Consensus Position on Regulatory Inspections of Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems and Components Important to Safety Used at Nuclear Power Plants (CP-15)

Regulatory inspections of digital instrumentation and control (I&C) hardware and software for systems and components important to safety at nuclear power plants are needed to verify that such systems are suitable for their intended applications. This consensus position (CP) provides guidance for preparing and conducting regulatory inspections of digital I&C hardware and software for systems and components during design and manufacturing at the manufacturer’s facility, as well as during installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance in nuclear power plants. Guidance is given for different quality management activities and for each digital I&C system and component life cycle phase.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) believes that sharing experience and regulatory practices is a major element in the efforts made by the regulatory body and the industry to maintain and improve the safe operation of nuclear power plants. Considering the importance of digital I&C topics, the CNRA established a Working Group on Digital Instrumentation and Control (WGDIC 1 ) to promote harmonisation and improvements in nuclear safety through the development of regulatory guidance to address digital I&C topics and technical issues of concern to its member countries, for both operating and new reactors. The WGDIC reports on a regular basis to the Committee. The WGDIC constitutes an international forum for nuclear regulatory organisations to co-operate in the development of consensus positions (CPs), representing the common understanding and harmonisation of regulatory practices. The CPs provide a consistent set of regulatory expectations for the industry and may be used by members in the development of guidance in their own national regulatory frameworks.