scope:

Management of physical ageing

This International Standard provides strategies, technical requirements, and recommendations for the management of ageing of nuclear power plant (NPP) instrumentation and control (I&C) systems and associated equipment. The standard also includes informative annexes on test methods, procedures, and technologies that may be used to verify proper operation of I&C equipment and aim to prevent ageing degradation from having any adverse impact on the plant safety, efficiency, or reliability. The standard applies to all types of NPPs and relates primarily to safety.

Management of technology ageing (obsolescence)

The scope of this standard has been intentionally focused on the management of physical ageing of I&C systems where this may be considered as having a direct consequence on the safety of the NPP. It does not cover technology ageing aspects (i.e., obsolescence) in any detail.

It should be noted, however, that, in practice, the overall scheme for the management of ageing will have to cover obsolescence. Indeed, obsolescence has been recognized as the dominant issue in the life cycle of many I&C technologies (from design through to operational maintenance, replacement, and updating).

Safety goal of this standard

This standard identifies minimum requirements aimed at ensuring that any potential impacts on NPP safety due to I&C ageing can be identified and that suitable actions are undertaken to demonstrate that the safety of the plant will not be impaired.