FP- Fire Protection

Question 1

How does the FP system interface with the QF (In-platn communication) system?

Answer 1

fire alarms are announced over the QF system

Question 2

Who is dispatched to investigate fire alarms?

Answer 2

AO

Question 3

What is the purpose of the three fire protection subsystems?

Answer 3

chemical system-

• Detect, contain, and extinguish all fires in areas where water use is considered impractical.
• Assure availability of at least one safe shutdown path.
• Minimize the loss of life and property.

H2O system-

• Maintain a reliable source of water to fight and extinguish fires within the power block
• Provide water flow and pressure to hose hydrants
• Provide water flow and pressure as required when wet pipe and/or pre-action sprinkler systems are activated by fire detection equipment.

Detection and alarm system-

• Provide fire/smoke detection capability in all plant areas that contain or present potential fire exposure to safety related equipment.
• Initiate visual and audible alarms to warn plant personnel of a fire/smoke condition.

Question 4

What is the designation for the Fire detection and alarm system? Where does power for this system come from?

Answer 4

QK

Essential lighting system (QB
with backup batteries)

Question 5

Describe the FP automatic pre-action valves?

Answer 5

• sealed sprinklers attached to overhead distribution piping that contains low pressure air
• presence of smoke in ambient air, a deluge valve automatically opens pressurizing the line of pipe in the area
• if fusible link melts, sprinkler head will open
• if system doesn’t actuate, pre-action valve emergency release will open it

Question 6

Where do the QK fire detectors send signals to alert personnel?

Answer 6

FP control panel, control room, plant security system computer

Question 7

How does FP interface with the control building HVAC system?

Answer 7

receives interlock signals from the halon system

Question 8

How do the line type (L) fire/smoke detectors work?

Answer 8

detect a fixed temperature along the length of the line. When the wires are exposed to heat, the heat sensitive material yields (195°F), and the wires are shorted together. This activates the alarm.

Called Protecto wire, primarily used above cables in cable trays. They are crisscrossed over the tops of cables in cable trays.

Question 9

Where is Halon used as a fire-extinguishing agent?

Answer 9

Areas occupied and unoccupied that contain equipment vulnerable to fire and water spray damage

• remote shutdown rooms
• inverter room
• computer room
• communications room

Question 10

What three things must be communicated from the AO to the control room during a fire situation? Why is it important for the AO to understand the nature of the alarm and source of emergency when investigating the situation?

Answer 10

• alarm type and location
• area conditions
• any additional details requested by control room or fire department

to prepare for potential hazards

Question 11

In the FP CO2 system, what are the first and second bell alarms indicating? What is the purpose of the wintergreen smell?

Answer 11

first alarm means that either a smoke or fire detector has actuated. Second alarm is the pre-alarm for the auto CO2 discharge

the smell indicates is to alert personnel after a CO2 discharge

Question 12

How do ionization fire/smoke detectors work?

Answer 12

uses radioactive alpha particles to detect the visible or invisible products of combustion

(not installed where diesel or gas exhaust fumes exist or radiation in excess of 7.5 mRem/hr)

Question 13

What properties make Halon a desirable fire-extinguishing agent? How does halon extinguish fires?

Answer 13

non-toxic, non-conductive, leaves little corrosive residue

inhibits the activation of oxygen

Question 14

What must be worn in order to manually activate the FP CO2 system?

Answer 14

SCBA and turn out gear

therefore this is a fire department function

Question 15

Each space protected by the Halon fire-extinguisher agent is its own entity consisting of all the required components. How is it released?

Answer 15

activation of two ionization detectors arranged in a cross zoned manner.

first detector causes an early detection alarm that registers locally and at the control room computer console allowing evacuation

second alarm isolates the room from the HVAC system using fire dampers. It also actuates the predischarge alarm and results in complete discharge of all Halon storage cylinders connected to the affected space

can also be manually discharged by pull station handle

Question 16

What is the correct way to report a fire hazard to the control room?

Answer 16

actual reporting of the conditions found aids the incident commander in judging how to combat the situation

information required from the AO:

• location
• hazard and type confirmation
• size
• equipment affected
• casualties

Question 17

What properties make CO2 a desirable fire-extinguishing agent?

Answer 17

non-combustible, non-reactive, non-conductive

CO2 extinguishes a fire by both suffocation and cooling, protecting areas generally unoccupied and contain equipment vulnerable to both fire and water spray damage

Question 18

Why is it important for an AO to know the differences between fire protection control panel locations and the effected areas that the panels monitor?

Answer 18

to be dispatched to the correct location for investigation

Question 19

What is the purpose of the Fire detection control panels?

Answer 19

monitor several fire zones

zone alarm and trouble alarm lamps are provided for each zone

common module completes the fire zone circuits and sends signals to the plant security/fire protection computer system and to the main control room

Question 20

What areas are protected by the CO2 fire-extinguishing system?

Answer 20

total flooding: class switchgear and class battery rooms

non-class switchgear rooms have CO2hose reels that pull from the same storage tank as the rest of the system for local application

SBOGs have a stand alone CO2 system

Question 21

How do the photoelectric fire/smoke detectors work?

Answer 21

detect the visible or invisible products of combustion by reflected light from the smoke particles. When the signal exceeds a certain level, an alarm is activated.

Question 22

Describe the FP automatic water pray/deluge spray system.

Answer 22

• open head spray nozzles attached to dry distribution piping
• sensed smoke or temp increase opens deluge valve allowing full flow from all nozzles
• flow causes alarms
• equal nozzle pressure
• if system doesnot actuate when required, opening deluge valve emergency release will open it

Question 23

Where are Fire zones identified and what do fire zones do?

Answer 23

PVGS pre-fire strategies manual

only to detect fires, they do not actuate any fire suppressant system

Question 24

How do the heat activated fire/smoke detectors work?

Answer 24

detects a predetermined fixed temperature or rate of temperature rise

Question 25

How are the 2 FP water storage tanks supplied with make up water?

Answer 25

deep well pumps (DS)

Question 26

In the case of a fire, after reporting the initial information to the fire team, via the control room, why would the AO be required to standby?

Answer 26

alert any additional personnel in the area, search surrounding area for hazard extension, or to simply stand by for the Fire Team and Fire Team Advisor

Question 27

After initial reporting and confirmation of fire, if the conditions permit, can the AO attempt to extinguish the fire by either de-energizing the component or using a local mounted extinguisher in the area?

Answer 27

yes

use good judgement of abilities and size of fire

Question 28

How does FP interface with the IA system?

Answer 28

pre-action sprinkler systems used 20 psi service air to monitor the integrity of the dry fire water piping

Question 29

Where is the FP CO2 low pressure storage tank located and what is it used for?

Answer 29

near the radwaste building

purges the main generator, but the lower portion of the tank is dedicated to FP

Question 30

What are the three types of sprinkler systems in the FP system?

Answer 30

wet-pipe, deluge, pre-action

Question 31

Concerning the Fire Protection CO2 system, why will a pre-alarm sound prior to discharge of the automatic system?

Answer 31

CO2 displaces O2 and may cause unconsciousness or death

Question 32

What determines the type of fire detector used in each Fire Zone?

Answer 32

type, class and intensity of fire hazards, including the fire hazard potential for the individual area and/or equipment.

Question 33

Describe the FP automatic wet pipe sprinklers.

Answer 33

• sealed sprinklers attached to a pressurized, overhead pipe.
• temperature rise melts fusible link on sprinkler, discharging water.
• water flow causes alarms
• equal residual pressure through all opened sprinklers

Question 34

How far apart are fire hydrants spaced in the yard areas and how long are the hoses provided on every floor in every building?

Answer 34

250 ft

75ft (some areas have 100ft)

Question 35

How do the ultraviolet light smoke/fire detectors work?

Answer 35

detect the ultraviolet radiation produced by a fire. A flame flickering for at least 3 seconds produces a pulse that initiates an alarm.

Question 36

How many Fire Protection pumps are there what is their capacity? Purpose of the jockey pump?

Answer 36

three 50% capacity pumps

maintains header pressure with no loads on the system