1. Nuclear Standards The International Passport Nuclear Africa Conference South Africa March 18-20, Bryan Erler ASME Board of Governors Vice President ASME

2. Agenda ASME Background and Overview History of Standards Development
Nuclear Codes and Standards
Nuclear Pressure Components Code Comparison
Conformity Assessment
Meaning to South Africa

3. ASME at a Glance ASME was founded in 1880 ASME has 375 employees
Membership: 140,000 members with over 200 local sections and 500 student sections in over 40 countries
40 technical divisions and specialty institutes
Education – ASME offers more than 200 courses and trains about 9,000 people each year
Publish multiple technical journals and books
Sponsor many technical conferences
ASME develops codes and standards and has conformity assessment programs for the nuclear and many other industries
Offices:
New York
Washington DC
Fairfield
Houston
Brussels
Beijing
New Delhi

4. Background ASME Codes & Standards
First standard issued in 1884
700 total committees
About 4000 volunteer committee members
Between standards issued annually
Approximately 500 published codes and standards
Administer over 40 Technical Advisory Groups to ISO

5. Brief History of Steam Power
Throughout the 1800’s, both boiler size and operating pressure continued to increase
By the 1890’s the number of boiler explosions was more than one per day
Steam boiler explosions were costing thousands of lives
Examples:
The Grover Shoe Factory boiler explosion on March 20, 1905 in Brockton, Massachusetts

6. R. B. Grover & Company Shoe Factory Before the boiler explosion

7. R. B. Grover & Company Shoe Factory After boiler explosion

8. It’s about protecting public health and safety
Why Develop Standards?
It’s about protecting 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 construction and promoted commerce through consistency of requirements

9. Why Standards Matter

10. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
Covered industrial & residential boilers and pressure vessels
Comprehensive - provides rules for materials, design, fabrication, examination, inspection, testing, certification, and pressure relief
Dynamic – evolved and changed to reflect new technology and industry needs

11. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code
A Look at Today
Reflects industry best-practices, offering real-world solutions developed by experts in the field
A conformity assessment program is written into the code to assure compliance
Adopted in whole or in part by all U.S. states and Canadian provinces
Accepted as a means to meet local pressure equipment regulations by more than 100 nations

12. Nuclear Codes and Standards

13. Development of Nuclear Component Construction Code
The ASME B&PV Code for fossil plants was used in the 50s and early 60s for nuclear components
In 1963 ASME published a new Section III dedicated to nuclear components.
This was the first nuclear component standard in the world
It was built off of and utilized many of the existing Boiler & Pressure Vessel Sections

14. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections
Section I - Power Boilers
Section II - Materials
Section III - Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Section IV - Heating Boilers
Section V - Nondestructive Examination
Section VI - Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of Heating Boilers
Section VII - Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers
Section VIII Pressure Vessels
Section IX - Welding and Brazing Qualifications
Section X - Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
Section XI - Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Section XII - Rules for the Construction and Continued Service of Transport Tanks

15. Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Section III
Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Division 1
Subsection NCA - General Requirements Division 1 & 2
Subsection-NB - Class 1 Components
Subsection NC - Class 2 Components
Subsection ND - Class 3 Components
Subsection NE - Class MC Components
Subsection NF - Supports
Subsection NG - Core Support Structures
Subsection NH - Class 1 Components in Elevated Temperature Service
Appendices

16. Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Section III
Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components
Division 2 – Code for Concrete Containments
Division 3 – Containment Systems and Transport Packaging for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste
Division 4 – Magnetic Confinement Fusion Energy Devices (Under development)
Division 5 – High Temperature Reactors (with support of South Africa)

17. Section XI Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Preservice and inservice examination
Mostly nondestructive (NDE)
Identify degradation
Evaluation Standards
Repair/Replacement Activities
Including modifications
Aging management

18. Organization of Section XI
Division 1 - Light-water-cooled Nuclear Power Plants
Division 2 – Non LWR Nuclear Power Plants (Under Development as a risk informed monitoring system)

19. ASME Nuclear Standards
NQA-1 - Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications (QA)
OM - Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants
QME-1 - Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment used in Nuclear Power Plants
RA-S - Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant Applications (PRA)
Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment Requirements
Cranes in Nuclear Plants

20. ASME Code Usage International Usage
60 Countries – ASME B&PV Code
20 Countries – Section III Certificate Holders
Numerous countries use ASME Nuclear Code & Standards
Many countries purchase items to Section III
Several Countries developed their own code, but all were based on ASME’s technical rules
Over the years these individual standards began to diverge
Read information and then ….
Note that currently there are 201 companies in 20 countries that hold a total of 505 ASME Section III nuclear certificates … and … the number is growing rapidly.
Here in South Africa the Koeberg plant was constructed to ASME Section III, 1971 Edition with 1973 Addenda, and uses the 2001 Edition of Section XI for In-Service Inspection.
Recently, the National Nulcear Regulator has endorsed the ASME Code for the PBMR reactor vessel.
So, why is the Code used so widely?

21. 2012 Nuclear Code Comparison
The purpose was to identify the significant differences between the AFCEN, JSME, KEA, CSA and NIKIET Codes with respect to the ASME Code
Since the other standards had started with ASME, it was considered the baseline standard for the comparison
All Standards Developing Organizations participated in the study
Performed in conjunction with the regulators Multinational Design Evaluation Program, “MDEP”
Although this was a technical comparison it was observed that ASME is the only code with a conformity assessment program
In most of the cases, the technical differences between the six codes are due to individual regulations in each of the countries

22. Conformity Assessment It’s all about quality
“Any activity concerned with determining directly or indirectly that requirements are fulfilled”
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
ASME’s Nuclear Conformity Assessment Program is recognized in over 100 countries

23. Nuclear Component Certification
Nuclear components: vessels, pumps, valves, piping systems, storage tanks, core support systems, concrete containments
Field installation and shop assembly
Fabrication, with or without design responsibility, for nuclear parts
Safety and safety relief valves
Containment of spent fuel and high level radioactive waste NS
Nuclear component supports (no associated stamp)

24. Nuclear Materials Certification QSC – Quality Systems Certificate
Supply material to nuclear component manufacturers
Examples:
Bars, fasteners, castings, forgings, plates, fittings, flanges, tubular products
Wire, rod, billets, ingots
Welding material
Concrete reinforcing bars, prestressing components

25. Advantages of Using the ASME Conformity Assessment Program
Components are constructed to an internationally known standard
Standards have a proven reliability
Standards used are consensus standards
Qualification of suppliers
Regular resurveying of suppliers
Third party oversight of construction

26. ASME Codes and Conformity Assessment Meet Industry Expectations
Stability and Flexibility:
Stability of a common set of rules and basis for production
Standards process which is dynamic enough for technological innovation
Fairness and Impartiality:
Level playing field for competition
Rules do not favor one region of the world over another
Global and Technical Relevance
Meets the regulatory and market needs of nations and regions

27. Fulfills Regulators’ Expectations
Meets public safety, health and environmental objectives
Provides confidence in the technical integrity of the product or service
Supports mutual recognition essential to international trade

28. Conformity Assessment Value
ASME codes, standards and conformity assessment programs provides for quality program consistency and ease of supply chain management
Uniform implementation of its conformity assessment programs about the world has made the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code the most widely accepted by regulators and industry worldwide

29. What does all this mean for South African companies…???
No matter which reactor is selected, nuclear localization will likely not give companies enough production to stay in business for the long term
Lower production rates mean less efficiency and higher per unit costs, making South African companies less competitive

30. What is the formula for success?
South African manufacturers need to gain access to the global market
Globally there are over 400 operating nuclear power reactors
71 nuclear units are under construction worldwide
Many units are in the planning phase

31. …Manufacture to multiple standards
The Alternative…
…Manufacture to multiple standards
Setting up and maintaining multiple manufacturing quality programs:
Is expensive
Is cumbersome
Creates inefficiency
Bottom line…
It makes a company less competitive

32. Thoughts and Recommendations
Nuclear Manufactures
Implement a strong quality culture
Use experienced and qualified sub-suppliers
Fully understand the code that is specified for design
Train and continually re-qualify employees to your manufacturing processes
Take full advantage of AIA

33. Thoughts and Recommendations
Nuclear Plant Owner
Select a NSSS with strong success record meeting quality, schedule and price
Specify a code which has a conformity assessment program
Review the NSSS sub-suppliers to assure qualifications and experience
Self regulate by implementing a strong quality and safety culture in your organization

34. Thoughts and Recommendations
Nuclear Regulator
Make sure licensing documents define a clear code for design, manufacturing, construction and examination
Evaluate the owner’s and NSSS vendors process for selection of sub-suppliers
Utilize the conformity assessment process and take full advantage of an AIA e

35. Summary
ASME’s nuclear construction standard is the technical basis for all other standards
ASME is the only standard which contains a conformity assessment program to assure full compliance with the standards
South African manufacturers can use ASME standards and conformity assessment programs to gain access to the global market
Which standards you use matters