Canadian Regulatory Oversight of Ageing Management for Nuclear Power Plants

Abstract

CANADIAN REGULATORY OVERSIGHT OF AGEING MANAGEMENT FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS K. Kirkhope, A. Blahoianu and G. Frappier Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Abstract This paper describes Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff perspectives on managing the safety aspects of ageing of structures, systems, and components (SSC) of nuclear power plants (NPP). Managing the safety aspects of NPP ageing requires a proactive, systematic, and integrated ageing management approach for the coordination of all activities relating to the understanding, control, monitoring, and mitigation of ageing degradation of SSC. A proposed new CNSC regulatory document on ageing management based on modern international guidelines is described. The regulatory document will provide CNSC guidance for NPP ageing management during design, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, operation, life extension and decommissioning.