scope:

Rule Coverage and Definitions

(a) The rules of this Case cover only construction of Class 1 bellow-type expansion joints intended to provide additional flexibility for the thermal expansion of piping. The rules of this Case do not apply to the construction of bellows which are used as an integral part of a Code pressure vessel or which can be considered as specially welded seals, such as omega and canopy seals (NB-4360).

(b) Use of the word "bellows" shall refer only to the convoluted flexible element forming a part of the primary pressure retaining boundary, its end tangents, and end attachment welds. Subcomponents of the expansion joint covered by -3750 shall be termed "expansion joint hardware." The words "secondary pressure boundary" shall refer to the redundant bellows required in -3711.5 and its end attachment welds. The primary pressure retaining boundary shall be constructed according to the rules contained in this Case. The "secondary pressure boundary" referred to above shall be constructed according to the applicable Class 2 rules for bellows.

(c) The expansion joints covered under this Case shall include the bellows, all expansion joint hardware, including supports attached directly to the expansion joint, and the secondary pressure boundary. The installation field welds or flange bolts attaching the expansion joint to the adjacent piping are not included within this Case.

(d) Reference in this Case to "low temperatures" or "elevated temperatures" shall be considered as defined in (1), (2), and (3) below:

(1) "Low temperatures" shall be defined as metal temperatures that are within the temperature range for which allowable stress values exist in Section II, Part D, Subpart 1, Tables 2A, 2B, and 4.

(2) "Elevated temperatures" shall be defined as metal temperatures that exceed those for which allowable stress values exist in Section II, Part D, Subpart 1, Tables 2A, 2B, and 4 unless the requirements of (3) below are met.

(3) If the N Certificate Holder has demonstrated that elevated temperatures do not introduce significant creep effects, then the low-temperature design rules of this Case may be applied using material stress intensity values obtained from the rules for construction of Class 1 components in elevated temperature service. The experimental data or calculations based on experimental data or both shall be fully documented in the Design Report and shall demonstrate that the elevated temperature service does not introduce significant creep effects.

(e) Parts of the expansion joint may be divided into distinct zones that operate either at low or elevated temperatures, and the applicable criteria satisfied independently for each portion. However, the zone boundaries and applicable design parameters shall be fully described in the Design Report.

Temperature and Time Limits

The rules of this Case shall not be used for Class 1 expansion joints that will be subjected to combinations of service or test temperatures and times that are beyond the range for which allowable stress intensity values are given for the material. See -3741(b).

Responsibilities

The responsibilities set forth in NCA-3000 for the various Certificate Holders shall apply. In addition, the various parties involved in the construction of the expansion joints under the rules of this Case have specific responsibilities as follows:

Owner's Responsibilities

(a) Defining the fluid inertia forces in the Design Specification (-3722.1)

(b) Defining the service level for a postulated leak event in the Design Specification (-3724)

(c) Indicating in the Design Specification the type of analysis (elastic or inelastic) and expansion joint stiffness assumptions used to determine the expansion joint loads (-3742.4)

(d) Defining alternate strain limits criteria in the Design Specification (-3742.6)

(e) Defining the methodology to be used to develop life test histograms in the Design Specification [-3773.1(a)]

(f) Documenting alternative methodology to be used to develop life test histograms in the Design Specification [-3773.1(b)]

(g) Defining acceptable level of cleanliness in the Design Specification (-4140)

(h) Defining requirements for drainage in the Design Specification (-3711.9)

(i) Defining alternative of supplementary Service Level D limits in the Design Specification (-3742.4)

(j) Defining alternative methods of determining the squirm pressure in the Design Specification [-3772(d)]

N Certificate Holder's Responsibilities. The N Certificate Holder accepting overall responsibility for the piping in which the expansion joint is to be installed shall be responsible for the design of the expansion joint. The N Certificate Holder shall certify that the rules of this Case have been satisfied. This certification shall be attached to the N-5 Data Report. Additional specific responsibilities follow.

(a) Verifying that the items under -1141 have been included in the Design Specifications

(b) Establishing if low temperature or elevated temperature design rules must be applied [-1110(d)(3)]

(c) Describing zone boundaries and applicable design parameters in the Design Report [-1110(e)]

(d) Documenting installation requirements in specifications, procedures, or instructions to assure conformance with the design intent [-3649.1(c)]

(e) Evaluating imposed piping motions, piping loads, and bellows pressure thrust and spring rate loadings (-3721)

(f) Including justification in the Design Report if small deflection theory is used in the bellows analysis [-3742(b)(2)]

(g) Demonstrating by analysis or test the safety margins against instability provided in Table -3752.3(a) [-3752.3(a)]

(h) Evaluating the material's time-dependent behavior when the maximum metal temperature is an elevated temperature and documenting these evaluations in the Design Report (-3761)

(i) Including the techniques used for acceleration of time in the Design Report [-3772(d)]

(j) Including the techniques used for measurement of strain and the acceleration of time in the Design Report [-3772(e)]

(k) Reconciling surface irregularities on bellows used for life tests and including these reconciliations in the Design Report [-3772(b)]

(l) Including methods of acceleration in the Design Report when accelerated testing is used in the life test [-3773.1(a)]

(m) Including in the Design Report the stress calculations and damage evaluations required to demonstrate that the basic test histogram satisfies the requirements of -3774.2 [-3774.3(a)]

(n) Describing and documenting in the Design Report the design demonstration testing (-3775)

(o) Certifying by a Registered Professional Engineer the completeness and accuracy of the data included in Item (a), (-3775)

(p) Documenting the cleanliness requirements in specifications, procedures, or instructions (-4140)

(q) Defining the "effective restoration" of material properties (-4212)

(r) Verifying that the system has been acceptably constructed with respect to design (-4833.1)

(s) Defining the requirements for permanent bellows protection covers (-3711.2)

(t) Reconciling deviations from bellows tolerance requirements [-4224.1(a)]

(u) Considering installation-induced joint rotations in the expansion joint design [-3649.1(b)]

(v) Obtaining approval from the Owner of tolerance deviations in the as-built bellows [-4224.1(a)]

Authorized Nuclear Inspector's Responsibilities. The responsibilities of the Authorized Nuclear Inspector are set forth in NCA-5200. These include witnessing of acceptance testing (-3785).

Responsibilities of the Certificate Holder (N or NA) Responsible for Installation

(a) Inspecting bellows expansion joint assemblies prior to installation (-4821)

(b) Preparing the procedures for field handling and storage operations and providing them to the N Certificate Holder accepting overall responsibility for the piping (-4822)

(c) Verifying cleanliness prior to installation (-4823)

(d) Preparing installation procedure and providing it to the N Certificate Holder accepting overall responsibility for the piping (-4831)

(e) Complying with installation requirements of (-4832)

Expansion Joint Fabrication. The expansion joint shall be fabricated in accordance with Design Drawings and Specifications and in accordance with the rules of this Case. The Certificate Holder accepting overall responsibility for the piping may fabricate the expansion joint or subcontract the fabrication to another Certificate Holder (N or NPT) whose Certificate of Authorization includes the scope of work to be performed. Fabrication of the expansion joint shall comply with the requirements of -2800, -4131 thru -4424, -5000, -8100(a) and -8100(b).