Preliminary hazards analysis for the National Ignition Facility

Abstract

We have performed a Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA) for the National Ignition Facility (NIF), in accordance with DOE Order 5480.23 (DOE, 1992a), DOE Order 5481.1B (DOE, 1986), and Management Directive (MD) 5481.1A (DOE, 1989). The NIF is a laser fusion experimental facility,. whose primary goal will be to demonstrate ignition and propagation of fusion burn in the laboratory. Based on the materials and operations described in this report, we classified the NIF as low hazard. The methodology we used to arrive at this classification is described in reference DOE (1992b), supplemented by the approach for classification on the basis of hazardous chemicals currently used at "' the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). We assigned an initial classification of low hazard, nonnuclear by comparing estimated maximum facility inventories of radionuclides and hazardous chemicals with threshold values. The thresholds for radionuclides have been established by DOE; LLNL provided the thresholds for hazardous chemicals. We then confirmed the low hazard, normuclear classification by evaluating consequences of bounding accidents for radionuclides and for the chemicals presenting the most significant hazards. The low hazard classification assumes that administrative controls will prevent inventories from exceeding the maximum values used in this analysis. Changes in operations, maximum inventories, materials, or release potential that could result in the bounding consequences being exceeded, or that could negatively impact the safety of the facility, will necessitate a reevaluation of the classification. This PHA was prepared for siting the N[F at the Lawrence Liverrnore National Laboratory. The inventory of materials assumed in this analysis would not change for other DOE sites. The methodology for classification on the basis of radionuclide inventories has been standardized, and would apply at any other DOE site. The chemical hazard classification methodology is that currently used at LLNL, and may be different from approaches used at other DOE sites.

National Ignition Facility Risk Management Plan

“…Preliminary Hazards Analysis (Brereton, 1993), The process used in developing this plan was to form a Risk Assessment team of knowledgeable project personnel. This included: Assurances Manager, Systems Integration Manager, Project Control Manager, a Risk Management consultant, Deputy Associate Project Engineer for Activation and Start-up (Co-chairperson), and Lead Engineer for Safety Analysis (Co-chairperson).…”

Technical documentation in support of the project-specific analysis for construction and operation of the National Ignition Facility

“…These events were derived from the Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA) (Brereton 1993). They were derived from general considerations of the NIF design and are, therefore, applicable to any of the five candidate N E sites.…”