ASME BPVC.XI.1-2023

The rules of Section XI constitute requirements to maintain the nuclear reactor facility and to return the facility to service, following facility outages, in a safe and expeditious manner.

Section XI - Division 1 provides requirements for inservice inspection and testing of light-water-cooled nuclear power plants. The requirements identify the areas subject to inspection, responsibilities, provisions for accessibility and inspectability, examination methods and procedures, personnel qualifications, frequency of inspection, record keeping and report requirements, procedures for evaluation of inspection results and subsequent disposition of results of evaluations, and repair/replacement activity requirements, including procurement, design, welding, brazing, defect removal, fabrication, installation, examination, and pressure testing. Application of Division 1 begins when the requirements of the Construction Code have been satisfied.

Division 1 rules require a mandatory program of examinations, testing, and inspections to evidence adequate safety and to manage deterioration and aging effects. The rules also stipulate duties of the Authorized Nuclear Inservice Inspector to verify that the mandatory program has been completed, permitting the plant to return to service in an expeditious manner.

Careful application of this Section will help users to comply with applicable regulations within their jurisdictions, while achieving the operational, cost and safety benefits to be gained from the many industry best-practices detailed within these volumes.