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2.7.2 Monitoring the test programmes
The elements important for the protection of persons
and the environment, identified by the licensee, undergo
qualification in order to guarantee their ability to perform
the functions assigned to them, in terms of loadings and
the ambient conditions associated with the situations in
which they are required. The periodic tests help verify
that this qualification is maintained and regularly ensure
that these elements are available in the conditions in
which they are required. The associated rules constitute
Chapter IX of the RGE. These rules set the nature of
the technical inspections, their frequency and the
corresponding criteria, allowing periodic verification
of compliance with the qualification requirements.
ASN ensures that the periodic technical checks on the
elements important for protection mentioned above
are relevant and are continuously improved. It also
checks that they are performed in accordance with the
general operating rules.
2.7.3 The use of efficient monitoring methods
applied to main primary and secondary system
pressure equipment
Article 8 of the Order of 10thNovember 1999 concerning
monitoring of the operation of the main primary system
and the main secondary systems of pressurised water
reactors specifies that the non-destructive testing
processes used for in-service monitoring of the pressure
equipment of the main primary and secondary systems
of nuclear reactors must, before they are used for the
first time, be qualified by an entity comprising of experts
from inside and outside EDF, whose competence and
independence are verified by the French Accreditation
Committee (Cofrac).
Qualification is a means of guaranteeing that the
examination method actually achieves the level of
performance stipulated and is described in a precise
set of specifications.
To date, 90 applications have been qualified by the
in-service inspection programmes. New applications
are currently being developed and qualified in order
to meet new needs.
With regard to the Flamanville EPR reactor, 39 processes
have been qualified ahead of the pre-service inspection of
themain primary systemand themain secondary systems.
Only four processes, which were belatedly identified
as being necessary, are still undergoing development.
Owing to the radiological risks linked to gamma
radiography, ultrasound applications are preferred to
radiography applications, provided that they can offer
equivalent inspection performance.
Elements Important for Protection (EIP)
Article 1.3 of the BNI Order of 7th February 2012 defines
an “Element Important for Protection [EIP]” as being
an
“element important for the protection of the interests
mentioned in Article L. 593-1 of the Environment Code (public
health and safety, protection of nature and the environment),
that is structure, equipment, system (programmed or
otherwise), hardware, component, or software present
in a BNI or placed under the responsibility of the licensee,
performing a function necessary for the safety case mentioned
in the second paragraph of Article L. 593-7 of the Environment
Code or ensuring that this function is performed”.
Elements known as EIP are the explicit link between
the functions to be performed in normal operating
conditions or to be performed in an accident situation and
the “elements” enabling them to be performed (structure,
equipment, system, hardware, component, or software).
For example, to perform a cooling function, a pump
(the EIP) with certain flow rate, start-up time and reliability
performance requirements is needed.
The EIPs take over from the elements important
for safety defined by the 1984 order, but their scope
is broader. They also concern the “elements” designed
to deal with detrimental effects and drawbacks
(environmental protection, etc.).
Some EIP examples: building housing radioactive substances,
a fan providing the depressurisation to ensure containment,
software used by the reactor protection system, certain
components of antibacterial treatment plants.
An EIP can also be an element verifying correct performance
of a function, even if it does not directly contribute to the
actual performance of this function (radioactivity monitor
in a discharge stack, etc.).
UNDERSTAND
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CHAPTER 12:
EDF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS (NPPs)
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015