection for Nuclear Power Plants

Describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing fire protection program requirements. Endorses NFPA 803 and provides guidance on FHA methodology, combustible controls, and impairment programs.

NRC Regulatory Guide 1.205

Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection

Endorses the NFPA 805 / NEI 04-02 transition methodology and provides NRC staff guidance on reviewing LAR submittals for plants adopting the performance-based fire protection framework.

BTP 9.5-1

Branch Technical Position — Guidelines for Fire Protection

NRC staff guidance on fire protection program scope and content. Provides detailed review criteria for detection, suppression, barriers, safe shutdown, and administrative controls used in licensing reviews.

NUREG/CR-6850

EPRI/NRC-RES Fire PRA Methodology for Nuclear Power Facilities

The primary reference methodology for nuclear fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment, covering ignition frequencies, fire growth, cable damage criteria, and human reliability analysis for fire-initiated scenarios.

NEI 04-02

Guidance for Implementing a Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Fire Protection Program

Nuclear Energy Institute guidance document endorsed by NRC RG 1.205. Provides the step-by-step methodology for transitioning a plant's fire protection licensing basis from 10 CFR 50 Appendix R to NFPA 805.

NEI 00-01

Guidance for Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Circuit Analysis

Industry consensus guidance for performing post-fire safe shutdown circuit analysis including cable tracing, spurious operation analysis, and manual action feasibility in support of both Appendix R and NFPA 805 programs.

IEEE 634

Standard for Cable Penetration Fire Stop Qualification Testing

Qualification test standard for cable penetration fire stops used at electrical penetration assemblies and cable tray penetrations through fire-rated walls and floors in nuclear facilities.

IEEE 1202

Standard for Flame-Propagation Testing of Wire and Cable

Cable flame-propagation test standard referenced for qualification of cables installed in cable trays. Results used in combustible loading evaluations and FHA documentation.

ASTM E119

Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials

Furnace test method for determining fire resistance ratings of assemblies including fire barriers, walls, floors, and structural elements used in nuclear facility construction.

ASTM E814

Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop Systems

Test method for qualifying through-penetration fire stop systems. Results used to establish rated assemblies for cable, conduit, and pipe penetrations through fire barriers.

Coating Properties

• Base material: Two-component epoxy system
• Expansion ratio: 25:1 to 50:1 upon fire exposure
• Activation temperature: 350°F to 400°F
• Service temperature: −40°F to 200°F ambient
• Low halogen content — minimizes corrosive combustion products

Fire Performance

• Fire resistance ratings: 1, 2, and 3-hour configurations
• Tested per ASTM E119 and IEEE 634 standards
• Maintains cable functionality during fire exposure
• Low smoke and toxicity characteristics
• Compatible with nuclear-grade cables and jacketing

Application Data

• Dry film thickness: 45 to 250 mils depending on rating
• Coverage rate: 15–40 sq ft/gallon at specified DFT
• Cure time: 24–48 hours at 70°F
• Spray, brush, or trowel application
• Mesh/mat reinforcement for vertical and overhead surfaces

Cable Systems

• Safety-related cable trays and conduits
• Control room cable spreading areas
• Electrical penetration assemblies (EPAs)
• Instrument and control cable routing

Structural Elements

• Safety-related structural steel supports
• Equipment support frames and platforms
• HVAC duct and damper assemblies
• Equipment enclosure fire barriers

Boundaries & Penetrations

• Fire-rated wall and floor penetration seals
• Fire door and damper assemblies
• Cable and conduit through-penetrations
• Pipe and HVAC duct penetrations

Qualified Applicators

Certified applicators with nuclear access qualifications ensure proper surface preparation, application thickness, and documentation in accordance with site QA procedures and applicable specifications.

10 CFR 50 Appendix B QA

Complete documentation packages including installation records, batch certifications, thickness measurement reports, adhesion test results, and photographic documentation to meet nuclear quality requirements.

Lifecycle Support

Periodic inspection protocols, surveillance procedures, repair and replacement programs, and modification support ensure continued performance throughout the plant operating license period.