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| Within the framework of its supervisory activities at the national level, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) deals mainly with the DPN. The ASN's contacts are the head office departments with regard to generic matters, in other words those that concern some or all of the plants reactors; the ASN deals directly with the plant management for questions specifically concerning their own particular reactors. As regards equipment design and study documents, they are discussed in the first place with the DIN. Those concerning fuel and fuel management are also discussed with a third division which has more specific responsibility for these questions, the Nuclear Fuel Division. | |
| 1.2.2 Operating documents | |
Day to day operation of the nuclear power plants relies on a set of documents. Those concerning safety are given particularly close attention by the ASN. First among these documents are the general operating rules (RGE) which present the provisions implemented during operation of the reactors. They supplement the safety report which mainly deals with the steps taken at the design of the reactor, and translate the conclusions of the safety studies into operating rules. The RGE comprises several chapters, among which those having particular safety implications are carefully reviewed by the ASN. Chapter 3 describes the "Technical Operating Specifications" (STE), which specify the reactor's normal operating range and in particular the allowable range for the operating parameters (pressure, temperature, neutron flux, etc.). The STEs specify the operating steps to be taken if these limits are exceeded. The STEs also define the equipment required according to the status of the reactor and state what to do in the event of a malfunction or failure of one of these equipment items. |
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