The Role of Standards and Cer1fica1on

in the Nuclear Power Industry

15th INPRO Dialog Forum on Sustainable Supply Chains for

Advanced Nuclear Power Systems
July 2-4, 2018

Allyson Byk
Project Engineering Advisor
ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards Europe Liaison
 Agenda
• ASME Background
• History of Standards and Why They MaTer
• ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards
• ASME Conformity Assessment
• ConsideraUons For Countries With Emerging
Nuclear Programs
 ASME at a Glance
• ASME was founded in 1880
• 400 employees
Offices:
New York, NY
• 140,000 members with over 200 local secUons, 500
student secUons in over 40 countries
Washington DC
Fairfield, NJ
• Develop standards and conformity assessment programs
for many industries including nuclear
Houston, TX
Brussels
• ASME offers more than 200 courses and trains about
9,000 people each year
Beijing
New Delhi
• Publish mulUple technical journals and books
• Sponsor or co-sponsor many technical conferences
ASME Standards and Cer8fica8on Mission
Develop the best, most applicable, codes, standards,
and conformity assessment programs in the world, for
the benefit of humanity.

Involve the best and the brightest people from all

around the world to develop, maintain, and promote
the use of these ASME products and services world
wide.
 Background of ASME Codes & Standards

• First standard issued in 1884

• Maintain approximately 500 published codes and
standards, issuing between 75-100 annually
• 700 total commiTees
• Over 5500 volunteer commiTee members (SMEs)
• Administer over 40 US Technical Advisory Groups to ISO
 ASME Develops Codes & Standards for Many Industries
Authorized InspecUons Fossil Plumbing
AutomoUve Gauges/Gaging Post ConstrucUon
Bioprocess
Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) Pressure Vessels
Blanks
Pumps
HeaUng, VenUlaUng and Air-CondiUoning
Boiler
Rail TransportaUon
High Pressure Vessels/Systems
CerUficaUon & AccreditaUon (C&A)
Reinforced Thermo, PlasUc Corrosion
Industrial Gas
Chains Resistance
Internal CombusUon Engine
Chemical/Process Renewable/AlternaUve Energy
Keys & Keyseats
Compressors Risk Analysis
Limits & Fits
ComputaUonal/Analysis Screw Threads
Materials
Steam Table
CompuUng/InformaUon Science in Engineering
Measurement
Steel Stacks
Controls Medical/Health
Surface Quality
Conveyors Metal Products Sizes
TesUng
Cranes and Hoists Metric System
TexUle Engineering
Design Noise Control and AcousUcs
Tools
Elevators and Escalators Non-Personnel & Personnel Lijing Devices
Turbines
Energy Efficiency NondestrucUve EvaluaUon/ExaminaUon
Valves
Engineering Drawing & Related PracUces Nuclear
Waste
Environmental Operator QualificaUon and CerUficaUon
Water Management
Fasteners Performance Test Codes
Welding & Brazing
Fitness-For-Service Piping & Pipelines
Figngs, Flanges & Gaskets Plant OperaUons
 Brief History of Steam Power and the
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
• Throughout the 1800’s, both boiler size and operaUng pressure
conUnued to increase
• By the 1890’s the number of boiler explosions was more than
one per day, causing the loss of thousands of lives

Example:
• The Grover Shoe Factory boiler explosion on March 20, 1905 in
Brockton, MassachuseTs
R. B. Grover & Company Shoe Factory
Before the boiler explosion
R. B. Grover & Company Shoe Factory
A@er Boiler Explosion
 Why Standards MaPer
It’s about protec.ng public health and safety

• Following a number of explosions of this type, states

began to develop their own boiler laws
• This led to the development of different laws among the
states
• In response, ASME issued the first Boiler Code in 1914
• It provided for safe construcUon and promoted
commerce through consistency of requirements
 5000 psi

1600 psi

PRE
SSU
400 psi RE L
650 psi EVE
L

500 psi
 Why Standards MaPer
It’s also about consistency of requirements
Without consistency of
requirements you get this…..

World Power Outlets

 ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code

• Covers industrial and residenUal boilers,

pressure vessels, nuclear reactor
components, and transport tanks
• Is Comprehensive - provides rules for
materials, design, fabricaUon,
examinaUon, inspecUon, tesUng,
cerUficaUon, and pressure relief
• Is Dynamic – evolves and changes to
reflect new technology and industry
needs
• Includes a conformity assessment
program wriTen into the code to assure
compliance
 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sec8ons
• SecUon I - Power Boilers
• Sec1on II - Materials
• Sec8on III - Rules for Construc8on of Nuclear Facility Components
• SecUon IV - HeaUng Boilers
• Sec1on V - Nondestruc1ve Examina1on
• SecUon VI - Recommended Rules for the Care and OperaUon of HeaUng Boilers
• SecUon VII - Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers
• SecUon VIII Pressure Vessels
• Sec1on IX - Welding and Brazing Qualifica1ons
• SecUon X - Fiber-Reinforced PlasUc Pressure Vessels
• Sec8on XI - Rules for Inservice Inspec8on of Nuclear Power Plant
Components
• SecUon XII - Rules for the ConstrucUon and ConUnued Service of Transport Tanks
• SecUon XIII – Overpressure ProtecUon (In development)
2017 Edi8on
12 Sec8ons / 31 Volumes / ~16,500 pages
Updated every 2 years
Nuclear Codes and Standards
ASME Standards for Nuclear Construc8on

Nuclear Codes
• BPVC Sec8on III – Rules for ConstrucUon
of Nuclear Facility Components
• NQA-1 – Quality Assurance
Requirements for Nuclear Facility
ApplicaUons
• BPVC Sec8on XI – Inservice InspecUon & TesUng

Technical Reference Codes

• BPVC Sec8on II – Materials
• BPVC Sec8on V – NondestrucUve ExaminaUon
• BPVC Sec8on IX – Welding & Brazing QualificaUons
 ASME BPVC Sec8on III
Rules for Construc1on of Nuclear Facility Components

SecUon III establishes rules of

safety relaUng only to pressure
integrity, which governs the
construc8on of boilers, pressure
vessels, transport tanks, nuclear
components and their supports.
 ASME BPVC Sec8on III
Rules for Construc1on of Nuclear Facility Components

• Subsec8on NCA: General Requirements for

Divisions 1 & 2
• Division 1: Metallic vessels, heat exchangers,
storage tanks, piping systems, pumps, valves,
core support structures, supports, and similar
items.
• Division 2: Code for Concrete Containments
• Division 3: Containment Systems for
TransportaUon and Storage of Spent Nuclear
Fuel and High-Level RadioacUve Material
• Division 4: Fusion Energy Devices (in development)
• Division 5: High Temperature Reactors
• Appendices
• Sec8on III Code Cases
 Subsec8on NCA
General Requirements for Divisions 1 & 2
• Referenced by and is an integral part of Division 1,
SubsecUons NB through NG, and Division 2 of SecUon III
• Covers quality assurance requirements, ASME product
cer8fica8on marks, and authorized inspec8on for Class
1, 2, 3, MC, CS, and CC construc8on by referencing the
requirements in NQA-1, Part I and supplemenUng them
as necessary in NCA-4134.
• Includes a Glossary which defines selected terms used in
SecUon III. The definiUons in this glossary prevail should a
conflict exist elsewhere or in other documents
referenced by SecUon III.
 ASME BPVC Sec8on XI
Rules for Inservice Inspec1on of Nuclear Power Plant Components

• Preservice and inservice examinaUon

– Mostly nondestrucUve (NDE)
– IdenUfy degradaUon
• EvaluaUon Standards
• Repair/Replacement AcUviUes
– Including modificaUons
• Aging plant management
Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear
Facility Applica8ons (NQA-1)
• This Standard provides requirements
and guidelines for the establishment
and execu8on of quality assurance
programs during siUng, design,
construcUon, operaUon and
decommissioning of nuclear faciliUes.
• This Standard reflects industry
experience and current understanding
of the quality assurance requirements
necessary to achieve safe, reliable,
and efficient u8liza8on of nuclear
energy, and management and
processing of radioac8ve materials.
Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear
Facility Applica8ons (NQA-1)
• Part I – Requirements for Quality
Assurance Programs for Nuclear
FaciliUes
• Part II – Quality Assurance
Requirements for Nuclear Facility
ApplicaUons
• Part III - Nonmandatory Guidance on
ImplemenUng Requirements of Part I
and Part II
• Part IV – Guidelines on the ApplicaUon
and Use of the NQA-1 Standard
ASME Nuclear Codes & Standards

• OM-1 - Code for OperaUon and

Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants
• QME-1 - QualificaUon of AcUve
Mechanical Equipment used in Nuclear
Power Plants
• RA-S - ProbabilisUc Risk Assessment for
Nuclear Power Plant ApplicaUons (PRA)
• AG-1 - Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment
Requirements
• Cranes for Nuclear FaciliUes
 Conformity Assessment
It’s all about quality

• The recogniUon of a company’s or individual’s

capability to fulfill the requirements of an ASME
standard in order to advance public safety and
facilitate internaUonal commerce.
• Conformity Assessment, when properly applied,
provides regulators and purchasers of products
confidence that the products were manufactured in
accordance with the applicable standard, regardless of
where in the world they were manufactured
Quality Assurance Programs

1 2
Standards / Established
Regula8ons Procedures
Policies, procedures, Planning & Execu8on Employees are trained on
instrucUons & framework for Implementa8on their responsibiliUes, and
Quality management system authorized to work IAW
established policies &
Audit
(Management puts this together) Audit procedures

4
Policies, procedures, Survey,
instrucUons & framework Review 3
Results, Act Inspect, test,
are revised / updated and & Measure
employees retrained ExaminaUon, inspecUon and
collecUon of data to guide the
process or system and
Non Conformance & process / system
Correc8ve Ac8on improvements
Nuclear Component Cer8fica8on
Nuclear components: vessels, pumps, valves, piping
systems, storage tanks, core support systems,
concrete containments

NA Field installaUon and shop assembly

FabricaUon, with or without design responsibility, for

NPT nuclear parts

NV Safety and safety relief valves

Containment and TransportaUon Systems for spent

N3 fuel and high level radioacUve waste and internal
supports
Nuclear component supports (not used with
NS cerUficaUon mark)

ASME’s Conformity Assessment Program is recognized in

over 75 countries
 Nuclear Materials Cer8fica8on
QSC – Quality Systems Cer8ficate
• CerUficaUon of material organizaUon's quality system
program in accordance with SecUon III of the ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) for materials
used in nuclear components.
• Quality System CerUficates (QSC) verify the adequacy
of a Material OrganizaUon's quality system program.
– The quality system program provides assurance that the
organiza8on's opera8ons, processes, and services
related to the procurement, manufacture, and supply
of material, source material, and unqualified source
material are performed in accordance with the
requirements of the ASME BPVC, Sec8on III, NCA-3800
and NCA-3900.
 NQA-1 Cer8fica8on

The ASME NQA-1 CerUficaUon Program

seeks to meet the needs of the nuclear
industry by expanding the supply chain
with organizaUons who are commiTed
to understanding quality and providing
high quality products and services.
 NQA-1 Cer8fica8on Program

• Applies to organizaUons supplying items or services which

provide a safety funcUon for nuclear faciliUes
– does not apply to or replace the cerUficaUon requirements to supply,
manufacture, construction and fabricaUon of items falling under the scope
of SecUon III
• The ASME NQA-1 CerUficaUon program provides a means for an
organizaUon supplying items or services that are safety related to
have its Quality Assurance Program recognized by ASME as
having had its Quality Assurance Program audited and verified
to be in conformance with the requirements of the ASME
NQA-1 Standard.
– does not prequalify or exempt an organizaUon from a qualificaUon audit
being performed by the Purchaser of the items or services provided by
the organizaUon
NQA-1 Cer8fica8on Program Benefits
• Having an NQA-1 QA Program recognized by an
independent organizaUon that is internaUonally known
and respected.
• Provides confidence to customers that the supplier has
the knowledge and resources to implement an NQA-1
QA program.
• Assists new suppliers gaining entry into the supply
chain.
• Reduce amount of Ume, effort and resources to
purchasers in determining if a potenUal supplier has an
acceptable NQA-1 program.
• Provides confidence to Senior Management that the
established QA program is being saUsfactorily
implemented by their employees.
• Creates a level “playing field” with promoUng consistent
applicaUon of NQA-1 standard within the industry and
supply chain.
 Advantages of Using a
Conformity Assessment Program
• QualificaUon of suppliers
• Regular resurveying of suppliers
• Third party oversight of construcUon
• Provides confidence that the established QC/QA
program is being saUsfactorily implemented
 Benefits of ASME Cer8fica8on

PURCHASERS
PUBLIC

Supply chain management:

Protects Public Safety ASME Increase Choices
& Welfare CONFORMITY Reduce Cost
ASSESSMENT
PROGRAMS
GOVERNMENT MANUFACTURERS

A trusted worldwide brand

Supports policies on public PUBLIC SAFETY
allowing access to a global
safety & fair trade FACILITATING TRADE
market
OPEN/TRANSPARENT
PROCESS
 What does all this mean for countries that
want to build nuclear power plants…???
• Many countries want localizaUon as
part of their reactor deal
• No maTer which reactor is selected,
nuclear localizaUon will likely not
give companies enough producUon
to stay in business for the long term
• Lower producUon rates mean less
efficiency and higher per unit costs,
making local companies less
compeUUve
 What is the formula for success?
• Manufacturers/suppliers need to gain access to the
global market
– Globally there are over 430 operaUng nuclear power
reactors
– 58 nuclear units are under construcUon
– Many more units are in the planning phase
ASME Cer8fica8on - Global
 ASME By The Numbers

Boilers and pressure vessels are used all over the

world in many different industries:
*7,350 ASME Cer.fied Companies
13,000 ASME Cer.ficates Issued
75 Countries

*numbers are approximate

 ASME Global Growth
Cer8fied Boiler & Pressure Vessel Manufacturers
7000

6000
Certified Manufacturers

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12

US International Total

Data as of 2013-12-31
If you are considering nuclear new build…
…Which standard you use maTers.
Use a technology neutral standard…
…Or manufacture to mul8ple standards
• Segng up and maintaining mulUple manufacturing
quality programs:
o Is expensive
o Is cumbersome
o Creates inefficiency

BoPom line…
• It makes a company less
compeUUve
What to consider when choosing Standards
Do they meet industry expecta.ons?

• Stability and Flexibility:

– Stability of a common set of rules and basis for producUon
– Standards process which is dynamic enough for technological
innovaUon

• Fairness and ImparUality:

– Do they level the playing field for compeUUon
– Rules do not favor one region of the world over another

• Global and Technical Relevance

– Meets the regulatory and market needs of many naUons
What to consider when choosing Standards
Do they meet industry expecta.ons?

• Do they fulfill the regulators expectaUons

– Meets public safety, health and environmental objecUves
– Provides confidence in the technical integrity of the product or
service

• Is a conformity assessment program wriTen into the code

to assure compliance
– Provides for quality program consistency and ease of supply chain
management
– Tool for management to establish their QC/QA program is being
saUsfactorily implemented by their employees
– Provides confidence to your customers in your QC/QA program
 Summary
Standards and Cer8fica8on: Why Do We Need Them?
• Promote safety, uniformity, consistency, reliability,
producUvity, efficiency and innovaUon
• Help communicaUon between producers and users
– Product design and manufacturer
• Create a “common language”
– Allows groups to communicate even when they are of different
naUonality
• Promote interchangeability
– Dimensioning is consistent
• Allow for more flexibility for designers
– Design creaUvity is not infringed by use of standards
• SaUsfy safety, performance, and economic goals
– Provides for a “level playing field”
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Allyson Byk
byka@asme.org