Beryllium-copper alloys should be considered toxic materials and proper controls must be used when they are machined, heated, or otherwise fabricated. Air samples should be taken for each type of fabrication to determine the worker's exposure and the effectiveness of the controls in use. It has been shown that aerosols containing beryllium are generated during the four methods of fabrication tested, and that these aerosols can be reduced through local exhaust to undetectable levels. Considering the acute, chronic and possibly carcinogenic effects of exposure to beryllium, effective controls should be required because they are feasible both technologically and economically. The health hazards and control measures are reviewed.

A redesign of the LOFT instrument penetration necessitated a reanalysis of the thermal conditions existing in the nozzle and flange during a Loss of Coolant Experiment (LOCE). The maximum temperature gradient existing in the instrument flange will be used to determine the thermal stresses and maximum number of allowable cycles for the instrument flange. Based upon the specification and thermal conditions predicted by RELAP4/MOD5, the maximum temperature gradient through the flange will not exceed 216/sup 0/F. The thermal conditions predicted by RELAP4/MOD2 for the nozzle head penetration assembly were less severe than those used in the original thermal-stress analysis, so only the flange was analyzed here. If the thermal stresses are marginal with the 216/sup 0/F ..delta..T, a more detailed analysis should be done as the heat slab model used in RELAP is only one dimensional. Conservative hand calculations were performed for a heatup rate of 100/sup 0/F per hour and it was determined that the worst temperature gradient through the flange will be less than 81/sup 0/F.