Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 8e45dce1-e1e7-4415-b1dd-7e2a610e545b
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Fire Protection for Nuclear Power Plants (Rev. 4)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2023/ML20231A835.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.189
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
outside independent fire protection consultant, may perform the annual audit. However, only an outside independent fire protection consultant should perform the triennial audit. The outside consultant should not be an employee of the licensee of the plant being audited. These audits would normally include evaluating existing documents (other than those addressed under the 24-month audit) and inspecting fire protection system operability or functionality, inspecting the integrity of fire barriers, and witnessing the performance of procedures to verify that the licensee has fully implemented the FPP and that the plan is adequate for the objects protected. Duplicate audits are not required (i.e., the 3-year audit replaces the annual audit for the year in which it is performed). 1.8 Fire Protection Program Changes and Code Deviations This section provides guidance on the regulatory mechanisms for addressing changes, deviations, exemptions, and other issues affecting compliance with fire protection requirements. Risk-informed, performance-based methodologies may be used to evaluate the acceptability of FPP changes; however, for this approach, the licensee should use methodologies and acceptance criteria that the NRC has reviewed and approved. RG 1.174 includes guidance for risk-informed changes to a plant’s current licensing basis. 1.8.1 Change Evaluations If an existing plant has adopted the standard license condition for fire protection and incorporated the FPP in the FSAR, the licensee may make changes to the approved FPP without the Commission’s prior approval only if those changes would not adversely affect the ability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown in the event of a fire. The FSAR should include or reference the evaluation that documents the change. In addition to planned changes, nonconforming conditions may also require an evaluation. An FPP change is any change to plant hardware or plant program documents and procedures that affects the FPP. In