Interchangeability

and Application of
Codes with
different designs
What is required for this
to Happen?
The opinions I express in this
presentation are my own and
they do not represent any
organization or committee with
which I am involved
 Some Definitions
Interchangeability and Application of
Codes with different designs

• This is a complex and interesting title

What do we mean by:
• Interchangeability and
• Application
Different concepts/designs

• VVER’S, AP-1000, EPR, CANDU’S etc.

 Interchangeability
What is interchangeability

The ability to identify the focus,

basic principles and technical
content of the standard and
determine how this standard can
be applied to the concept under
consideration.
 Application
What do we mean by application

Application refers to the

implementation of the standards
and its requirements, to the
subjects covered by the standard
under consideration
FACTORS THAT IMPACT
Interchangeability and
Application
 The Main Factors
• Scope and technical content
• National Safety and Environmental
Requirements and Regulations

• Industrial application and cultural

practices

• Political factors
• Industrial
• National
Scope and Technical
Content
• Scope
• What is the coverage of the standard.
• General application versus specific
application
• SEC III vs. RCCM-R vs. N285 Series
• Standards are based on concepts

• Technical Content
• What is the focus of the standard
• What failure mechanisms are covered
 National Safety and
Environmental Requirements
and Regulations
• Each country has its own individual set of laws and
concern for safety – IAEA provides guidelines which
lead to some consistency.

• Each country has its own unique political situation

with which it has to deal.
• Cultural attitudes impact what the regulatory and political
authorities find acceptable with respect to radioactivity
and environmental acceptance.
Industrial Application
and Cultural Practices
• Industrial Application
• Common industrial practices
• Management systems vs. quality assurance
• Cultural Practices
• Understanding the values of the community, the
country e.g., approach to quality assurance,
competition, worker vs. management.
• Language differences
 Political Factors
• Industrial
• Industrial and political complex collude to
exclude other competitors.

• Political
• Political philosophy re: national standards
and sharing of information
 An Example
Adoption of Section III by
CSA N285 Series
CANDU Concept vs. LWR Concept
There is a History for adoption of ASME Code
 Both Codes Focus on
Pressure Boundary
Integrity
There are differences in coverage; Licensee
vs. Manufacturer
However the principal focus of N285.0 and
Section III, Div. 1 is:

“No Pressure Boundary Failure”

 Integrity of the Pressure
Boundary

The integrity of the pressure boundary

is achieved through a
Controlled
Systematic Approach
 Control & Systematic
• What do we mean by control?
• Defined requirements which are required
by the regulatory authority, to be
implemented

• What do we mean by systematic?

• Repeatable steps of a recognized process
that produces the pressure boundary
integrity required
 Control
Embodies the concepts of:
 Responsibility
 Accountability
 Compliance and enforcement
Systematic
Basic Elements Addressed
 Materials
 Design
 Fabrication & installation
 Examination
 Testing
 Overpressure
 Quality management system
 Process of
Implementation
1. Define requirements
- technical standards to be used
- relationship between CSA standards and other
codes
- quality management

2. Define responsibility & accountability

3. Enforce compliance
 Foundation of the
N285 Series
Basic Elements:

• Defined responsibility
• Control of activities
• Application of sound engineering principles
• Guaranteed compliance
 Defined
Responsibilities
• Regulator
• Inspection Agency
• Designer
• Manufacturer
• Installer
• Owner/Operator
Control of Activities
Quality Management System
 Owners activities - CSA N286
 Component manufacture
 SEC III, NCA-4000; ISO-9000 Series; Z-299
Series
 Material Organization
 Manufacture, Supply & Services
 SEC-III NCA-3800
 CSA Z299 Series & ISO-9000 Series

Quality System Monitored

Sound Engineering Principles
Consensus Codes and Standards

CSA Standards
 N285 Series
 B51
ASME Standards
 BPV Code
 Section III
 Section VIII
 B31 Codes
 B31.1, B31.3
 B16 Standards
 B16.5, B16.34
Guaranteed Compliance
Certification of design documents

Design Registration

Third Party Inspection

Certified Material Test report

Manufacturer Data Reports

Certificate of Authorization
 Basic Relationship of
N285.0 to SEC III
N285.0 defines the classification rules
that lead to defining the classification
of the process and safety systems

SEC III provides the requirements for

the components based on
classification
 Interchangeability
• CSA N285.0 has identical or very similar
concepts to Section III.
• N285.0 either directly references Section III or
has a system very similar to Section III.
• N285.0 provides requirements that Canada
wants as additional requirements e.g., Design
Registration - not a requirement of SEC III.
• N285.0 provides requirements for the unique
CANDU items that Section III does not cover
e.g., materials, rolled joints for Class 1 service
etc.
 Application
• The Canadian Regulator CNSC participates and
supports the adoption of the N285 Standards
through the License.
• The industry in Canada has a background of
use of the ASME Code and its concepts - to
some extent driven by trade considerations.
• N285.0 has adopted the quality assurance
requirements of Section III with slight variation
• N285.0 has aligned and implements the
fundamental concepts of Section III
Thank you for your
attention.