Working group white paper on the use of IEEE 384-1992 standard criteria for independence of Class 1E equipment and circuits

The recently published 1992 revision of IEEE 384 incorporates data from industry cable separation testing for internally generated electrical fires. IEEE 384-1992 represents the fourth effort in the history of the standard which began with the issuance of IEEE 384-1974. IEEE 384-1974 was endorsed in part by NRC regulatory guide 1.75, revision 2. No formal endorsement of IEEE 384-1977, IEEE 384-1981, or IEEE 384-1992 exists in the form of a regulatory guide revision. Therefore, the standard´s author, working group SC-6.5 of the IEEE power engineering society nuclear power engineering committee, has developed this white paper to provide information to the users of IEEE 384-1992. It should be noted that the NRC has recently indicated a willingness to meet with the working group and discuss the possibility of developing a revised regulatory guide. The working group is pursuing this issue