U.S. Strategy with Respect to ISO Nuclear Energy Standards

U.S. Strategy with Respect to ISO Nuclear Energy Standards

Dr. George FlanaganISO Subcommittee SC-6 Chairman, Reactor Technology

July 23, 2013

2 NESCC Presentation – 20130723

Background on ISO nuclear technology standards



ISO-TC-85 has 21 participating countries (voting) and 20 observing countries (non-voting)


ISO-TC-85 has 21 participating countries (voting) and 20 observing countries (non voting) (cont’d)


SC-6 has 22 participating countries (The Netherlands is not participating TC-85) and the U.S. national standards’ body is ANSI


In addition to member states TC-85 has established formal liaison contacts• Institutional organizations: IAEA, UNSCEAR, WHO, ICRP, OECD/NEA, ICRU, EC, WANO, et.al ;• Professional organizations: WNA, PNC, ENISS, WANO, ISSPA, WNTI, et.al.;• Research organizations: ITER, GIF,et.al.; IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency ( ISO TC-85 chair and SC-6 chair -nonvoting member of NUSSC (Nuclear Safety Standards Committee) UNSCEAR: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation WHO: World Health Organization ICRP: International Commission on Radiological Protection ICRU: International Commission on Radiation Unit WANO: World Association of Nuclear Operators WNA: World Nuclear Association PNC: Pacific Nuclear Council WANO: World Association of Nuclear Operators ISSPA: International source suppliers and producers association WNTI : World Nuclear Transport Institute ITER : International Thermonuclear Experimental ReactorGIF: Generation IV International Forum

SC-2 (radiation protection) is the largest TC 85 subcommittee (12 WG)

SC-2 is the largest TC 85 subcommittee(12 WG)


SC-2 is the largest TC 85 subcommittee (12 WG)


SC-5 (nuclear fuel cycle) has 5 WGs


SC-6 (reactor technology) has 3 WGs


SC-6 WG 1 (power reactor analysis and measurements) activities—Many of these are harmonization of existing ANS standards

• Active projects– Technical specification guide for decay heat computation codes in

nuclear reactors– Steady state neutronics methods for power reactor analysis– Reload startup physics tests for pressurized water reactors

• Preliminary work items− Calculation of decay heat power in nuclear fuel in light-water

reactors (LWRs)− Nuclear data sets for reactor design calculations− Nuclear data for the production of radioisotopes

• Ballot− Neutron fluence in the pressure vessels of LWRs


SC-6 WG 2 activities• Working Group 2 has been inactive for a number of years.

• Dr. Lin-Wen Hue from MIT (has assumed the convener role for U.S.)

• Dr. Patrick Raymond (CEA) co-convener

• Examining ANSI / ANS Research Reactor Standards for harmonization

• Many previously non-nuclear member states are considering building research reactors– Important that they have guidance for this activity


WG 3 (New title: Power reactor, siting, design, operation, and decommissioning)• Active

– Mobile equipment for emergency intervention on nuclear installations– Fire partitioning – Essential technical requirements for GEN IV nuclear reactors

• New work item proposal– Estimating tornado, hurricane, and extreme straight line wind

characteristics at nuclear facility sites– Criteria for assessing atmospheric effects on the ultimate heat sink

• Preliminary work item – Criteria for investigations of nuclear facility sites for seismic hazard

assessments– Probabilistic seismic hazards


What should the U.S. strategy be regarding ISO nuclear energy standard?—Consider:• Many developing countries are using IAEA’s “standards” for

development of their nuclear programs

• IAEA’s “standards” are top level requirements (programs, infrastructure)—Reviewed by regulatory bodies represented on NUSSC– Need to address technical issues at a lower level (design/process)

• IAEA looks to ISO to fulfill that role on an international basis

• Global nuclear market requires international standards– Important to get it right

• US, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Canada are active in harmonization of their standards into ISO standards (AREVA, CEA, Sellafield, EdF)


What should the U.S. strategy be regarding ISO nuclear energy standard?

• Ignore them?– Other members will produce them– USNRC and WANO are beginning to recognize IAEA and ISO

activities - US market interest- NRC Chairwoman McFarland Remarks to NEI “Nuclear Energy Assembly” May 2012—“The new normal”

• Influence direction of ISO standards (U.S. expertise exists for every TC-85 activity)– Propose nuclear standards for international harmonization (ASTM

has done this for radiation protection— ANS beginning)• Participate on working groups and standards development

bodies (experts)


• Influence direction of ISO standards (U.S. expertise exists for every TC-85 activity) (cont’d)– Review of PWI, NWIP and draft standards (ballot time is short)

• ANSI has one vote• Nuclear Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) administered by ASTM

set up to reach consensus for U.S. vote by ANSI (U.S. has missed several votes recently—can determine if the standard is approved)–Each SC has a U.S. advisor responsible for NTAG input in their

area (SC-6 P. Kadambi)• (ISO rule) Need to provide expert(s) if voting positively on a NWIP• Populate a list of experts to NTAG (current list is out of date)

What should the U.S. strategy be regarding ISO nuclear energy standard? (cont’d)


What should the U.S. strategy be regarding ISO nuclear energy standard? (cont’d)

– Provide financial support to ISO nuclear standards especially staffing of SC and WG positions (U.S. loses the position if it does not have qualified active participation)

–Travel to international TC-85 and SC meetings–Staff time for leadership roles–Staff time for experts

– NUSSC participation by TC-85 and SC-6 provide opportunity for input and comments to IAEA standards/revisions by organizations outside the USNRC• Active NTAG could review and comment on these important

standards


Discussion / Questions?

Documents

U.S. Strategy with Respect to ISO Nuclear Energy Standards