In Service Inspection For Nuclear Power Plants

This guide outlines provisions for the preparation of in-service inspection programmes for critical systems and components of primary reactor coolant systems. Recommendations cover methods and techniques applicable to in-service inspection and the minimum frequency of examinations and tests. Methods of evaluating the results are described and acceptance standards defined. Methods of preparing the necessary documentation, procedures and records are recommended.

Provides recommendations and guidance for effective maintenance, surveillance and in-service inspection to ensure that the levels of reliability and availability of all plant structures, systems and components meet the assumptions and intent of the design.

The safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs), one of the most important conditions for their acceptance, is achieved by numerous methods and techniques during their design, manufacture and maintenance. Risk-informed inspection is one strategy for improving the effectiveness of in-service inspection (ISI) and is based on combination of independent assessments of the probability of failure of components and the consequences of these failures. This publication describes the general process of developing and implementing risk-informed in-service inspections (RI-ISI) methodologies, the technological issues which lie behind the methodologies, application and status, and the current development activities. The information provided is primarily intended for managers, ISI supervisors, lead engineers of NPPs and technical support organizations, but will also be useful for regulatory staff reviewing RI-ISI programmes

This publication describes strategies for improving the effectiveness of in-service inspection (ISI). The role of ISI in maintaining or improving safety and the relationship of ISI improvement to cost are examined. The strategies for improving ISI effectiveness discussed in this publication consider the entire framework of ISI, including effective slection of the proper inspection scope and effectiveness of non-destructive examination as demonstrated through inspection qualification programmes. Improving the effectivenss of ISI in an economical and organized way requires adoption of a strategy the meets specific objectives for each plant owner. Several such strategies are considered.

This publication addresses inspection basics, concepts and methods on how to plan inspection activities, perform inspections of safety related structures, systems and components, evaluate the safety significance of inspection findings, and document the results. It presents high level considerations for the inspection of selected programmatic areas including plant operations, radiation protection, fire protection and maintenance activities at nuclear power plants (NPPs). The publication focuses on the regulatory inspection of operating NPPs and, when applicable, describes how the same inspection techniques can be applied to facilities undergoing construction, preoperational testing, and decommissioning. The general techniques described may be also used in the inspection of other types of nuclear facilities.