Firefighting training for nuclear facility personnel
- Texas A and M University (United States)
As a result of the Browns Ferry incident of 1975, an increasing amount of attention has been devoted to fire protection at nuclear power plants in the United States. Regulatory Guide 1.120, NUREG-0050, and NRC Branch Technical Position 9.5-1 were developed to specifically address the nature of such programs, including fire suppression training for plant fire brigades. In early 1978, the Texas A and M University Nuclear Science Center (NSC) and the Fire Protection Training Division of the Texas Engineering Extension Service developed a one-week course emphasizing hands-on exercises to meet the need for training nuclear power plant personnel in firefighting skills. During the past two years six NSC staff members have completed the program, and the result has been greatly increased confidence and improved ability to handle fire situations as well as other types of emergencies. As a result of this, we believe that this type of training is very valuable, if not essential for selected research reactor personnel from each facility. Proposed standard ANS 15.17 would require that 'active fire protection elements' such as brigade training of this nature be a part of each research reactor's fire protection program. This paper discusses a special course that is designed for non-utility nuclear personnel needing combined fire and radiological emergency training. Included in the curriculum are classroom lectures on theory and numerous field exercises covering the use of breathing apparatus under fire conditions, application techniques for handheld extinguishers, and flammable liquid fire control. Special sessions cover the control of radioactive contamination in fire emergencies, with live isotopes used to give the student realistic training in this area. (author)
- Research Organization:
- General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21149401
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09N0119; TOC-12; TRN: US09N0147029007
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 7. biennial U.S. TRIGA users' conference, San Diego, CA (United States), 2-5 Mar 1980; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Abstract only; Related Information: In: 7. biennial U.S. TRIGA users' conference. Papers and abstracts, 369 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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