INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

Technical Meeting to Share Experiences and Lessons Learned

from the Application of Different Management System
Standards in the Nuclear Industry

ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards Development Activities

15-19 December 2015

Vienna, Austria

Ryan Crane, P.E.

ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards Europe Liaison
craner@asme.org
 Origins of The Society
Technical professional society; founded in
1880 as the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers; not-for-profit
Engineers convened to foster engineering
innovation, education and research
First standard issued in 1884 boiler efficiency
test
Headquarters in New York City
Offices in Atlanta, Houston, New Jersey,
Beijing (China), Brussels (Belgium), Mumbai
(India)
 Origins of The Society
ASMEs Mission:
To serve our diverse global communities by
advancing, disseminating and applying
engineering knowledge for improving the
quality of life; and communicating the
excitement of engineering
 ASME Standards and Certification

70 Consensus Committees
700 Total Committees
5 Supervisory Boards
5,100 Volunteers (800 International and growing)
500 Standards
ASME Standards Accepted for Use in Over 100 Nations
Administer Over 40 U.S. TAGs to ISO
12 Conformity Assessment Programs
More than 200 training programs worldwide
 ASME Codes and Standards
Consensus Process
Decisions are reached through consensus among those
affected.
Participation is open to all affected interests: no
membership fees or requirement to be ASME society
member
Balance is maintained among competing interests
Designers, Manufacturers, Users, Regulators, General Interests,
etc.
The process is transparent - information on the process
and progress is directly available.
 ASME Codes and Standards
Consensus Process
Due process assures that all views will be considered and
that appeals are possible.
The process is flexible, allowing the use of different
methodologies to meet the needs of different technology and
product sectors.
The process is timely; purely administrative matters do not
slow down the work.
Standards activities are coherent, avoiding overlap or conflict.
 What does "Consensus" mean?
ASME standards are consensus standards
Consensus means
Substantial agreement by affected interest categories
Consideration of views, attempted resolution is part of the process
Unanimity not required
The Standards Committee is responsible for establishing
consensus on proposed standards actions.
The Consensus Development
Process

Development of standards action

Recorded vote
Public review
Supervisory Board approval
Appeals
ANSI approval
 The Committees
Administrative
Consensus Procedures Evolved over the years
to become the model for standards development
ANSI accredited
Consistent with principles of WTO Technical Barriers to
Trade Agreement
Technical staff to administer committees and
interact with standards users
Development of C&S Connect in-house web-
based program to manage committee
communications, records, and ballots
 Participation
Volunteer Participation
Individual voluntary participation
ASME Codes & Standards relies on industry supporting
participation by knowledgeable experts
Involve the best and the brightest people from all around the world to
develop, maintain, and promote the use of these ASME products and
services
Technical and administrative support to the committees
 ASME Codes and Standards
Development

No funding by government
No fees to participate
Supported by revenue from S&C sales and related programs
Volunteer members not compensated by ASME

12
 U.S. Public Policy
OMB Circular A119
Instructs Federal Agencies to use voluntary standards and
participate in their development, unless impractical
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995
Mandates government agency use of private sector voluntary
consensus standards
Obliges federal government participation in voluntary
standards development

13
Fulfills Regulators Expectations

Meets public safety, health and environmental

objectives
Provides confidence in the technical integrity of the
product or service
Supports mutual recognition essential to international
trade
Regulatory Agencies support members to the
committees
 Interpretations

Interpretations are used to clarify the meaning of a

requirement
Clarifies ambiguous or incorrect wording, which may result
in a revision
Formal approval and response to a inquiry request
Official ASME interpretation letterhead
A request may come from individuals, committees,
professional organizations, government agencies, industry
groups, public interest groups, etc.
 ASME Codes and Standards
Consensus Process
Proprietary Issues
ASME does not approve, rate or endorse any
item, construction, proprietary device, or activity
Proprietary devices may only be incorporated in a
generic manner
 International Participation
Incorporation of market and governmental needs into ASME
codes and standards
ASME encourages international participation in its standards
development committees
Individual Experts
Delegate Program
International Interest Review Group (BPV)
International Review Groups
International Working Groups
Contributing Members
International participation facilitated by use of electronic tools
(C&S Connect) in standards development activity
 International Working Group
An International Working Group (IWG) accommodates participation by
members in a common geographic location who would otherwise be unable
to meet the attendance expectations of committees that meet principally in
the U.S. and Canada
An IWG is a sub-tier ASME code committee, and integrated into a
Standards Committees hierarchy much like other sub-tier groups and are
identical to traditional subcommittees, subgroups, and working groups
IWGs address the challenges presented by time zones, travel constraints,
and language barriers that prevent experts based overseas from
participating in the ASME standards activities
IWGs provide additional expertise and resources to Code committees to
understand identify, clarify and address Stakeholder issues arising in
regions outside of N. America
IWGs typically conduct all of their meetings outside of the U.S. and Canada
and in a language other than English

18
 IWG Members
Enjoy all typical privileges and benefits of participation
Have CS-Connect accounts and full member access
Vote on IWG proposals and administrative matters
Are required to vote when the IWG is included on a ballot distribution
Are permitted to comment when the IWG is included in Review &
Comment distributions
IWGs have been established for
China, European Union, Germany, India, and Korea
IWG also discuss inquiries and technical clarification prior to
submitting

19
 NQA IWG Efforts
NQA Task Group on International Working Groups Have CS-Connect
accounts and full member access
The NQA Task Group (TG) on International Working Groups (IWG) will engage
international stakeholders (outside the United States and Canada) and perform
outreach activities on the concept of IWGs abroad. The TG will coordinate these
efforts with the goal of forming IWGs on a regional basis. The TG will provide
updates and recommendations to the NQA Standards Committee.
Bud Danielson, Chair
NQA International Working Group Europe (IWG-EU)
The NQA International Working Group Europe (IWG-EU) serves as a forum to
provide for the participation of NQA technical experts based in Europe and to create
a means of communication and collaboration between ASME NQA and other
stakeholders in Europe. The NQA International Working Group Europe will: Review
and comment on proposed changes or additions to NQA-1; initiate and process
proposed standards actions for NQA-1; conduct activities in Europe related to codes
and standards, administrative and personnel matters in accordance with approved
ASME procedures, policies, and established guidelines; coordinate NQA International
Working Group Europe activities with the parent NQA Executive Committee and
ASME Staff.
Christian Spletter, Areva, Chair
 IWGs and NCS long-term outlook
In order to ensure the continued excellence of its standards, ASME
must embrace the challenge to enlist experts from around the globe
to participate in the its standards development process

Regions outside of North America are significant markets of

nuclear components and have significant sources for heavy
equipment
Such markets have the requisite knowledge and experience
to fully participate in standards writing

22
 Board of Governors
Engineering Workforce Development, Energy,
Global Impact

Council on Standards & Certification

Board on Nuclear Codes & Standards

Committee on BNCS Operations

Committee on BNCS Strategic Initiatives
BNCS Task Group on Regulatory Endorsement
Standards & Certification Organization
Council on Standards and Certification

Board on Board on
Standardization Pressure Technology
and Testing Codes and Standards

Board on Nuclear Board on Safety

Codes and Standards Codes and Standards

Board on
Conformity Assessment

Board on
Board on Energy and Environmental Board on Hearings
Codes and Standards
Strategic Initiatives Standards Advisory Board and Appeals
Operations

24
 ASME Structure / Process Overview

BNCS Provides procedural oversight for all NCS

Standards Establishes consensus on all technical matters in a

Committees given subject area Nuclear Quality Assurance

Subcommittees Provides recommendations to the standards on technical

matters in a given specialty
Assessment and Verification, Applications, Engineering and
Procurement, Interfaces and Administration, Program
Management Process, Software Quality Assurance, Waste
Management
Develops detailed proposals in a specific field
WGs, TGs, PTs
 ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards
Board on Nuclear Codes and
Standards
BNCS Task Group on
Regulatory Endorsement
Committee on Board (NCS)
Strategic Initiatives
BPV Committee on
Construction of Nuclear Facility
Components (III)
BPV Committee on Nuclear
Inservice Inspection (XI)
Standards Committee on
Cranes for Nuclear Facilities
Standards Committee on
Nuclear Risk Management
(CNRM)
Verification and Validation in
Computational Simulation of
Nuclear System Thermal Fluids
Behavior
Standards Committee on Nuclear
Air and Gas Treatment
Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk
Management (JCNRM)
Standards Committee on Nuclear
Quality Assurance
Standards Committee on
Operation and Maintenance of
Nuclear Power Plants
Standards Committee on
Qualification of Mechanical
Equipment Used in Nuclear
Facilities
Committee on Nuclear Certification
(CNC)
26
 ASME Nuclear Codes & Standards
NQA-1-2014 - Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility
Applications (QA)
 ASME NQA-1

New editions do not automatically supersede or

negate previous issued versions.
A Quality Program based on an earlier Edition
will still be in compliance with future Editions
A fundamental part of the process in developing
new requirements or revisions is ensuring there
is consistency and no conflicts with existing
requirements
 ASME NQA-1
There is no requirement to upgrade a Program
just because a new version is issued
Changes in the standard occur in order to
incorporate advances in technology and lessons
learned
computer software used in design development
suspect and counterfeit item detection
need for better controls over design changes
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections

Section I - Power Boilers

Section II - Materials
Section III - Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility
Components
Section IV - Heating Boilers
Section V - Nondestructive Examination
Section VI - Recommended Rules for the Care and Operation of
Heating Boilers
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Sections

Section VII - Recommended Guidelines for the Care of Power Boilers

Section VIII Pressure Vessels
Section IX - Welding and Brazing Qualifications
Section X - Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Pressure Vessels
Section XI - Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant
Components
Section XII - Rules for the Construction and Continued Service of
Transport Tanks
 ASME Section III
Division 1
Rules for Construction of Nuclear
Facility Components
Division 2
Code for Concrete Reactor Vessels
and Containments
Division 3
Containment Systems and Transport
Packaging for Spent Nuclear Fuel and
High-Level Radioactive Waste
Division 4
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Energy
Devices
Division 5
High Temperature Reactors
 ASME Section XI
Division 1
Rules for Inspection and Testing of
Components of Light-Water-Cooled
Plants
Division 2
Rules for Inspection and Testing of
Components of Gas-Cooled Plants
Being revised to implement a Reliability
Integrity Management (RIM) system for
all reactor type
Division 3
Rules for Inspection and Testing of
Components of Liquid-Metal-Cooled
Plants
 ASME Nuclear Codes & Standards
OM - Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants
RA-S - Probabilistic Risk Assessment for Nuclear Power Plant
Applications (PRA)
QME-1 - Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment used in Nuclear
Power Plants
AG-1 - Code on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment
N509 - Nuclear Power Plant Air-Cleaning Units and Components
N510 - Testing of Nuclear Air-Treatment Systems
N511 - In-Service Testing of Nuclear Air Treatment, Heating, Ventilating,
and Air-Conditioning Systems
 ASME Nuclear Codes & Standards
NOG-1 - Rules for Construction of Overhead and Gantry Cranes
(Top Running Bridge, Multiple Girder)
NUM-1 - Rules for Construction of Cranes, Monorails, and Hoists
(with Bridge or Trolley or Hoist of the Underhung Type)
QME-1 - Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment used in
Nuclear Power Plants
PTC 32.1 - Nuclear Steam Supply Systems
 ASME V&V Standards Committee
Coordinate, promote, and foster the development of standards that
provide procedures for assessing and quantifying the accuracy and
credibility of computational models and simulations.

V&V 10 Verification and Validation in Computational Solid

Mechanics
V&V 20 Verification and Validation in Computational Fluid
Dynamics and Heat Transfer
V&V 30 Verification and Validation in Computational Simulation
of Nuclear System Thermal Fluids Behavior
Provides the practices and procedures for verification and validation of
software used to calculate nuclear system thermal fluids behavior. The
software includes system analysis and computational fluid dynamics,
including the coupling of this software.
V&V 40 Verification and Validation in Computational Modeling of
Medical Devices
Published documents
 V&V for New Nuclear Reactor Design

V&V of software used to calculate nuclear system

thermal fluids behavior
Initial focus -- high temperature gas-cooled reactors in response
to Department of Energy activities

Responsive to changes in industry to promote best V&V

practices within the community
 Conformity Assessment Program History

1916 First S Certificate and Stamp issued

1919 National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
founded uniform qualification of third party Inspectors
1972 ASME Certification offered outside the US and Canada
1990s ASME accredits Authorized Inspection Agencies
Today Over 7000 certified companies in 75 countries
 ASME Global Growth
Certified Boiler & Pressure Vessel Manufacturers
7000

6000
Certified Manufacturers

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12

US International Total

Data as of 2013-12-31
 Nuclear Component Certification
Certification of an organization's quality assurance program
in accordance with Section III of the ASME Boiler and
Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) for components installed in
nuclear facilities.
N - Vessels, pumps, valves, piping systems, storage tanks, core
support structures, concrete containments, and transport packaging
NA - Field installation and shop assembly of all items
NPT - Parts, appurtenances, welded tubular products, and piping
subassemblies
NS - Supports
NV - Pressure relief valves
N3 - Transportation containments and storage containments
OWN - Nuclear power plant owner

41
 NQA-1 Certification
The ASME NQA-1 Certification program provides a means for an
organization supplying items or services which provide a safety
function for nuclear facilities to have its Quality Assurance Program
recognized by ASME as having had its Quality Assurance Program
audited and verified to be in conformance with the requirements of the
ASME NQA-1 Standard.

http://www.asme.org/kb/standards/certification---
accreditation/product-certification/nqa-1-certification-program

42
 NQA-1 Certification
The NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate is available to organizations
implementing the ASME NQA-1 Standard, Part I and Part II, or
portions thereof
Starting with the 2008 edition, organizations have the option to
either update their QA Program to meet the latest published
edition/addenda of the ASME NQA-1 Standard, or, freeze its
program to a specific edition/addenda
An NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate does not apply to or replace
the certification requirements to supply, manufacture, construction
and fabrication of items falling under the scope of Section III
An NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate does not prequalify or
exempt an organization from a qualification audit being performed
by the Purchaser of the items or services provided by the
organization

43
NQA-1 Quality Program Certificate
 Joint Efforts
API 579-1/ASME FFS-1- Fitness-for Service
Joint ACI-ASME Committee on Concrete Components for
Nuclear Service
ISO/ASME 14414 - Pump system energy assessment
ASTM material specifications for ASME Section II

SDO Convergence Board

Input to MDEP CSWG and Code Comparison Project
Nuclear Energy Standards Coordination Collaborative
(NESCC)
WNA Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and
Licensing (CORDEL)

45
 The Future

ASME will continue to pursue its mission of

advancing, and applying engineering
knowledge for improving the quality of life
Engineers and experts from all over the world
will continue to share their knowledge in pursuit
of the highest quality technical standards for
the benefit of a global society
 Questions?

Ryan Crane, P.E.

ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards Europe Liaison
2 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016 USA
+1-212-591-7004
craner@asme.org