Compensatory and Alternative Regulatory Measures for Nuclear Power Plant Fire Protection (Carmen-Fire)

Each commercial nuclear power plant operating in the United States has a comprehensive Fire Protection Program (FPP) that has been reviewed and approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 1 The purpose of the FPP is to prevent the occurrence of fire and minimize radioactive releases to the environment in the unlikely event a significant fire were to occur. To achieve these objectives, the FPP integrates a number of plant designs and operating features (i.e., systems, components, personnel and administrative controls) needed to provide defense-in-depth protection of the public health and safety. This means that the FPP includes measures that are directed at reducing the likelihood of fires and explosions; rapidly detecting and suppressing those fires that may occur, and ensuring the capability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown conditions in the event of a significant fire.