Description

This Standard provides requirements and recommendations for an administrative controls and quality assurance program necessary to provide assurance that operational phase activities at nuclear power plants are carried out without undue risk to the health and safety of the public. The requirements of this Standard apply to all activities affecting the safety-related functions of nuclear power plant structures, systems, and components. It is not intended to apply to test mobile and experimental reactors nor reactors not subject to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing. However, applicable sections of this Standard should be used as they apply to related activities. Activities included are: design changes, purchasing, fabricating, handling, shipping, storing, cleaning, erecting, installing, inspecting, testing, operating, maintaining, repairing, refueling and modifying.

It is recommended that the administrative controls and quality assurance provisions of this Standard be applied to other important plant equipment at a level commensurate with the importance of the equipment to reliable and efficient plant operation. However, it is emphasized that this Standard is directed primarily. toward administrative controls and quality assurance associated with safety-related activities, equipment and procedures.

This Standard incorporates criteria that permit a degree of flexibility, since administrative practices vary among organizations operating nuclear power plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) promulgates regulations applicable to many aspects of the design, construction and operation of nuclear power reactors. This Standard contains criteria for administrative controls and quality assurance for nuclear power plants during the operational phase of plant life. This phase is generally considered to commence with initial fuel loading, except for certain preoperational activities. Certain operating activities may commence prior to fuel loading and certain initial construction activities may extend past fuel loading; Owner organizations should identify clearly those activities that fall in these overlapping time periods. and should specify whether the activities are to be considered as operational or as construction activities.

This Standard is intended to be consistent with applicable criteria for quality assurance, including those given in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, “Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities,” Appendix B. [1] 1 This Standard fully and completely describes the general requirements and guidelines of American National Standard Quality Assurance Program Requirements for .Nuclear Power Plants, N45.2-1971, as those requirements and guidelines apply during the operational phase of plant life.