TECHNICAL REPORTS SERIES No.

5 6

Pressure Vessel Codes:

Their Application to
Nuclear Reactor Systems
I
V

}
jk

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY,VIENNA, 1 9 6 6

PRESSURE V E S S E L CODES:
THEIR A P P L I C A T I O N TO NUCLEAR
REACTOR SYSTEMS

T h e f o l l o w i n g States are Members o f the International A t o m i c Energy Agency:

AFGHANISTAN

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF

ALBANIA

NICARAGUA

GERMANY

NIGERIA

ALGERIA

GABON

NORWAY

ARGENTINA

GHANA

PAKISTAN

AUSTRALIA

GREECE

PANAMA

AUSTRIA

GUATEMALA

PARAGUAY

BELGIUM

HAITI

PERU

BOLIVIA

H O L Y SEE

PHILIPPINES

BRAZIL

HONDURAS

POLAND

BULGARIA

HUNGARY

PORTUGAL

BURMA

ICELAND

ROMANIA

BYELORUSSIAN S O V I E T

INDIA

S A U D I ARABIA

INDONESIA

SENEGAL

CAMBODIA

IRAN

S O U T H AFRICA

CAMEROON

IRAQ

SPAIN

CANADA

ISRAEL

SUDAN

CEYLON

ITALY

SWEDEN

CHILE

IVORY COAST

SWITZERLAND

CHINA

JAMAICA

SYRIA

COLOMBIA

JAPAN

THAILAND

CONGO,

KENYA

TUNISIA

REPUBLIC O F KOREA

TURKEY

COSTA RICA

KUWAIT

UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST

CUBA

LEBANON

CYPRUS

LIBERIA

CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIALIST

LIBYA

S O C I A L I S T REPUBLIC

DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC OF

REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC
U N I O N OF S O V I E T S O C I A L I S T
REPUBLICS

LUXEMBOURG

U N I T E D ARAB REPUBLIC
U N I T E D K I N G D O M OF GREAT

DENMARK

MADAGASCAR

D O M I N I C A N REPUBLIC

MALI

ECUADOR

MEXICO

EL S A L V A D O R

MONACO

ETHIOPIA

MOROCCO

URUGUAY

FINLAND

NETHERLANDS

VENEZUELA

NEW Z E A L A N D

VIET-NAM

FRANCE

'

B R I T A I N A N D NORTHERN
IRELAND
U N I T E D STATES OF A M E R I C A

YUGOSLAVIA

T h e Agency's Statute was approved on 23 October 1956 by the Conference on the Statute of
I A E A h e l d a t U n i t e d Nations Headquarters,

New York;

Headquarters o f the A g e n c y are situated i n V i e n n a .

it

entered into force on 29 July 1 9 5 7 .

the
The

Its p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t i v e is "to a c c e l e r a t e and enlarge

the c o n t r i b u t i o n o f a t o m i c energy to p e a c e , h e a l t h and prosperity throughout the w o r l d " .

I A E A , 1966

Permission to reproduce or translate the i n f o r m a t i o n contained in this p u b l i c a t i o n m a y b e obtained

by w r i t i n g to the I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c Energy A g e n c y , Krntner Ring 1 1 , V i e n n a I , Austria.

Printed by the I A E A i n Austria

May

1966

TECHNICAL REPORTS SERIES No. 56

PRESSURE VESSEL CODES:

THEIR APPLICATION
TO NUCLEAR REACTOR SYSTEMS

FINDINGS FROM A SURVEY BY THE

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

VIENNA, 1966

International Atomic E n e r g y Agency.

P r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s ; t h e i r application to
nuclear reactor systems.
Findings f r o m a survey
by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y Agency. Vienna,
t h e A g e n c y , 1966.
32 p . ( I A E A , T e c h n i c a l r e p o r t s s e r i e s n o . 56)
621.039.536.2

PRESSURE VESSEL CODES: THEIR A P P L I C A T I O N TO N U C L E A R

R E A C T O R S Y S T E M S , I A E A , V I E N N A , 1966
S T I / D O C / 10/56

FOREWORD
A s u r v e y h a s b e e n m a d e by t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y
of how the p r o b l e m s of a p p l y i n g n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s to n u c l e a r
r e a c t o r s y s t e m s have b e e n t r e a t e d in t h o s e M e m b e r S t a t e s that had p r e s s u r i z e d r e a c t o r s i n o p e r a t i o n o r u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of 1963.
F i f t e e n a n s w e r s r e c e i v e d to an o f f i c i a l i n q u i r y f o r m the b a s i s of this r e p o r t ,
which a l s o t a k e s into a c c o u n t s o m e r e c e n t l y published m a t e r i a l . The r e p o r t
h a s b e e n c o m p i l e d by M r . R. S k j l d e b r a n d of the D i v i s i o n of N u c l e a r P o w e r
and R e a c t o r s of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y Agency.
A l t h o u g h t h e a n s w e r s t o t h e i n q u i r y i n s o m e c a s e s d a t e b a c k t o 1963
and a l s o r e f l e c t the difficulty of d e s c r i b i n g local s i t u a t i o n s in a n s w e r to s t a n d a r d q u e s t i o n s , it i s hoped t h a t the r e p o r t will be of i n t e r e s t to r e a c t o r e n g i n e e r s , e s p e c i a l l y in t h o s e c o u n t r i e s i n t o w h i c h n u c l e a r p o w e r i s now t o
be i n t r o d u c e d .
T h e A g e n c y i s g r a t e f u l to the G o v e r n m e n t s of the M e m b e r S t a t e s which
c o n t r i b u t e d t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e to t h i s r e p o r t by a n s w e r i n g the i n q u i r y .

CONTENTS
I.

INTRODUCTION

II.

LAWS, R E G U L A T I O N S AND R E G U L A T O R Y

STANDING O F C O D E S

12

III.

S C O P E AND C O N T E N T O F NATIONAL CODES

13

IV.

T H E A P P L I C A T I O N O F NATIONAL P R E S S U R E V E S S E L
CODES T O N U C L E A R SYSTEMS

13

V.

NEW N U C L E A R C O D E S AND C O D E S U P P L E M E N T S

16

VI.

M A J O R CONSIDERATIONS F O R N U C L E A R

VII.

PRESSURE VESSELS

17

S p e c i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s d u e t o r a d i a t i o n e m b r i t t l e m e n t of s t e e l s . . .

18

R e q u i r e m e n t s due to inaccessibility for periodic inspections

20

...

Additional r e q u i r e m e n t s

23

Exceptions granted f r o m existing codes

23

CONCLUSION

24

REFERENCES
ANNEX:

N A T I O N A L R E G U L A T I O N S AND CODES
AND T H E I R ADMINISTRATION

25
27

I.

INTRODUCTION

T h e d e s i g n , c o n s t r u c t i o n and m a i n t e n a n c e of n u c l e a r r e a c t o r p r e s s u r e
s y s t e m s p o s e a n u m b e r of new p r o b l e m s in c o n n e c t i o n with the a p p l i c a t i o n
of n o r m a l p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s and r e g u l a t i o n s . In p a r t , t h e s e p r o b l e m s
c o n c e r n new a s p e c t s of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l t e c h n i q u e s s u c h a s the v e r y l a r g e
s i z e s of the p r e s e n t l y p r o d u c e d and designed r e a c t o r v e s s e l s , the high p r e s s u r e s and l a r g e v o l u m e s , and thus the l a r g e s t o r e d e n e r g i e s in the s y s t e m s .
O f t e n u n c o n v e n t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s and f a b r i c a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s a r e u s e d , e . g .
m a t e r i a l s such as Zircaloy, p r e s t r e s s e d concrete or m u l t i - l a y e r e d v e s s e l
w a l l s . The m a i n p r o b l e m s , h o w e v e r , a r e : the v e s s e l s undergo s e r v i c e
i n high r a d i a t i o n f i e l d s , w h i c h a f f e c t the m a t e r i a l s and c a u s e t h e i r a c t i v a tion; t h e y a r e i n a c c e s s i b l e f o r r o u t i n e i n s p e c t i o n s once they have b e e n put
i n t o o p e r a t i o n ; t h e y c o n t a i n v e r y l a r g e a m o u n t s of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l s
in o p e r a t i o n ; and t h e r e c a n be v e r y g r a v e c o n s e q u e n c e s in the e v e n t of
l e a k a g e o r f a i l u r e . F i n a l l y , n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s a r e often sold i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y ,
and it c a n s o m e t i m e s be v e r y d i f f i c u l t f o r a m a n u f a c t u r e r to u n d e r s t a n d and
m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of f o r e i g n c o d e s . T y p i c a l of t h e s e l a t t e r p r o b l e m s
i s a s t a t e m e n t m a d e at the T h i r d Geneva C o n f e r e n c e by a Dutch m a n u f a c t u r i n g g r o u p [1] : " N o t a l l c o u n t r i e s have r u l e s f o r n u c l e a r v e s s e l s , t h u s
l e n g t h y d i s c u s s i o n s with the a u t h o r i t i e s c o n c e r n e d a r e r e q u i r e d to e s t a b l i s h
a s e t of r u l e s . In t h e s e c o n d p l a c e , w h e r e o n e h a s t o d e s i g n a v e s s e l t o
m o r e t h a n one c o d e , c o n f l i c t i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s have to be d i s c u s s e d b e t w e e n
t h e a u t h o r i t i e s c o n c e r n e d . T h e c o n v e n t i o n a l c o d e s i n m o s t c a s e s do n o t
give s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n on the d e s i g n r e q u i r e m e n t s of n u c l e a r v e s s e l s ,
s o a d d i t i o n a l , p r o v i s i o n a l r u l e s a r e g i v e n o r c a l c u l a t i o n m e t h o d s h a v e to
be a g r e e d u p o n a n d m u c h d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s i s a s k e d f o r " .
P r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s c a n i n d e e d be of c r u c i a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r the d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n of n u c l e a r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s . F o r the s i z e s and d e s i g n
p r e s s u r e s now c o n s i d e r e d f o r b i g p o w e r s t a t i o n s i n t h e 1 0 0 0 - M W r a n g e ,
a n a t i o n a l code i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o r r u l i n g m a y not only s e v e r e l y a f f e c t the cost
of the plant but also in fact m a k e it technically u n f e a s i b l e to build and inspect
a c e r t a i n r e a c t o r in one c o u n t r y while it m a y be p o s s i b l e in a n o t h e r . F i g u r e
1 s h o w s the s i z e r a n g e s f o r built and planned b o i l i n g and p r e s s u r i z e d l i g h t water power reactor vessels.
As i s shown by r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , t h e s e b i g - s i z e v e s s e l s a r e n e c e s s a r y to achieve e c o n o m i c c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s f o r n u c l e a r p o w e r .
The
d a t a in T a b l e I a r e i l l u s t r a t i v e f o r the wide v a r i a t i o n s t h a t a r e o b t a i n e d in
a s i m p l e c a l c u l a t i o n of the w a l l t h i c k n e s s a s r e q u i r e d by v a r i o u s n a t i o n a l
c o d e s f o r typical m o d e r n p o w e r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s . The BWR in t h i s table
r e f l e c t s d e s i g n data f o r the O y s t e r C r e e k plant and the PWR the Connecticut
Yankee s t a t i o n , both now u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n .
T h e p r o b l e m s of a p p l y i n g p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s to n u c l e a r r e a c t o r
s y s t e m s w i l l be e n c o u n t e r e d m u c h m o r e o f t e n and on a l a r g e r s c a l e in the
f u t u r e . It i s e x p e c t e d that by 1980 the i n s t a l l e d n u c l e a r g e n e r a t i n g c a p a c i t y
w i l l be m o r e t h a n 200 000 MW(e), which would c o r r e s p o n d to at l e a s t s o m e
200 to 300 new n u c l e a r p o w e r p l a n t s being in o p e r a t i o n by that t i m e . F i f t y n i n e of t h e m a r e a l r e a d y f i r m l y p l a n n e d o r u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n . M a n y of
t h e s e r e a c t o r s w i l l be in d e v e l o p i n g c o u n t r i e s w h i c h do not h a v e t h e l e v e l
9

F I G . 1.

D i a m e t e r o f l i g h t - w a t e r reactor,vessels

of g e n e r a l t e c h n o l o g i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t h a s e a s e d the p r o b l e m s of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n in, e. g . , the United Kingdom o r the

U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a .
At t h e s a m e t i m e the v e r y r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t i n n u c l e a r r e a c t o r t e c h nology w i l l m a k e i t d i f f i c u l t to adapt existing n a t i o n a l c o d e s t h r o u g h s u p p l e m e n t s o r c a s e r u l i n g s f o r n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s y s t e m s o r to f o r m u l a t e new codes
to c o v e r r e a c t o r s y s t e m a p p l i c a t i o n s in a g e n e r a l w a y . New c o d e s should
c o v e r t h e w i d e l y d i f f e r e n t c a s e s of w a t e r - m o d e r a t e d a n d c o o l e d r e a c t o r s
on the one s i d e and g a s - c o o l e d , g r a p h i t e - m o d e r a t e d r e a c t o r s on the o t h e r ,
all of which s y s t e m s have been and a r e being built f o r n u c l e a r power stations.
A l l t h e s e s y s t e m s a r e in a s t a g e of r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t , e . g . t o w a r d s i n t e r n a l n u c l e a r s u p e r h e a t i n g of the s t e a m in w a t e r - c o o l e d s y s t e m s and t o w a r d s
v e r y high exit t e m p e r a t u r e s of m o r e than 700C of gas coolants. The coolant
p a r a m e t e r s of the p r e s e n t advanced r e a c t o r concepts a r e such that new probl e m s of d e s i g n and m a n u f a c t u r a r e r a i s e d a l s o f o r t h e m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l
p a r t s of t h e r e a c t o r s t a t i o n s y s t e m s . All the s a m e , the p r e s e n t g e n e r a t i o n
of r e a c t o r s w i l l m o s t p r o b a b l y be s u p e r s e d e d w i t h i n s o m e d e c a d e s by e n t i r e l y different types, such as advanced c o n v e r t e r s or sodium-cooled fast
b r e e d e r s , w h i c h w i l l p l a c e n e w and s t i l l m o r e d i f f e r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s on
the p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s y s t e m s .
T h e p r o b l e m s p o s e d by t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e m a n y d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l
c o d e s have a l r e a d y in the p a s t b e e n s e v e r e and it w a s s u g g e s t e d that the
I n t e r n a t i o n a l A t o m i c E n e r g y A g e n c y m a k e a s u r v e y of how p r e s s u r e v e s s e l
10

TABLE -I

SCHEMATIC CODE E X A M P L E S FOR T Y P I C A L L I G H T - W A T E R

REACTORS
BWR, O y s t e r C r e e k P l a n t (515 MW(e))
PWR, C o n n e c t i c u t Y a n k e e P l a n t (462 MW(e))

Inner diameter ( c m )
2

Design pressure ( k g / c m )

BWR

PWR

541

391

88

176

SA-302-B

SA-302-B

285

308

181

270

Australia

254

384

Belgium

242

352

Denmark

274

396

Germany

173

270

Norway

226

326

Sweden

194

336

USSR

210

303

USA ( A S M E V I I I )

175

264

INSTA

194

M a t e r i a l , A S M E spec.
Coolant outlet temperature ( C )

W a l l thickness ( m m ) :

(a)

As a c t u a l l y b u i l t

(b)

Designed to c o d e o f

c o d e s have been applied in t h o s e M e m b e r States with e x p e r i e n c e in the cons t r u c t i o n of p r e s s u r i z e d r e a c t o r s y s t e m s . An i n q u i r y was s e n t out and by
the middle of 1964 f i f t e e n a n s w e r s had been r e c e i v e d . Some additional background l i t e r a t u r e h a s b e e n r e v i e w e d and included, but the r e p o r t i s m a i n l y
b a s e d on t h e s e a n s w e r s , w h i c h m e a n s that the i n f o r m a t i o n in s o m e c a s e s
d a t e s back to 1963. F u r t h e r , the a n s w e r s w e r e v e r y d i f f e r e n t in the s c o p e
they c o v e r e d , and in the amount of detail they gave. In many c a s e s the specif i c t e c h n i c a l e x a m p l e s have b e e n t a k e n f r o m the l i t e r a t u r e to s u p p o r t the
m o r e g e n e r a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s r e f e r r e d to in the o f f i c i a l a n s w e r s t o the
A g e n c y ' s i n q u i r y . B o t h w a t e r - c o o l e d and m o d e r a t e d and g a s - c o o l e d r e a c t o r s a r e c o v e r e d by the a n s w e r s , i . e . both w a t e r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s o r boil e r s and g a s p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . T h e a n s w e r s n a t u r a l l y a l s o r e f l e c t l o c a l
situations and the difficulty of d e s c r i b i n g them in reply to a standard inquiry.
The r e p o r t thus cannot claim complete coverage. N e v e r t h e l e s s it is believed
that the m a t e r i a l c a n give s o m e b a c k g r o u n d f o r the w o r k on code p r o b l e m s
11

now g o i n g on in m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d t h a t i t m a y b e of s o m e a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e
c o u n t r i e s t h a t a r e now planning the i n s t a l l a t i o n of t h e i r f i r s t power r e a c t o r s .
II.

L A W S , R E G U L A T I O N S AND R E G U L A T O R Y S T A N D I N G O F C O D E S

In m o s t c o u n t r i e s t h e d e s i g n , c o n s t r u c t i o n and i n s p e c t i o n of p r e s s u r e
v e s s e l s i n g e n e r a l a r e s u b j e c t to g o v e r n m e n t r e g u l a t i o n s , but t h e t y p e of
r e g u l a t o r y c o n t r o l v a r i e s within v e r y wide l i m i t s . This will s o m e t i m e s
have a b e a r i n g on how the r e g u l a t i o n s and c o d e s a r e applied to r e a c t o r s y s t e m s , and t h e p e r t i n e n t f a c t s f o r e a c h of the c o u n t r i e s which a n s w e r e d the
A g e n c y ' s i n q u i r y h a v e t h e r e f o r e b e e n c o l l e c t e d in the A n n e x .
To i l l u s t r a t e the v e r y d i f f e r e n t positions in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , j u s t some
e x a m p l e s c a n be given h e r e . In Belgium a r o y a l d e c r e e c o n s t i t u t e s the whole
code and in India and J a p a n t h e c o d e s a r e m i n i s t r y r e g u l a t i o n s , w r i t t e n and
i s s u e d by g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s . On the o t h e r hand, in the United Kingd o m and in F r a n c e , t h e l a w s give only a m i n i m u m of g u i d a n c e on t e c h n i c a l
q u e s t i o n s , p l a c i n g a g e n e r a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r s a f e t y on the o w n e r / o p e r a t o r
of the p l a n t . Most c o u n t r i e s take a position in b e t w e e n t h e s e e x t r e m e s with
a l a w e s t a b l i s h i n g p r i n c i p l e s o n l y , r e f e r r i n g d e t a i l e d p r o b l e m s of d e s i g n
and c o n s t r u c t i o n to c o d e s w r i t t e n by a t e c h n i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h u s in N o r way the l a w e s t a b l i s h e s t h r e e m a n d a t o r y c o d e s , the Dutch law gives the code
r e g u l a t o r y s t a n d i n g , while i n D e n m a r k and S w e d e n t h e c o d e s have no l e g a l
s t a n d i n g p e r s e but a r e in p r a c t i c e o f f i c i a l and m a n d a t o r y as they have been
adopted by the g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s that a r e by law r e s p o n s i b l e f o r labour
p r o t e c t i o n . In f e d e r a l u n i o n s s u c h a s A u s t r a l i a , C a n a d a , G e r m a n y and the
United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a t h e r e g u l a t o r y s t a n d i n g of the c o d e s is d e t e r m i n e d
by the s e p a r a t e s t a t e s o r p r o v i n c e s in the union, w h e r e m o s t often the p r o c e d u r e of a s t a t e l a w e s t a b l i s h i n g a t e c h n i c a l c o d e h a s b e e n f o l l o w e d .
In a f e w c o u n t r i e s , e x p r e s s p r o v i s i o n i s m a d e f o r t h e a c c e p t a n c e of
f o r e i g n c o d e s . T h u s t h e A u s t r a l i a n Code C B 1 / 1 9 6 2 P a r t I I , d e a l i n g with unf i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s , r e c o g n i z e s s o m e B r i t i s h and US n a t i o n a l s p e c i f i cations and codes as a c c e p t a b l e , among t h e m B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d s , L l o y d ' s
R u l e s a n d R e g u l a t i o n s , and A S M E 1 C o d e s . T h e C a n a d i a n Code B 5 1 s p e c i f i e s t h e u s e of ASME C o d e s with s o m e a m e n d m e n t s .
T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and e n f o r c e m e n t of the c o d e s l i k e w i s e v a r y g r e a t l y .
Most c o u n t r i e s have i n s p e c t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s , which may be p a r t of a government or state department (Australia, Canada, D e n m a r k , F r a n c e , India,
J a p a n , N e t h e r l a n d s and N o r w a y ) , o r m a y be s e p a r a t e t e c h n i c a l o r g a n i z a tions r e c o g n i z e d by a g o v e r n m e n t o r s t a t e d e p a r t m e n t (Germany and Sweden).
In B e l g i u m r e c u r r i n g i n s p e c t i o n s a r e p e r f o r m e d by a u t h o r i z e d p r i v a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s . In the United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a i n i t i a l i n s p e c t i o n i s p e r f o r m e d
by s t a t e i n s p e c t o r a t e s o r b y c e r t i f i e d i n s p e c t o r s . In t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m
the g e n e r a l e n f o r c e m e n t of t h e law i s by the M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r (for n u c l e a r
i n s t a l l a t i o n s by t h e M i n i s t r y of P o w e r ) but d e t a i l e d i n s p e c t i o n s a r e m a d e
e i t h e r by t h e p u r c h a s e r , by i n s u r a n c e i n s p e c t o r s , o r by o t h e r i n d e p e n d e n t
technical inspection bodies.

12

A S M E = A m e r i c a n Society o f M e c h a n i c a l Engineers.

In s o m e c o u n t r i e s , e . g . C a n a d a , an i n s u r a n c e would annul the r e q u i r e m e n t f o r p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s by a u t h o r i t i e s , but t h e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n i e s

i n s u c h c a s e s would p e r f o r m s i m i l a r i n s p e c t i o n s .
III. S C O P E AND C O N T E N T O F NATIONAL CODES
In T a b l e II the s c o p e and c o n t e n t of t h e n a t i o n a l r e g u l a t i o n s and c o d e s
have been s u m m a r i z e d as f a r a s i s p o s s i b l e with the i n f o r m a t i o n that i s availa b l e . T o p r o v i d e c o m p a r a t i v e m a t e r i a l , b o t h r e g u l a t i o n and c o d e s c o p e s
have b e e n c o m b i n e d in the table without any a t t e m p t at s e p a r a t i o n . It i s
obvious f r o m T a b l e II t h a t g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e s e x i s t b e t w e e n the c o u n t r i e s and
that this would c a u s e p r o b l e m s f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e l i v e r i e s even f o r conv e n t i o n a l v e s s e l s t h a t do n o t h a v e t h e a d v a n c e d r e q u i r e m e n t s of n u c l e a r
vessels.
F o r n u c l e a r a p p l i c a t i o n s it c a n , f o r i n s t a n c e , be s e e n that m a n y c o d e s
do not have m a t e r i a l s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r the m o d e r n l o w - a l l o y , h i g h - s t r e n g t h
s t e e l s , which a r e the ones that m u s t be used f o r big r e a c t o r v e s s e l s . F u r t h e r ,
m a n y c o d e s do not g i v e a n y d e s i g n s t r e s s v a l u e s e v e n f o r the t e m p e r a t u r e
r a n g e s of p r e s e n t w a t e r - c o o l e d r e a c t o r s , and v e r y f e w give v a l u e s i n t h e
h i g h e r t e m p e r a t u r e r a n g e of m o d e r n g a s - c o o l e d r e a c t o r s , f o r which c r e e p
i s b e c o m i n g i m p o r t a n t . T h e given s t r e s s v a l u e s at e l e v a t e d t e m p e r a t u r e s
v a r y c o n s i d e r a b l y . F e w c o d e s give s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a l u m i n i u m and i t s
a l l o y s , which a r e e x t e n s i v e l y u s e d in r e s e a r c h r e a c t o r s y s t e m s .
M o s t of t h e c o d e s give e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e to w e l d e d v e s s e l s , w e l d e r
q u a l i f i c a t i o n , m a n u f a c t u r e by w e l d i n g and i n s p e c t i o n of w e l d s . T h e f o r m s
of w e l d i n g c o n t r o l v a r y v e r y m u c h , r a n g i n g f r o m c o n t r o l of t h e w e l d e r ' s
c a p a b i l i t y t o s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r n o n - d e s t r u c t i v e t e s t i n g . R e q u i r e m e n t s of
t e s t p l a t e s to be welded with longitudinal welds a r e quite c o m m o n f o r quality
c o n t r o l . R a d i o g r a p h y i s t h e only n o n - d e s t r u c t i v e t e s t i n g t e c h n i q u e w h i c h
is commonly recognized, ultrasonic techniques being mentioned in s o m e
codes without any detailed s p e c i f i c a t i o n s .
A n e x c e l l e n t s u r v e y of n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s , g i v i n g m o r e
d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n , h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d by L a n c a s t e r [2].

IV.

THE APPLICATION OF NATIONAL PRESSURE VESSEL CODES

TO NUCLEAR SYSTEMS

A l l the 15 M e m b e r S t a t e s t h a t a n s w e r e d the IAEA enqute s t a t e d t h a t t h e

n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e v e s s e l r e g u l a t i o n s and c o d e s had b e e n a p p l i e d t o the n u c l e a r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s y s t e m s b u i l t in t h e s e c o u n t r i e s .
N i n e t e e n of t h e r e a c t o r s c o n c e r n e d a r e i m p o r t e d i n t o nine c o u n t r i e s .
In s o m e of t h e s e c a s e s t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e c o d e s w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y e a s y ,
a s p r o v i s i o n s e x i s t e d o r w e r e m a d e f o r t h e a c c e p t a n c e of f o r e i g n c o d e s .
A u s t r a l i a i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y c l e a r - c u t c a s e , a s t h e A u s t r a l i a n SAA2 C o d e
m a k e s e x p r e s s p r o v i s i o n s f o r the a c c e p t a n c e of the B r i t i s h Standard Specific a t i o n s t o w h i c h t h e H I F A R w a s d e s i g n e d and b u i l t in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .

SAA

= Standards Association of Australia.

13

TABLE U

S C O P E AND C O N T E N T S O F N A T I O N A L P R E S S U R E V E S S E L C O D E S AND R E G U L A T I O N S
Code design basis

Materials specifications

Carbon
steel

Low
alloy
steel

High
alloy
steel

Nonferrous
metals

Values for
high
temperatures

Tests and
inspection of
m a t rials

Formula
for m i n i m u m
wall
thickness

Complete
stress
analysis
required

Welding

Allowable
stress based on
Yield
strength

Ultimate
strength

Australia

Yes

No

Yes
<Cu)

res

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Belgium

No

No

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Joint
efficiency
factor
range

0.41-1.0
<0.7

Welding
approval
procedure

Inspection procedures

Tests
of
welds

First
inspection

Periodic
inspection

Yes

Yes

res

res

No

No

Yes

Yes

Canada

ASME Code applies

welding requirements slightly
modified in 5 1

Denmark

Yes

No

No

No

France

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Germany

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

India

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

0.5-0.9

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

0.8-1.0

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

0.4-0.9

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
-

INSTA

Yes

No

No

NO

No

res

Yes

No

Yes

Italy

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yesa

Yes

Japan
Netherlands

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Norway

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Sweden

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

UK

No
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

0.5-0.9

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Yes

0.6-0.9

Yes

Yes

res

Yes

Yes

res

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

0.95-1.0

Yes

Yes

res

No

ASME II, VIU

and IX

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

0.45-1.0

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

ASME III

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

British Stand. 3915

USA

Yes
Yes

USSR

- Information not

available.

The proposed new code will use y i e l d strength.

1.0
0.7-1.0

In D e n m a r k B r i t i s h and A m e r i c a n c o d e s w e r e a c c e p t e d f o r t h e r e a c t o r s in
o p e r a t i o n a t t h e R i s ^ R e s e a r c h E s t a b l i s h m e n t and in G r e e n l a n d , a l t h o u g h
the Danish Atomic E n e r g y C o m m i s s i o n made s o m e spcial additional r e - '
q u i r e m e n t s . In G e r m a n y , w h e r e in g e n e r a l t h e n a t i o n a l c o d e s h a v e b e e n
a p p l i e d , f o r e i g n c o d e s h a v e b e e n a c c e p t e d in s o m e s p e c i f i c s e c t o r s , e . g .
regarding special designs.
S o m e quite s e v e r e d i f f i c u l t i e s of a g e n e r a l n a t u r e h a v e in m a n y c a s e s
b e e n e n c o u n t e r e d i n a p p l y i n g n a t i o n a l c o d e s to r e a c t o r s y s t e m s . T h i s in
m a n y c a s e s s t e m s f r o m the f a c t t h a t the l o c a l c o d e s a r e old and do not r e f l e c t t h e t e c h n i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t t h a t h a s t a k e n p l a c e in the d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n of big p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . S o m e t i m e s t h i s r e s u l t s i n t h e n a t i o n a l
c o d e s b e i n g t o o s t r i c t , e . g . i n not r e c o g n i z i n g the high s t r e n g t h of m o d e r n
p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s t e e l s , and s o m e t i m e s they a r e e n t i r e l y i n a d e q u a t e in t h a t
they do not c o v e r m o d e r n t y p e s of c o n s t r u c t i o n of high p r e s s u r e , high power
u n i t s . T h e m e r e s i z e s a n d w a l l t h i c k n e s s e s of r e a c t o r v e s s e l s i n m a n y
c a s e s go f a r beyond e x i s t i n g p r a c t i c e s and have b r o u g h t new r e q u i r e m e n t s
beyond t h o s e of e x i s t i n g c o d e s . It should a l s o be noted that s o m e t i m e s codes
w h i c h a r e not t r u l y a p p r o p r i a t e h a v e t o be a p p l i e d . In I n d i a , f o r e x a m p l e ,
no code f o r u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s , u n d e r which r e a c t o r v e s s e l s arid s y s t e m s a r e n o r m a l l y t r e a t e d , h a s e x i s t e d . The T a r a p u r BWB plant should,
a s a s t e a m g e n e r a t i n g unit, be d e s i g n e d and m a n u f a c t u r e d a c c o r d i n g to the
r u l e s of t h e Indian B o i l e r R e g u l a t i o n s , w h i c h in m a n y a s p e c t s would not be
applicable, a s the r e a c t o r plant n a t u r a l l y i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m any conventional boiler.
F r o m the United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a it was pointed out that one m a j o r probl e m in applying s t r i n g e n t c o d e s to n u c l e a r v e s s e l s h a s b e e n that of obtaining
c l o s e a d h e r e n c e of a l l m a n u f a c t u r e r s and v e s s e l i n s p e c t o r s to the r e q u i r e m e n t s of the c o d e s in o r d e r to avoid d e l a y s when such r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e enf o r c e d . S i m i l a r d i f f i c u l t i e s have indeed been e x p e r i e n c e d in many c o u n t r i e s ,
a s d e l a y s and r e j e c t i o n s in n u c l e a r plant d e l i v e r i e s b e a r w i t n e s s .
In a d d i t i o n to t h e s e m o r e g e n e r a l p r o b l e m s which would be s i m i l a r f o r
both big c o n v e n t i o n a l u n i t s and n u c l e a r v e s s e l s , t h e r e a r e s o m e m a j o r ones
w h i c h d e r i v e f r o m t h e s p e c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s .
The
c o m p e t e n c e to d e a l with t h e s e p r o b l e m s h a s n o r m a l l y been developed within
national atomic e n e r g y a u t h o r i t i e s , which have been c h a r g e d with the nat i o n a l n u c l e a r p o w e r d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m m e s . Often these a u t h o r i t i e s have
a l s o b e e n given a s a f e t y c o n t r o l f u n c t i o n , which in o t h e r s i s handled by s p e cial atomic energy control boards or r e a c t o r safety committees. A reactor
s a f e t y c o m m i t t e e m a y s o m e t i m e s be only a d v i s o r y , e . g . to a g o v e r n m e n t
d e p a r t m e n t o r an a t o m i c e n e r g y a u t h o r i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . In o t h e r i n s t a n c e s
the e x e r c i s e of t h e s a f e t y c o n t r o l f u n c t i o n by a c o n t r o l b o a r d o r d i r e c t l y by
a g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t will have a definite r e g u l a t o r y c h a r a c t e r . P r e s s u r e
v e s s e l s a f e t y i s u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a s p a r t of n u c l e a r s a f e t y u n d e r this cont r o l f u n c t i o n and i t i s t h u s i n t e r e s t i n g to s t u d y how t h i s i s c o r r e l a t e d to the
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s . P r o c e d u r e s and p r a c t i c e s v a r y
v e r y m u c h , a s c a n be s e e n f r o m the f o l l o w i n g e x a m p l e s .
In Canada the r e g u l a t o r y c o n t r o l o v e r all n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s i s the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the A t o m i c E n e r g y C o n t r o l B o a r d , which l i c e n s e s a r e a c t o r only
a f t e r a t h o r o u g h r e v i e w of i t s s a f e t y . T h i s B o a r d s e e k s t h e a d v i c e of a p p r o p r i a t e p r o v i n c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s r e g a r d i n g b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s .
15

J a p a n a p p l i e s i t s n o r m a l c o d e s to r e s e a r c h r e a c t o r s but not to p o w e r
r e a c t o r s , w h i c h a r e i n s t e a d s u b j e c t t o a p p r o v a l of t h e M i n i s t r y of T r a d e
a n d I n d u s t r y , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a s p e c i a l r e g u l a t i o n f o r p o w e r r e a c t o r
facilities.
It i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o t e t h a t i n s o m e c o u n t r i e s a n a c t m a y p r e s c r i b e
n u c l e a r l i c e n s i n g p r o c e d u r e s that tend to give c o d e s a r e g u l a t o r y e f f e c t they
do not o t h e r w i s e h a v e . A c a s e in point i s the N u c l e a r I n s t a l l a t i o n s A c t of
1965 in the United K i n g d o m .
N a t u r a l l y , i n t e r v e n t i o n by n u c l e a r e n e r g y a u t h o r i t i e s o r c o n t r o l bodies
to deviate f r o m u s u a l code p r a c t i c e s in n u c l e a r plant l i c e n s i n g has o c c u r r e d
t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t in c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e p r o b l e m s of a p p l y i n g the n a tional code have b e e n m o s t s e v e r e . One e x a m p l e is India, where the Atomic
E n e r g y Act p r o v i d e s f o r the p o s s i b i l i t y of s u p e r s e d i n g the B o i l e r Regulations
in r e l a t i o n to any f a c i l i t i e s owned by t h e C e n t r a l G o v e r n m e n t and e n g a g e d
in c a r r y i n g out the p u r p o s e s of t h e A t o m i c E n e r g y A c t . D i f f i c u l t i e s w e r e
e n c o u n t e r e d with the application of the Indian B o i l e r Regulations to the T a r a p u r p l a n t w h i c h i s b e i n g i m p o r t e d f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a .
S e v e r a l e x e m p t i o n s to t h e s e r e g u l a t i o n s would have to be m a d e c o n c e r n i n g
m a t e r i a l s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , weld f a c t o r , g e n e r a l design, e t c . , and it is possible
t h a t an ASME code w i l l be adopted f o r t h i s plant i n s t e a d . It i s thought p o s s i b l e that with t h i s background an independent i n s p e c t o r a t e will be e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r the I n d i a n D e p a r t m e n t of A t o m i c E n e r g y , and a l s o t h a t an a p p r o p r i a t e c o d e w i l l b e d r a f t e d f o r t h e g u i d a n c e of t h i s i n s p e c t o r a t e . It i s
quite probable that t h i s i s a solution to the p r o b l e m of old o r inadequate codes,
to which r e c o u r s e will be taken in many c o u n t r i e s as the f i r s t power r e a c t o r s
a r e built.

V.

NEW NUCLEAR CODES AND CODE S U P P L E M E N T S

In m a n y c o u n t r i e s t h e p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e w r i t i n g b o d i e s r e c o g n i z e
t h e n e e d to u p d a t e o r r e - w r i t e the c o d e s s o that they s p e c i f i c a l l y c o v e r n u c l e a r p r e s s u r e s y s t e m s . In the United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a the ASME B o i l e r
and P r e s s u r e V e s s e l C o d e s w e r e s u p p l e m e n t e d by s p e c i a l n u c l e a r r e a c t o r
c a s e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s [3] , t h e e a r l i e s t of w h i c h d a t e s b a c k to 1959. In 1964
a new S e c t i o n III " N u c l e a r V e s s e l s " of t h e ASME code w a s p u b l i s h e d . The
" P r o v i s i o n a l R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r the D e s i g n , M a n u f a c t u r e and T e s t i n g of Landb a s e d N u c l e a r I n s t a l l a t i o n s " , p u b l i s h e d by L l o y d ' s R e g i s t e r of Shipping 1960
[4], h a s b e e n u s e d in the United Kingdom, w h e r e the B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d s Instit u t i o n p u b l i s h e d B . S . 3915 " S p e c i f i c a t i o n f o r C a r b o n and L o w A l l o y S t e e l
P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s f o r P r i m a r y C i r c u i t s of N u c l e a r R e a c t o r s " in 1965. In
G e r m a n y i t i s p l a n n e d to a m e n d the s t e a m b o i l e r and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l codes
by s u p p l e m e n t s t o t h e " A D M e r k b l t t e r " . A s e r i e s of a m e n d m e n t s t o t h e
e x i s t i n g c o d e s t o c o v e r n u c l e a r c a s e s a r e a l s o p l a n n e d in S w e d e n .
T h e ASME S e c t i o n III, N u c l e a r V e s s e l s , Code [5] m e r i t s s p e c i a l a t t e n tion. It h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d m o r e fully by, a m o n g o t h e r s , G a i n e s and P o r s e
[6] and thus only s o m e of the m a j o r f e a t u r e s will be pointed out h e r e to s e r v e
f o r c o m p a r i s o n w i t h s o m e of t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s r a i s e d f o r n u c l e a r v e s s e l s
i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . T h e ASME S e c t i o n III Code i n t r o d u c e s a new c o n c e p t
16

of d e s i g n c o m p a r e d to t h e e a r l i e r S e c t i o n s I and VIII.
a r e d i f f e r e n t i n the f o l l o w i n g r e s p e c t s [7] :

The design c r i t e r i a

"(a) Section III u s e s the m a x i m u m s h e a r s t r e s s ( T r e s c a ) t h e o r y of f a i l u r e

i n s t e a d of the m a x i m u m s t r e s s t h e o r y .
(b) S e c t i o n III r e q u i r e s the d e t a i l e d c a l c u l a t i o n and c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of all
s t r e s s e s and t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of d i f f e r e n t s t r e s s l i m i t s to d i f f e r e n t
c l a s s e s of s t r e s s , w h e r e a s S e c t i o n s I a n d VIII g i v e f o r m u l a s f o r
m i n i m u m allowable wall thickness.
(c) S e c t i o n III r e q u i r e s the c a l c u l a t i o n of t h e r m a l s t r e s s e s a n d g i v e s
allowable values for them.
(d) Section III c o n s i d e r s the p o s s i b i l i t y of fatigue f a i l u r e and gives r u l e s
for its prevention."
B e c a u s e of t h e c o m p l e t e s t r e s s a n a l y s i s t h a t i t r e q u i r e s , S e c t i o n III
allows l o w e r s a f e t y f a c t o r s . V e s s e l s designed to this code thus show savings
in m a t e r i a l c o m p a r e d t o t h o s e d e s i g n e d to t h e o l d e r code s e c t i o n s . M a t e r i a l
s a v i n g s of 16% f o r a P W R r e a c t o r v e s s e l and 25% f o r a BWR r e a c t o r v e s s e l
have b e e n quoted [6].
S e c t i o n III a l s o r e q u i r e s m o r e e x t e n s i v e t e s t i n g of the m a t e r i a l s u s e d ,
and r e c o m m e n d s t h a t the i n c r e a s e in the b r i t t l e f r a c t u r e t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e due to r a d i a t i o n d a m a g e , be c h e c k e d p e r i o d i c a l l y by m e a n s of s u r v e i l l a n c e s p e c i m e n s i r r a d i a t e d in the r e a c t o r , a l s o c o n s i d e r i n g combined e f f e c t s
of f a b r i c a t i o n , s t r e s s , and n e u t r o n e x p o s u r e . R e q u i r e m e n t s on f a b r i c a t i o n
and i n s p e c t i o n a r e f i n a l l y m o r e r e s t r i c t i v e in S e c t i o n III than in the e a r l i e r
code s e c t i o n s , r e f l e c t i n g the p r a c t i c e s that have been developed in the A m e r i can i n d u s t r y f o r the m a n u f a c t u r e of n u c l e a r v e s s e l s .
T h e new ASME S e c t i o n III Code t h u s a i m s at a t h o r o u g h a n a l y s i s of the
d e s i g n s and knowledge of the c o m p l e t e d v e s s e l s , giving i n s t e a d c o n s i d e r a b l e
s a v i n g s in m a t e r i a l and f a b r i c a t i o n . T h i s t r e n d to r e p l a c e l a r g e f a c t o r s of
s a f e t y with c a r e f u l and sound e n g i n e e r i n g i s s i g n i f i c a n t . The s a m e c o n c e p t
i s , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e b a s i s f o r t h e new B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d , and f o r a n e w code
s u p p l e m e n t f o r n u c l e a r c a s e s being d r a f t e d in the N e t h e r l a n d s which will
h a v e e v e n h i g h e r d e s i g n s t r e s s v a l u e s t h a n A S M E S e c t i o n III.

VI.

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR NUCLEAR PRESSURE VESSELS

S o m e m a j o r g e n e r a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g the s p e c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of r e a c t o r s y s t e m s have b e e n the b a s i s f o r s p e c i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r

n u c l e a r v e s s e l s in m o s t of t h e c o u n t r i e s c o n c e r n e d . T h e y a r e a s f o l l o w s :
(a) F a s t n e u t r o n i r r a d i a t i o n will c a u s e an i n c r e a s e in the b r i t t l e f r a c t u r e
t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e in s t e e l . The e x p o s u r e r a n g e needed f o r this
e f f e c t to b e c o m e s i g n i f i c a n t i s one which can be r e a c h e d in the walls
of a n u c l e a r r e a c t o r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l d u r i n g i t s p r o j e c t e d l i f e t i m e .
(b) Owing to r a d i o a c t i v i t y , c o n t a i n e d i n both f u e l and c o o l a n t a n d i n d u c e d in v e s s e l w a l l s , i t i s o f t e n i m p o s s i b l e o r e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t
to p e r f o r m the p e r i o d i c r o u t i n e ( e . g . a n n u a l ) i n s p e c t i o n s t h a t a r e
r e q u i r e d by m o s t p r e s s u r e v e s s e l r e g u l a t i o n s o r c o d e s .
17

T h e e f f e c t i v e c o n t a i n m e n t of l a r g e a m o u n t s of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l i s
one m a j o r c o n c e r n s p e c i f i e d by, among o t h e r s , D e n m a r k , G e r m a n y , J a p a n
a n d the U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a , w h e r e n u c l e a r v e s s e l s p r e v i o u s l y w e r e
- c l a s s i f i e d a s " v e s s e l s containing lethal s u b s t a n c e s " f o r design, c o n s t r u c t i o n
a n d i n s p e c t i o n a c c o r d i n g to t h e ASME S e c t i o n VIII C o d e . T h e s a m e m a j o r
c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s a l s o r e f l e c t e d by L l o y d ' s " P r o v i s i o n a l R e q u i r e m e n t s " [4]
a n d [8] .
In addition to t h e s e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , which applied to m o s t of the a n s w e r s
r e c e i v e d , t h e r m a l s t r e s s e s in the walls due to changing o p e r a t i n g conditions
( G e r m a n y and USSR [9] ) and t o r a d i a t i o n h e a t i n g of the w a l l m a t e r i a l ( G e r m a n y , S w e d e n a n d USSR [9]^) h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d a s a m a j o r c o n c e r n .
A s a r e s u l t of t h e s e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , both the new ASME Section III Code
and L l o y d ' s " P r o v i s i o n a l R e q u i r e m e n t s " r e c o g n i z e the n e e d to d i s t i n g u i s h
b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t c l a s s e s of v e s s e l s in a n u c l e a r p l a n t s y s t e m .
Lloyd's
thus defines Category A v e s s e l s as those that contain radioactive m a t e r i a l ,
a r e s u b j e c t e d to h i g h - l e v e l n e u t r o n i r r a d i a t i o n and a r e i n a c c e s s i b l e f o r p e r i odic m a i n t e n a n c e and i n s p e c t i o n . C a t e g o r y a r e v e s s e l s which contain
r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l s i n s e r v i c e but c a n b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e f o r p e r i o d i c
m a i n t e n a n c e and i n s p e c t i o n d u r i n g s h u t - d o w n s . C a t e g o r y c o v e r s the p a r t s
of t h e s y s t e m t h a t a r e to f u n c t i o n a s n o r m a l s e v e r e - d u t y p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s
( L l o y d ' s n o r m a l C l a s s I). E m e r g e n c y s t e e l c o n t a i n m e n t v e s s e l s f a l l u n d e r
C a t e g o r y D . T h e A S M E S e c t i o n III, C l a s s A , w o u l d c o r r e s p o n d r o u g h l y
to L l o y d ' s C a t e g o r y A and B , C l a s s to C a t e g o r y D, and C l a s s to C a t e g o r y C. B . S . 3915 s i m i l a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s between two c a t e g o r i e s of v e s s e l s
in n u c l e a r s y s t e m s .
In the a n s w e r s r e c e i v e d t o t h e A g e n c y i n q u i r y , no d i s t i n c t i o n h a s g e n e r a l l y b e e n m a d e b e t w e e n a n y s u c h c a t e g o r i e s of n u c l e a r s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s . In t h e t e x t of t h i s r e p o r t , the only d i s t i n c t i o n t h a t i s m a d e i s t h u s
b e t w e e n t h e r e a c t o r v e s s e l i t s e l f and the n u c l e a r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s y s t e m s ,
w h i c h would c o r r e s p o n d to ASME C l a s s A.
Special

requirements

due to radiation

embrittlement

of

steels

T h e g e n e r a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s above a l s o l e a d t o s o m e g e n e r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s quoted in m a n y of the a n s w e r s to the IAEA i n q u i r y . T h e p r o c e s s of

r a d i a t i o n e m b r i t t l e m e n t of s t e e l i n f l u e n c e s the choice of m a t e r i a l , the allowa b l e o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s of t h e v e s s e l and i t s o p e r a t i o n a l l i f e t i m e . M a j o r
t e s t i n g p r o g r a m m e s of i r r a d i a t e d t e s t s p e c i m e n s h a v e b e e n p e r f o r m e d t o
e n s u r e t h a t t h e p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s t e e l s u s e d a r e w e l l known e x p e r i m e n t a l l y
( e . g . I t a l y , N e t h e r l a n d s , S w e d e n , USA [6] ).
In m a n y c o u n t r i e s i r r a d i a t i o n of r e a c t o r v e s s e l s t e e l s p e c i m e n s i n s i d e
t h e r e a c t o r d u r i n g i t s o p e r a t i o n a l l i f e t i m e i s a l s o r e q u i r e d ( e . g . in G e r m a n y , Italy, Sweden, UK) o r r e c o m m e n d e d (by the USA in ASME Section III).
V e r y e x t e n s i v e i r r a d i a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s on s u r v e i l l a n c e
s p e c i m e n s of t h e r e a c t o r v e s s e l m a t e r i a l h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d by the United
K i n g d o m and t h e United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a [10] w h e r e the t e s t s include c o r r o s i o n , i m p a c t and t e n s i l e s t r e n g t h on s a m p l e s f r o m the v e s s e l plate as well
a s w e l d m e t a l a n d f o r g e d m a t e r i a l s . S a m p l e s a r e r e m o v e d and t e s t e d at
p l a n n e d i n t e r v a l s d u r i n g t h e w h o l e l i f e t i m e of t h e r e a c t o r v e s s e l .
This,
18

h o w e v e r , a l s o b r i n g s out the difficulty in i n t e r p r e t i n g i r r a d i a t i o n t e s t r e s u l t s .

E m b r i t t l e m e n t i s n o t only a r e s u l t of f a s t n e u t r o n i r r a d i a t i o n but a l s o of
n o r m a l ageing, s t r a i n a g e i n g , i n f l u e n c e of h e a t - a f f e c t e d z o n e s in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d of w e l d s , e t c . , w h i c h m a y c a u s e e q u a l l y l a r g e o r l a r g e r c h a n g e s
in t h e t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e and about w h i c h , of c o u r s e , i r r a d i a t i o n t e s t
s p e c i m e n s give no i n f o r m a t i o n . F u r t h e r , f o r r a d i a t i o n - i n d u c e d e m b r i t t l e m e n t p r e v i o u s h e a t t r e a t m e n t of t h e m a t e r i a l , t h e i m p i n g i n g n e u t r o n s p e c t r u m and the i r r a d i a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e a r e i m p o r t a n t p a r a m e t e r s that should
be the s a m e f o r the t e s t s p e c i m e n as f o r the v e s s e l wall m a t e r i a l about which
they a r e to give i n f o r m a t i o n . D o s e - r a t e e f f e c t s have a l s o b e e n r e p o r t e d but
r e s u l t s a r e not c o n s i s t e n t . The n o r m a l and m i n i a t u r e Charpy Y-notch s p e c i m e n t e s t s , n o r m a l l y u s e d in s u c h a p p l i c a t i o n s , m a k e it p o s s i b l e to c o m p a r e
the i r r a d i a t i o n b e h a v i o u r of d i f f e r e n t s t e e l s but do not give enough i n f o r m a tion f o r a t h o r o u g h e v a l u a t i o n on an a b s o l u t e s c a l e of, f o r e x a m p l e , the a c t u a l b e h a v i o u r of a r e a c t o r v e s s e l u n d e r i r r a d i a t i o n , the s u i t a b i l i t y of a c e r t a i n s t e e l , t h e l i f e t i m e t h a t c a n be s a f e l y e s t i m a t e d f o r a v e s s e l , o r m i n i mum safe working t e m p e r a t u r e s .
T h e q u e s t i o n of how to e v a l u a t e t h e s u i t a b i l i t y of v e s s e l s t e e l s to m e e t
r e a c t o r v e s s e l o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s h a s b e e n a p p r o a c h e d in d i f f e r e n t w a y s .
In Sweden, f o r e x a m p l e , it i s s u g g e s t e d that the i s o t h e r m a l R o b e r t s o n c r a c k a r r e s t t e m p e r a t u r e t e s t be u s e d as a b a s i s ; t h a t i s , if t h e c r a c k a r r e s t
t e m p e r a t u r e f o r i r r a d i a t e d s p e c i m e n s i s found to be v e r y m u c h l o w e r than
t h e l o w e s t t e m p e r a t u r e a t which t h e v e s s e l will be p r e s s u r i z e d , then t h e r e
i s a l a r g e s a f e t y m a r g i n and the s t e e l i s a d e q u a t e [11] .
A l s o t h e p r o b l e m s of l i f e t i m e a n d o p e r a t i o n a l l i m i t a t i o n s h a v e b e e n
a p p r o a c h e d in s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t w a y s and s o f a r no c l e a r c o m m o n p r a c t i c e s
have been developed. N o r m a l l y , shields a r e used to r e d u c e v e s s e l - w a l l
e x p o s u r e ; in J a p a n , f o r e x a m p l e , s u c h s h i e l d s a r e m a n d a t o r y . In N o r w a y
the H a l d e n r e a c t o r v e s s e l h a s b e e n e s t i m a t e d to be s a f e to a t o t a l f a s t n e u t r o n e x p o s u r e of 10 1 8 nvt. In the United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a a s u r v e y h a s been
m a d e of the f a s t n e u t r o n e x p o s u r e of s o m e p o w e r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s [12] . Of
the 19 r e a c t o r s s u r v e y e d , 15 m a y e x p e r i e n c e e x p o s u r e s of m o r e than 1018 nvt
d u r i n g t h e i r l i f e t i m e , and 8 m a y r e c e i v e e x p o s u r e s of m o r e t h a n 1019 n v t .
T h e P M - 2 A r e a c t o r w a s t h e f i r s t to r e a c h 10 1 9 nvt; it h a s now b e e n t a k e n
out of o p e r a t i o n .
A n o t h e r a p p r o a c h would be t o d e s i g n t h e v e s s e l to t h e w o r s t p o s s i b l e
conditions. The f i r s t Swedish p o w e r r e a c t o r , at g e s t a , was designed at
an e a r l y p e r i o d , when it w a s f e l t t h a t not enough w a s known about r a d i a t i o n
d a m a g e e f f e c t s on t h e m a t e r i a l u s e d and i t w a s t h u s d e c i d e d to a s s u m e t h e
whole v e s s e l b r i t t l e , that i s , all c a l c u l a t e d s t r e s s e s a r e below yield [13,14].
In t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m it h a s b e e n t h e p r a c t i c e t o r e d u c e t h e r i s k of
b r i t t l e f a i l u r e by m a i n t a i n i n g the r e a c t o r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s at a c e r t a i n minim u m t e m p e r a t u r e , w h i c h i s a s s e s s e d f r o m c r a c k a r r e s t t e s t s , c h a n g e s in
t h i s t e m p e r a t u r e being e s t i m a t e d f r o m C h a r p y s p e c i m e n t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e c h a n g e s [15] . O p e r a t i o n a l c r i t e r i a , b a s e d on a p e r m i s s i b l e a r e a in a
p r e s s u r e - t e m p e r a t u r e d i a g r a m h a v e a l s o b e e n u s e d in the United S t a t e s of
A m e r i c a [12] and s i m i l a r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s have b e e n r e p o r t e d f r o m G e r m a n y
[16] and S w e d e n . It would s e e m d e s i r a b l e to i n v e s t i g a t e f u r t h e r t h e n e e d s
f o r s u c h o p e r a t i n g c r i t e r i a and p r a c t i c e s w h i c h a r e in u s e at p r e s e n t .
19

It h a s a l s o b e e n p r o p o s e d to include o t h e r new d e s t r u c t i v e t e s t s on the

m a t e r i a l s to be u s e d f o r the v e s s e l , such as d e t e r m i n a t i o n of f r a c t u r e toughn e s s p r o p e r t i e s a s f u n c t i o n of n e u t r o n e x p o s u r e [6] .
An a l t e r n a t i v e t o m e a s u r e m e n t s on t e s t s p e c i m e n s , i r r a d i a t e d i n s i d e
t h e v e s s e l , could be t o p e r f o r m m e a s u r e m e n t s on the v e s s e l i t s e l f a s it i s
p r e s s u r i z e d , as i t s t e m p e r a t u r e is i n c r e a s e d , etc. At the Kahl BWR in
G e r m a n y an e x p e r i m e n t a l p r o g r a m m e i n c l u d e s elongation m e a s u r e m e n t s on
the i n t e r n a l and e x t e r n a l s u r f a c e s of the p r e s s u r e v e s s e l d u r i n g o p e r a t i o n .
Requirements

due to inaccessibility

for periodic

inspections

T h e d i f f i c u l t y o r i m p o s s i b i l i t y of p e r f o r m i n g r e g u l a r p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s on r e a c t o r s y s t e m s a f t e r t h e y have b e e n t a k e n i n t o o p e r a t i o n h a s l e d
to a g r e a t n u m b e r of a d d i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s beyond t h o s e given in n a t i o n a l
c o d e s . W h i l e r a d i a t i o n e m b r i t t l e m e n t , b e i n g a c h a n g e i n t h e p r o p e r t y of
m a t e r i a l , w i l l m a i n l y h a v e an e f f e c t on m a t e r i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , t h e i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y f o r i n s p e c t i o n d e m a n d s a d d i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r the whole
f a b r i c a t i o n f r o m t h e d e s i g n to the f i n a l a c c e p t a n c e t e s t s .
Many of the a n s w e r s to the IAEA i n q u i r y s t a t e d t h a t r e g u l a r i n s p e c t i o n s
s h o u l d c o n t i n u e to be p e r f o r m e d a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e . T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m
a n s w e r p o i n t s out that it i s not p o s s i b l e to give any g e n e r a l r u l e s f o r r e g u l a r
i n s p e c t i o n s , but t h a t r e g u l a t i o n s m a y be l i m i t e d to r e q u i r e the o b s e r v a n c e
of a n y e x a m i n a t i o n c o n d i t i o n s l a i d down by the l i c e n s i n g a u t h o r i t y . T h i s ,
of c o u r s e , m e a n s a " c a s e - b y - c a s e a p p r o a c h " w h i c h i s , h o w e v e r , t y p i c a l
of m o s t n u c l e a r p l a n t l i c e n s i n g p r o c e d u r e s and w h i c h r e f l e c t s t h e p r e s e n t
s t a t e of d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e n u c l e a r t e c h n o l o g y .
T y p i c a l of t h e i n s p e c t i o n r u l e s thus e s t a b l i s h e d a r e the A u s t r a l i a n r e q u i r e m e n t s on the HIFAR r e s e a r c h r e a c t o r system-, which include r e p e t i t i o n
of the a c c e p t a n c e t e s t s f o r c o m p o n e n t s when they a r e r e m o v e d o r d i s m a n t l e d
f o r i n s p e c t i o n and m a i n t e n a n c e . R e g u l a r v i s u a l i n s p e c t i o n s of t h e r e a c t o r
v e s s e l a r e p e r f o r m e d during each annual m a j o r maintenance shut-down.
S i m i l a r r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e i n f o r c e in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s .
It m a y s o m e t i m e s be p o s s i b l e to i s o l a t e n u c l e a r s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s ,
s u c h a s s t e a m g e n e r a t o r s , and to p e r f o r m a n o r m a l p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n on
t h e m . In m o s t c a s e s , and e s p e c i a l l y a s r e g a r d s the r e a c t o r v e s s e l i t s e l f ,
p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s would have to be v e r y l i m i t e d in s c o p e . It i s often only
p o s s i b l e to p e r f o r m a s u p e r f i c i a l visual inspection during m a j o r annual maintenance shut-downs, using horoscopes or other optical aids; this is much
l e s s than m o s t r u l e s for periodic inspections specify.
R e g u l a r i n s p e c t i o n s , a s n o r m a l l y c o n d u c t e d on c o n v e n t i o n a l b o i l e r s , '
b e i n g i m p o s s i b l e , m o s t c o u n t r i e s have n a t u r a l l y r e q u i r e d h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s
of r e l i a b i l i t y f o r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s . T h e s e h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s in t u r n c a l l f o r
a m o r e e x t e n s i v e k n o w l e d g e of t h e s t a t i c and o p e r a t i o n a l p r o p e r t i e s of t h e
v e s s e l , i . e . a c a r e f u l s t r e s s a n a l y s i s and a t h o r o u g h e v a l u a t i o n of a l l e f f e c t s t h a t m a y be d e l e t e r i o u s . T h u s , c o r r o s i o n r e s i s t a n c e and a n a l y s i s of
a l l p h e n o m e n a that m a y e n d a n g e r the s t r u c t u r e in the long t e r m have g e n e r ally been required.
M o s t c o u n t r i e s have r e q u i r e d a c a r e f u l a n a l y s i s of a l l s t r e s s e s in t h e
v e s s e l beyond the s i m p l e c a l c u l a t i o n of wall t h i c k n e s s s p e c i f i e d in the c o d e s .
20

T h e o b j e c t i v e of the s t r e s s a n a l y s i s h a s b e e n d i f f e r e n t in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s .
S o m e t i m e s the p u r p o s e has been to p e r f o r m calculations in o r d e r to d i s c o v e r
and e n s u r e a g a i n s t i n a d e q u a c i e s in e x i s t i n g c o d e s f o r the m o r e c o m p l e x nuc l e a r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s (Italy), o r to d e t e r m i n e the r e a l f a c t o r of s a f e t y , a l s o
t a k i n g into account r a d i a t i o n d a m a g e (Norway). The N o r w e g i a n a n s w e r a l s o
quoted t h a t a s a r e s u l t of t h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s it w a s d e c i d e d to u s e a m a x i m u m w e l d e f f i c i e n c y f a c t o r of 0 . 7 5 l o n g i t u d i n a l w e l d s in t h e d e s i g n
calculations.
O t h e r a n s w e r s s t a t e t h a t the u s u a l s c h e m a t i c code c a l c u l a t i o n s , t a k i n g
a limited value f o r m e m b r a n e s t r e s s e s with a safety f a c t o r , leaving all
u n c a l c u l a t e d s t r e s s i n c r e a s e s to be c a r r i e d by t h e m a r g i n s a v a i l a b l e , have
b e e n c o n s i d e r e d u n s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r r e a c t o r v e s s e l s , which r e q u i r e a detailed
a n a l y s i s of a l l s t r e s s i n c r e a s e s due t o o p e n i n g s , c h a n g e s in t e m p e r a t u r e ,
e t c . ( G e r m a n y , N e t h e r l a n d s , S w e d e n [13] , UK). T h e r m a l s t r e s s e s h a v e
in s o m e c a s e s b e e n given s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n ( e . g . G e r m a n y , USSR [9], USA).
T h e J a p a n e s e a n s w e r s p e c i f i e s that t h e r m a l s t r e s s e s have to be c o n s i d e r e d
in the m a x i m u m allowable w o r k i n g p r e s s u r e , and the G e r m a n a n s w e r points
s p e c i f i c a l l y to the a d d i t i o n a l t h e r m a l s t r e s s e s t h a t m a y o c c u r in t h i c k walls
at s t e a d y - s t a t e o p e r a t i o n and e s p e c i a l l y during power changes in the r e a c t o r ,
a s well a s to the o c c u r r e n c e of a d d i t i o n a l t h e r m a l s t r e s s e s due to r a d i a t i o n
h e a t i n g of t h e m a t e r i a l s . T h i s h a s a l s o b e e n a m a i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n in t h e
USSR [9] .
F o r the M a r v i k e n r e a c t o r v e s s e l in Sweden a c o m p l e t e s t r e s s a n a l y s i s
had to be m a d e , t a k i n g into a c c o u n t a l l n o r m a l r e a c t o r o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s
( i n c l u d i n g f a s t s h u t - d o w n s ) a n d a l s o s o m e t y p e s of a c c i d e n t s . F o r t h e s e
i t w a s r e q u i r e d t h a t p l a s t i c d e f o r m a t i o n of t h e c o m p o n e n t s would not be s o
g r e a t t h a t t h e i r f u n c t i o n would be i m p a i r e d . T h i s i s the only r e p o r t e d i n s t a n c e of s p e c i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r r e a c t o r a c c i d e n t c o n d i t i o n s .
D i f f e r e n t t y p e s of r e a c t o r s g i v e s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s a s
c o n c e r n s the s t r e s s c a l c u l a t i o n s . C r e e p i s not c o v e r e d by the ASME Section
III Code e x c e p t in t h e way t h a t the t a b u l a t e d allowable s t r e s s i n t e n s i t i e s have
b e e n l i m i t e d to a t e m p e r a t u r e r a n g e below that a t which c r e e p b e h a v i o u r b e c o m e s d o m i n a n t . T h i s r a n g e i s s t i l l adequate f o r the w a t e r - c o o l e d r e a c t o r s
now f o r m i n g the m a i n p a r t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s c o m m e r c i a l p o w e r r e a c t o r
p r o d u c t i o n . In the United Kingdom w h e r e g a s - c o o l e d r e a c t o r s call f o r higher
coolant and v e s s e l t e m p e r a t u r e s , c r e e p is a m a j o r c o n c e r n . S i m i l a r l y , some
c o n c e r n about the a d e q u a c y of the e a r l i e r ASME code s e c t i o n s h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d f r o m the United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a f o r high t e m p e r a t u r e l i q u i d - m e t a l
c o o l e d s y s t e m s [17] .
I t h a s b e e n s t a t e d t h a t a c o m p l e t e s t r e s s a n a l y s i s of a v e s s e l d e s i g n
m a y a d d u p t o 20% t o t h e c o s t of t h e v e s s e l [18] .
A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t a c t i o n t a k e n to c o u n t e r a c t t h e i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y f o r
r e g u l a r i n s p e c t i o n s is the r e s e a r c h p r o g r a m m e that h a s been e s t a b l i s h e d
in the United Kingdom by the C e n t r a l E l e c t r i c i t y G e n e r a t i n g B o a r d to p r e d i c t
t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of s t e e l r e a c t o r p r e s s u r e s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s [19] . T h e
m a i n a r e a s of i n t e r e s t in t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e c r e e p d i s t o r t i o n , c r e e p r u p t u r e , and high s t r a i n fatigue. Some e x p e r i m e n t s have a l s o been m a d e to
i n v e s t i g a t e the m a r g i n s b e t w e e n a c t u a l o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s and t h o s e which
would c r e a t e d i s t o r t i o n of t h e c o m p o n e n t s by s h o r t - t e r m yielding.
21

Additional r e q u i r e m e n t s have also b e e n placed on the whole m a n u f a c t u r ing p r o c e d u r e , f r o m the s e l e c t i o n of m a t e r i a l s to the s t r e s s relieving p r o c e d u r e , and on the i n s p e c t i o n . Of c o u r s e v a r i o u s i n s p e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s a r e
o f t e n e m p h a s i z e d , a s the o b j e c t i v e behind m o s t of t h e s e r e q u i r e m e n t s is the
v e r i f i c a t i o n t h a t the s t r i c t s p e c i f i c a t i o n s h a v e b e e n m a i n t a i n e d in c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h i s h a s o f t e n m e a n t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of new o r m o r e a d v a n c e d n o n d e s t r u c t i v e i n s p e c t i o n t e c h n i q u e s , e. g. t h e u s e of a c c e l e r a t o r s f o r r a d i o g r a p h y , u l t r a s o n i c m e t h o d s (which a r e now s p e c i f i e d to a much g r e a t e r extent
than p r e v i o u s l y ) , new l e a k t e s t s , e t c . T h e s e new o r m o r e r e f i n e d techniques
a r e now b e i n g f u r t h e r a p p l i e d to t h e f a b r i c a t i o n of m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l
pressure vessels.
F o r a l l s t e p s in d e s i g n , f a b r i c a t i o n and i n s p e c t i o n t h e r e i s a l s o a g e n e r a l c a l l f o r c a r e f u l and e x t e n s i v e documentation of all actions. The v a r i o u s
r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e s o m e t i m e s t y p i c a l f o r s p e c i f i c r e a c t o r t y p e s and m a y not
have g e n e r a l v a l i d i t y .
A m o n g the r e q u i r e m e n t s quoted in m a n y a n s w e r s a r e :
(a) S p e c i a l c a r e m u s t be e x e r t e d i n t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n , s e l e c t i o n and
i n s p e c t i o n of m a t e r i a l s to be u s e d , to avoid l a m i n a t i o n s , i n c l u s i o n s
and o t h e r d e f e c t s . I n s p e c t i o n , both a s r e g a r d s c h e m i c a l a n a l y s i s ,
d e s t r u c t i v e and n o n - d e s t r u c t i v e t e s t i n g ( e . g . by u l t r a s o n i c methods)
i s often s t r i c t e r than u s u a l and well s p e c i f i e d ( e . g . G e r m a n y , J a p a n ,
Sweden, UK, USSR [9] ).
(b) F o r w e l d e d c o n s t r u c t i o n s , s p e c i a l r e q u i r e m e n t s have b e e n s e t up
f o r w e l d e r q u a l i f i c a t i o n , p r e h e a t i n g , and weld inspection ( e . g . UK).
F u l l p e n e t r a t i o n w e l d s a r e n o r m a l l y s p e c i f i e d . In C a n a d a i t h a s
b e e n s p e c i f i e d t h a t the w e l d s m u s t have a c o n f i g u r a t i o n s u c h a s to
p e r m i t r a d i o g r a p h i c e x a m i n a t i o n . One hundred p e r cent r a d i o g r a p h y
of all w e l d s i s n o r m a l l y s p e c i f i e d ( e . g . B e l g i u m , G e r m a n y , J a p a n ) .
(c) T h e s t r e s s r e l i e v i n g o p e r a t i o n i s to be c h e c k e d , and s t r a i n ,
t e m p e r a t u r e and v e s s e l m o v e m e n t r e c o r d s a r e to be t a k e n (UK).
A d d i t i o n a l s t r e s s r e l i e f r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e s o m e t i m e s l a i d down
(Canada).
(d) T h e h y d r a u l i c t e s t s a r e i n m a n y c a s e s p e r f o r m e d m o r e s t r i c t l y
t h a n n o r m a l l y and u n d e r s t r i c t s u p e r v i s i o n ( B e l g i u m , UK). It h a s
b e e n pointed out t h a t h y d r a u l i c t e s t i n g to e x c e s s i v e p r e s s u r e s m a y
be u n d e s i r a b l e and r e s u l t in undue s t r a i n on the v e s s e l ( A u s t r a l i a ) .
(e) E m e r g e n c y r e a c t o r c o n t a i n m e n t v e s s e l s a r e o f t e n s p e c i f i e d a n d
b u i l t a s p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . The p r e s s u r e t e s t s on t h e s e , h o w e v e r ,
a r e m o s t o f t e n a d a p t e d to t h e i r s p e c i a l f u n c t i o n , which i s to s e r v e
a s a b a r r i e r a g a i n s t l e a k a g e i n a d v e r s e c o n d i t i o n s , r a t h e r than t o
s a f e l y w i t h s t a n d a c e r t a i n p r e s s u r e . T h e s e v e s s e l s a r e thus usually
periodically l e a k - t e s t e d at design p r e s s u r e s , r a t h e r than tested
at a certain o v e r - p r e s s u r e .
(f) L e a k t i g h t n e s s h a s b e e n given s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n in m a n y c a s e s (Aust r a l i a , D e n m a r k , G e r m a n y , J a p a n , UK). T h e d e g r e e of l e a k t i g h t n e s s r e q u i r e d i s not always d e t e r m i n e d by s a f e t y in containment
of r a d i o a c t i v e m a t e r i a l s , but a l s o by t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of l o s s of e x p e n s i v e c o o l a n t s , s u c h a s heavy w a t e r and h e l i u m . L e a k t e s t s thus
v a r y v e r y much f r o m soap water t e s t s through vacuum tests tofreon
and h e l i u m - g a s l e a k t e s t s .
22

It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t o r i g i n a l s t r i c t r e q u i r e m e n t s now in s o m e
i n s t a n c e s a r e b e i n g r e l a x e d , a s e x p e r i e n c e a d d s knowledge and s h o w s s u c h
r e l a x a t i o n s t o b e p e r m i s s i b l e . One e x a m p l e of t h i s i s t h e e a r l y r e q u i r e m e n t f o r c o r r o s i o n r e s i s t a n c e in the p r i m a r y s y s t e m s of r e a c t o r s . In s o m e
r e a c t o r s u n c l a d c a r b o n s t e e l s a r e now u s e d s i n c e e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i m e n t s
s h o w t h a t c o r r o s i o n r a t e s c a n be c o n t r o l l e d and d o not i n t r o d u c e u n k n o w n
r i s k s d u r i n g t h e r e a c t o r l i f e t i m e s (USA a n d USSR). T h e b a c k g r o u n d f o r
such relaxations is, however, always v e r y extensive knowledge.

A ddi tional

re quire m en ts

A n u m b e r of m o r e s p e c i a l i z e d r e q u i r e m e n t s h a v e a l s o b e e n g i v e n by
some countries:
Canada:

A d d i t i o n a l u l t r a s o n i c i n s p e c t i o n of w e l d e d j o i n t s w a s r e q u i r e d .
C a s t i n g s and r e p a i r s to c a s t i n g s w e r e s u b j e c t to additional r a d i o g r a p h i c , u l t r a s o n i c and d y e - p e n e t r a n t inspection.

Germany:

A welding f a c t o r of 1.0 was a i m e d at by adopting the c o d e ' s s t r i c t est welding and d e s i g n r e q u i r e m e n t s .

Special specifications were in many c a s e s given for s u r f a c e
finishes.

Japan:

S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n i s g i v e n to s a f e t y v a l v e s , and t o t h e s a f e d i s p o s a l of r a d i o a c t i v e w a s t e s f r o m t h e m .

UK:

A t h o r o u g h v i s u a l e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e v e s s e l a f t e r s t r a i n r e l i e f
i s r e q u i r e d , f o l l o w e d by m a g n e t i c c r a c k d e t e c t i o n of s u s p e c t e d
areas.

USSR: [9]

R i n g - s h a p e d p o r t i o n s of the v e s s e l s a r e f o r g e d without any longitudinal j o i n t s .

All n o z z l e s a r e d o u b l e - w e l d e d to the v e s s e l .

Exceptions

granted

from

existing

codes

Although the n a t i o n a l c o d e s t h u s have been g e n e r a l l y a p p l i e d , s o m e nota b l e e x c e p t i o n s h a v e b e e n m a d e . W i t h t h e F r e n c h G - 2 and G - 3 r e a c t o r s i t

w a s o b v i o u s l y n e c e s s a r y to allow a g r e a t l a t i t u d e i n the code i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
a s t h e y h a v e p r e s t r e s s e d c o n c r e t e r e a c t o r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s of an e n t i r e l y
new d e s i g n c o n c e p t .
The F r e n c h a n s w e r a l s o s t a t e d that, although the " S e r v i c e d e s Mines"
n o r m a l l y i s the c o n t r o l body f o r p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s , including n u c l e a r s y s t e m s ,
l i q u i d - m e t a l c o o l e d f a s t r e a c t o r s y s t e m s have been e x e m p t e d f r o m that c o n t r o l i n view of t h e v e r y s p e c i a l n a t u r e of t h e s e v e s s e l s .
M a n y s m a l l e r e x c e p t i o n s w e r e r e p o r t e d , p e r t a i n i n g to only c e r t a i n a s p e c t s of the d e s i g n o r c o n s t r u c t i o n a s , e. g . , f o r the F r e n c h EDF-1 andEDF-2
23

r e a c t o r s , f o r t h e I n d i a n T a r a p u r s t a t i o n , and f o r the N o r w e g i a n H a l d e n
reactor primary system.

VII.

CONCLUSION

It h a s b e e n p o s s i b l e to apply the n o r m a l n a t i o n a l p r e s s u r e v e s s e l c o d e s
to m o s t of the p r e s s u r i z e d n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s built so f a r , and the bodies n o r m a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of c o d e s and r e g u l a t i o n s have s t i l l
h a d t h i s f u n c t i o n to f u l f i l , e v e n if s o m e t i m e s t h e p r o c e d u r e s d i f f e r f r o m
the routine f o r b o i l e r s and conventional v e s s e l s .
Code applications to n u c l e a r s y s t e m s have c a u s e d s e v e r e p r o b l e m s .
G e n e r a l l y m a n y a d d i t i o n a l o r s e p a r a t e r e q u i r e m e n t s have been m a d e beyond
t h o s e of t h e c o d e s . E v e n t h e s e c o u n t r i e s t h a t have m o d e r n and t e c h n i c a l l y
w e l l - a d v a n c e d c o d e s h a v e h a d to s t r e t c h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d e x t e n d t h e
s c o p e of t h e s e c o d e s .
It i s , of c o u r s e , only n a t u r a l that m a n y of the e x i s t i n g c o d e s s e e m o l d fashioned when they a r e applied to a field in which such rapid technological
d e v e l o p m e n t i s t a k i n g p l a c e a s in n u c l e a r p o w e r e n g i n e e r i n g and in w h i c h
new p r o b l e m s a r e r a i s e d by the s p e c i a l o p e r a t i n g conditions. N u c l e a r v e s s e l
a p p l i c a t i o n s have a l s o highlighted s h o r t c o m i n g s of the p r e s e n t c o d e s , above
a l l t h e i n a d e q u a c y f o r big and c o m p l e x v e s s e l s of t h e s c h e m a t i c d e s i g n a p p r o a c h typical f o r a l m o s t all c o d e s .
T h e c r i t i c i s m of t h i s s i m p l e a p p r o a c h , w h i c h p r e s c r i b e s c a l c u l a t i o n
of w a l l t h i c k n e s s e s of c e r t a i n g i v e n v e s s e l s h a p e s by a s i m p l e f o r m u l a , i s
b a s e d on i t s o v e r - s i m p l i f i c a t i o n of a c t u a l c o n d i t i o n s . It t a k e s i n t o a c c o u n t
a t o o l i m i t e d n u m b e r of p h y s i c a l m a t e r i a l p r o p e r t i e s . T h e s a f e t y f a c t o r
i s l a r g e , o f t e n r e s u l t i n g in u n n e c e s s a r i l y t h i c k w a l l s w i t h a c c o m p a n y i n g
f a b r i c a t i o n d i f f i c u l t i e s and c o s t s , b e c a u s e i t m u s t c o v e r a wide v a r i e t y of
c o n t i n g e n c i e s s u c h a s d e s i g n a s p e c t s , l a c k of f u l l i n s p e c t i o n of the v e s s e l
and knowledge of the d e s i g n and, f i n a l l y , quite often s i m p l y bad d e s i g n . The
c o m p l e x c a s e s of n u c l e a r v e s s e l s have b r o u g h t out the i n s u f f i c i e n c i e s of t h i s
a p p r o a c h and have r e q u i r e d a c o m p l e t e s t r e s s a n a l y s i s of the v e s s e l s . Only
i n a few c a s e s , h o w e v e r , h a s the c o n s e q u e n c e b e e n d r a w n t h a t t h e c o m p l e t e
s t r e s s a n a l y s i s , r e p r e s e n t i n g good d e s i g n e n g i n e e r i n g a g a i n s t s p e c i f i c p o s s i b l e c a u s e s of f a i l u r e , s h o u l d p e r m i t m o r e r e a l i s t i c s a f e t y f a c t o r s t o b e
u s e d . A s a g e n e r a l r u l e , t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of the old c o d e s have s t i l l b e e n
the m i n i m u m ones.
T h e r e l u c t a n c e t o d e v i a t e f r o m old c o d e s c a n e a s i l y b e e x p l a i n e d b y
t h e good e x p e r i e n c e of a c c i d e n t p r e v e n t i o n that they have given. It h a s a l s o
r e c e n t l y b e e n p o i n t e d out t h a t we a r e not y e t r e a d y w i t h o u r p r e s e n t t e c h n i q u e s to d i s c a r d c o m p l e t e l y the old " d e s i g n s t r e s s " concept to design against
f a i l u r e of any kind s t a r t i n g f r o m b a s i c m a t e r i a l p r o p e r t i e s [20]. Still, the
i n s u f f i c i e n c y of the old a p p r o a c h h a s b e e n c l e a r l y r e a l i z e d in n u c l e a r c a s e s
a s well a s f o r m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l v e s s e l s [21] and i m p o r t a n t s t e p s have been
t a k e n t o w a r d s m o r e q u a l i f i e d d e s i g n r u l e s in t h e ASME Section III Code, in
the w o r k by t h e ISO w o r k i n g g r o u p now o c c u p i e d with f o r m u l a t i n g a new code
f o r n u c l e a r v e s s e l s , and in s e v e r a l new n a t i o n a l n u c l e a r c o d e s and code
supplements.
24

T h e a d d i t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s beyond t h o s e of t h e e x i s t i n g c o d e s , which
h a v e b e e n m a d e f o r n u c l e a r v e s s e l s , h a v e , to a g r e a t e x t e n t , i n v o l v e d d e v e l o p m e n t of m o r e c a r e f u l d e s i g n t e c h n i q u e s , new and i m p r o v e d f a b r i c a t i o n
m e t h o d s and new i n s p e c t i o n p r o c e d u r e s . Good e n g i n e e r i n g and quality cont r o l have b e e n v e r y m u c h e m p h a s i z e d in t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of n u c l e a r v e s s e l s .
T h i s h a s , b e y o n d a n y d o u b t , b e n e f i t e d t h e w h o l e f i e l d of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l
c o n s t r u c t i o n and m a y w e l l b e r e f l e c t e d i n a m e n d e d o r new c o d e s f o r n o n nuclear vessels.
I m p o r t a n t a s p e c t s of r e a c t o r v e s s e l o p e r a t i o n , s u c h a s l i f e t i m e and l i m i t a t i o n s in o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s , although t h e y a r e c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to code
p r o b l e m s , c a n n o t be c o v e r e d in c o d e s a s t h e y a r e d e p e n d e n t on t h e v a r y i n g
o p e r a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s in e a c h r e a c t o r . T h e s e a s p e c t s m u s t , h o w e v e r , be
given s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n and a m o r e unified a p p r o a c h to t h e m would s e e m
very desirable.
M a n y c o u n t r i e s a r e now d e v o t i n g e f f o r t s t o f o r m u l a t i n g new c o d e s o r
code s u p p l e m e n t s to c o v e r n u c l e a r v e s s e l c a s e s . T h e s e m a y show a n a t u r a l
t e n d e n c y t o r e f l e c t t h e l o c a l l y c h o s e n l i n e of d e v e l o p m e n t f o r r e a c t o r
s y s t e m s . With the v a r i e t y of v e r y d i f f e r e n t s y s t e m s t h a t a l r e a d y e x i s t and
w h i c h w i l l b e c o m e g r e a t e r a s w o r k c o n t i n u e s on a d v a n c e d c o n v e r t e r s and
b r e e d e r s it m u s t be hoped t h a t enough f l e x i b i l i t y in code f o r m u l a t i o n i s r e t a i n e d t o p e r m i t u p - d a t i n g and a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e s e s y s t e m s .

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[1]

deJONG, K.J. , dePATER, C . ,

van V E E N , M . C . ,

E x p e r i e n c e o f t h e design, c a l c u l a t i o n and m a n u -

f a c t u r e for power r e a c t o r c o m p o n e n t s , 3rd U N I n t . C o n f . PUAE, 1 9 6 4 , Paper 7 2 8 .

[2]

LANCASTER, J . F . ,

A C o m p a r i s o n of U n i t e d States, European and British C o m m o n w e a l t h Codes for

t h e C o n s t r u c t i o n o f W e l d e d Boilers and Pressure Vessels, A S M E p r e p r i n t 6 1 - S A - 4 0 ( 1 9 6 1 ) .

[3]

A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y OF M E C H A N I C A L ENGINEERS,

Cases 1 2 7 0 N - 5 , 1 2 7 1 N , 1 2 7 2 N - 5 ,

1273N-7.1274N-6,

1 2 7 5 N and 1 2 7 6 N - 1 , A S M E Case Interpretations, New Y o r k (1962).

[4]

L L O Y D ' S REGISTER OF S H I P P I N G ,

Provisional Requirements for the D e s i g n , M a n u f a c t u r e and T e s t i n g

o f Pressure C o m p o n e n t s o f L a n d - b a s e d N u c l e a r I n s t a l l a t i o n s , N o r f o l k House, C r o y d o n , Surrey ( 1 9 6 0 ) .

[6]

A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y OF M E C H A N I C A L ENGINEERS,

A S M E Boiler and Pressure Vessel C o d e , Section I I I ,

Rules for Construction o f N u c l e a r Vessels, N e w York ( 1 9 6 3 ) .

[6]

G A I N E S , A . L. , PORSE, L . ,

Problems i n t h e design and construction of l a r g e r e a c t o r vessels, 3rd U N

Int. C o n f . P U A E , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 2 2 7 .
[7]

A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y OF M E C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R S ,

C r i t e r i a o f S e c t i o n I I I o f t h e A S M E B o i l e r and

Pressure Vessel C o d e for N u c l e a r Vessels, N e w Y o r k ( 1 9 6 4 ) .

[8]

P E M B E R T O N , H . N . , CROSSLEY, E. ,

Inspection of p r i m a r y circuits and reactor pressure vessels of n u -

clear power p l a n t , J. Br. n u c l . Energy C o n f . 6. 2 ( 1 9 6 1 ) 7 9 - 9 5 .

[9]

S T E K O L N I K O V , V . V . et a l . ,

H i g h pressure vessels of l i g h t - w a t e r cooled and moderated power reactors,

3rd U N I n t . Conf. PUAE , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 331.

[ 10]

T O B I N , J. . , WECHSLER, M . S . , ROSSIN, A . D . ,

R a d i a t i o n - i n d u c e d changes in t h e properties of non-

f u e l reactor m a t e r i a l s , 3rd U N I n t . Conf. P U A E , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 2 4 2 .

[11]

M Y E R S , H . P. , G R O U N E S , M . , H A N N E R Z , N . E. ,
pressure vessels,

I r r a d i a t i o n b e h a v i o u r o f Swedish steels for r e a c t o r

3rd U N I n t . C o n f . P U A E , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 4 2 0 .

[12]

D i N U N N O , J.J. , H O L T , A . B. ,

[13]

HELLSTRM, . ,

[14]

HELLSTROM, O. ,

Radiation e m b r i t t l e m e n t o f reactor vessels, N u c l . Saf. 4

2 ( 1 9 6 2 ) 34.

Design and m a n u f a c t u r e of the reactor pressure vessels for the gesta and M o r v i k e n

power stations and some future d e v e l o p m e n t s , 3rd U N I n t . C o n f . P U A E , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 8 1 0 .

NILSSON, R. ,

Problems i n Pressure Vessel Design and Manufacture, A E - 1 0 4 Stockholm

(1963).

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[15]

HARRIES, D . R. et a l . ,

I r r a d i a t i o n behaviour o f steel as a structural and c l a d d i n g m a t e r i a l , 3rd U N

I n t . C o n f . P U A E , 1 9 6 4 , Paper 162.
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KNDLER, D . , SCHALLER, . ,

Der Einfluss der Bestrahlung auf Auslegung und Betrieb von Reaktor-

druckbehltern, Kerntechnik 6 ( 7 / 8 ) ( 1 9 6 4 ) 339.

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HAYES, W . C . ,

C o m m e n t s on t h e A p p l i c a t i o n of A S M E and A S A Boiler and Piping Codes to Sodium

Systems N A A - S R - 4 1 0 2 .
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T O W N L E Y , C . H . A . , PROCTER, E . ,

Investigations to predict the performance of steel reactor pressure

circuit components i n service, 3rd U N Int. Conf. PUAE, 1964, Paper 144.
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Review

[21]

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Special materials for reactor construction and their methods of fabrication, Atomic Energy

1 I A E A , Vienna (1963) 4 3 - 9 2 .

CARLSON, W . B . ,

Pressure Vessel Design Requirements in the Future, Weld. J. 40

6 (June 1961)265s-71s.

ANNEX
N A T I O N A L R E G U L A T I O N S AND CODES AND T H E I R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
AUSTRALIA
The p r i n c i p a l code i s the A u s t r a l i a n S t a n d a r d Rules f o r the Design, Cons t r u c t i o n , I n s p e c t i o n and O p e r a t i o n of B o i l e r s and U n f i r e d P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s
and t h e i r A p p u r t e n a n c e s , A u s t r a l i a n S t a n d a r d No. C B . 1, p u b l i s h e d by t h e
S t a n d a r d s A s s o c i a t i o n of A u s t r a l i a . It i s c o m m o n l y known as the SAA B o i l e r
Code.
T h i s c o d e h a s n o l e g a l o r r e g u l a t o r y s t a t u s b y i t s e l f , but i t h a s b e e n
w r i t t e n i n t o t h e s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s of s o m e of t h e A u s t r a l i a n S t a t e s .
In a l l c a s e s b o i l e r s m u s t be r e g i s t e r e d and have a c e r t i f i c a t e of w o r t h i n e s s ,
w h i c h i s to be r e n e w e d at p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s .
New South W a l e s , Q u e e n s l a n d , V i c t o r i a , South A u s t r a l i a and T a s m a n i a
t h u s h a v e a c t s w h i c h give t h e SAA B o i l e r C o d e l e g a l s t a t u s , in s o m e c a s e s
g i v i n g o t h e r s , s u c h a s r e l e v a n t B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d s , L l o y d ' s r u l e s o r ASME
c o d e a s a l t e r n a t i v e s . W h e r e t h e c o d e a s y e t h a s not b e e n g i v e n t h i s l e g a l
s t a n d i n g the i n s p e c t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s have d e v e l o p e d a policy which in p r a c t i c e
m e a n s t h a t t h e SAA B o i l e r Code i s u s e d . T h e a c t s a r e g e n e r a l l y a d m i n i s t e r e d by t h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t s of L a b o u r a n d I n d u s t r y , D e p a r t m e n t s of
M i n e s , o r D e p a r t m e n t s of the I n t e r i o r , in which an i n s p e c t i o n body is f o r m e d ,
in one c a s e a s s i s t e d by outside l i c e n s e d b o i l e r i n s p e c t o r s .
T h e new v e r s i o n of the SAA B o i l e r Code P a r t 1 of 1962 r e c o g n i z e s s o m e
f o r e i g n c o d e s ( B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d s , L l o y d ' s r u l e s and the ASME B o i l e r Code)
as acceptable.

BELGIUM
T h e " R g l e m e n t g n r a l p o u r l a p r o t e c t i o n du t r a v a i l " i s i s s u e d a s a
r o y a l d e c r e e , the d e f i n i t e c o n t e n t s , a p p l i c a t i o n and e x e c u t i o n of which i s to
be d e c i d e d b y t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e " R g l e m e n t " c o n t a i n s a n u m b e r of
t e c h n i c a l n o r m s , e s p e c i a l l y r e g a r d i n g b o i l e r s and s t e a m v e s s e l s , and a l s o
some n o r m s for p r e s s u r i z e d gas containers. There also exist, besides this
d e c r e e , a n u m b e r of t e c h n i c a l c o d e s p u b l i s h e d by the " I n s t i t u t belge de n o r m a l i s a t i o n " and by t h e " A s s o c i a t i o n d e s i n d u s t r i e l s de B e l g i q u e " .
C o n t r o l of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s i s e x e r c i s e d by the I n s p e c t i o n D i v i s i o n of
the " A d m i n i s t r a t i o n de l a s c u r i t du t r a v a i l et l ' a d m i n i s t r a t i o n d e s m i n e s " .
P e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s a r e p e r f o r m e d by p r i v a t e f i r m s that have b e e n l i c e n s e d
by the G o v e r n m e n t .

CANADA
In the P r o v i n c e of O n t a r i o , w h e r e all C a n a d i a n n u c l e a r r e a c t o r s s o f a r
have been l o c a t e d , the " B o i l e r s and P r e s s u r e V e s s e l Act" is the s t a t u t e
a p p l y i n g to b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . T h e B o i l e r I n s p e c t i o n B r a n c h
27

of the O n t a r i o D e p a r t m e n t of L a b o u r i s n o r m a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the s a f e t y
of b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . The Act r e q u i r e s that the Chief I n s p e c t o r
r e f e r to p u b l i c a t i o n s of the Canadian S t a n d a r d s A s s o c i a t i o n and of the A m e r i c a n S o c i e t y of M e c h a n i c a l E n g i n e e r s f o r r u l e s a s t o a p p r o v a l of d e s i g n s ,
m a n u f a c t u r e , i n s t a l l a t i o n , i n s p e c t i o n , t e s t i n g and operation of b o i l e r s , p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s and p l a n t s . T h e C a n a d i a n S t a n d a r d s A s s o c i a t i o n ' s s t a n d a r d
CSA B 5 1 - 1 9 6 0 i s a " C o d e f o r the C o n s t r u c t i o n and I n s p e c t i o n of B o i l e r s and
P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s " w h i c h in i t s t u r n r e f e r s to t h e ASME and ASA S t a n d a r d
B31.1 c o d e s a s the s t a n d a r d s g o v e r n i n g the d e s i g n , e t c . of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s .
All p r o v i n c e s of C a n a d a have m a d e s i m i l a r l e g i s l a t i v e p r o v i s i o n s , a l though the d e g r e e to which the e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s a r e r e q u i r e d to follow
the CSA and o t h e r c o d e s m a y v a r y f r o m c a s e to c a s e .

DENMARK
T h e D a n i s h S t a n d a r d s DS316, 317, 318, 3 2 0 . 1 and 320.2 p u b l i s h e d b y
"Dansk S t a n d a r d i s e r i n g s r d " constitute the code f o r design, m a n u f a c t u r e
(welding) and i n s p e c t i o n of b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . T h e s e c o d e s will
be r e v i s e d in a c c o r d a n c e with the I n t e r - N o r d i c INSTA r e c o m m e n d a t i o n conc e r n i n g w e l d i n g p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . T h e c o d e s h a v e an o f f i c i a l s t a t u s , and
a r e u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l of t h e D a n i s h D i r e c t o r a t e of L a b o u r I n s p e c t i o n .

FRANCE
The F r e n c h n o r m s f o r the d e s i g n , m a n u f a c t u r e and inspection of b o i l e r s
a n d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s a r e l a w s and d e c r e e s c o l l e c t e d in " R g l e m e n t a t i o n
d e s a p p a r e i l s v a p e u r " and " R g l e m e n t a t i o n d e s a p p a r e i l s p r e s s i o n de
g a z " , p u b l i s h e d by the " A s s o c i a t i o n d e s p r o p r i t a i r e s d ' a p p a r e i l s v a p e u r
et l e c t r i q u e s " (GAPAVE). T h e s e laws and d e c r e e s c o n s t i t u t e r u l e s f o r
s a f e t y and f o r o f f i c i a l c o n t r o l of v e s s e l s , but they do not contain a code f o r
c a l c u l a t i o n of v e s s e l d e s i g n . Such a code e x i s t s f o r u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s o n l y , S N C T N o . 1, i s s u e d by " S y n d i c a t n a t i o n a l de c h a u d r o n n e r i e et
t l e r i e " . T h i s c o d e h a s no d i r e c t l e g a l r e c o g n i t i o n .
T h e l a w s and d e c r e e s a r e a d m i n i s t e r e d by the " M i n i s t r e de l ' i n d u s t r i e ,
Direction des mines".

GERMANY
F o r b o i l e r s a n u m b e r of o l d e r c o d e s will in the n e a r f u t u r e be r e p l a c e d
by codes and c r i t e r i a d r a f t e d by the G e r m a n " D a m p f k e s s e l - a n d D r u c k g e f s s A u s s c h u s s " (DDA). T h e s e w i l l be e n a c t e d by t h e F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t by
w a y of s t a t u t o r y - o r d i n a n c e s . T h e " A l l g e m e i n e p o l i z e i l i c h e B e s t i m m u n g e n
f r D a m p f k e s s e l " s p e c i f y t e s t s and i n s p e c t i o n s f o r b o i l e r s .
T h e l e g a l b a s i s of t h e b o i l e r c o d e s i s the T r a d i n g and I n d u s t r i a l C o d e .
T h e c o d e s t h e m s e l v e s a r e c o n s i d e r e d a s " R e g e l n d e r T e c h n i k " i s s u e d by
v i r t u e of the g e n e r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e g u l a t i o n s f o r l a n d - b a s e d s t e a m b o i l e r s .
28

"Unfallverhtungsvorschrift Druckbehlter" contains safety rules for

u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s and p r e s c r i b e s the t e s t s and inspections to be p e r f o r m e d . F o r d e s i g n , m a n u f a c t u r i n g and i n s t a l l a t i o n it r e f e r s to a c c e p t e d
r u l e s of e n g i n e e r i n g , in p a r t i c u l a r to the " A D - M e r k b l t t e r " e s t a b l i s h e d by
the " A r b e i t s g e m e i n s c h a f t D r u c k b e h l t e r " .
The " U n f a l l v e r h t u n g s v o r s c h r i f t D r u c k b e h l t e r " i s issued under a section
of the " R e i c h I n s u r a n c e Code", and also by p r a c t i c a l l y all the t r a d e a s s o c i a t i o n s c o n c e r n e d . The t r a d e a s s o c i a t i o n s a r e obliged to m a k e s u r e that the
e n f o r c e m e n t of it is s u p e r v i s e d by t e c h n i c a l i n s p e c t o r s .
E a c h p r o v i n c e within the F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c of G e r m a n y i s r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r the o r g a n i z a t i o n of the t e c h n i c a l c o n t r o l . T h e c o m p e t e n t a u t h o r i t y in
e a c h " L a n d " i s i t s T r a d e S u p e r v i s o r y O f f i c e , which n o r m a l l y works through
o r r e c o g n i z e s the " T e c h n i s c h e U b e r w a c h u n g s - V e r e i n e " (technical safety
control services).

INDIA
T h e b o i l e r code i s the Indian B o i l e r R e g u l a t i o n s , which a r e binding on
a l l b o i l e r o w n e r s and o p e r a t o r s by v i r t u e of the I n d i a n B o i l e r s A c t . T h e
I n d i a n B o i l e r R e g u l a t i o n s l a y down the c r i t e r i a f o r d e s i g n , c o n s t r u c t i o n ,
c o m m i s s i o n i n g , t e s t i n g and i n s p e c t i o n f o r b o i l e r s . U n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s c o m e u n d e r the purview of the Indian F a c t o r i e s Act. T h e r e i s at p r e s e n t no code f o r u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s , but t h e , F a c t o r i e s Act s t i p u l a t e s
i n s p e c t i o n by t h e I n s p e c t o r of F a c t o r i e s , who i s e m p o w e r e d to t a k e s u c h
a c t i o n a s i s n e c e s s a r y to e n s u r e s a f e t y . The I n d i a n S t a n d a r d s I n s t i t u t i o n
intends to e s t a b l i s h an u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l code, but this would not have
a m a n d a t o r y s t a t u s under the law.
T h e r e a r e B o i l e r I n s p e c t o r a t e s and F a c t o r y I n s p e c t o r a t e s in e a c h s t a t e
to e n f o r c e the A c t s . T h e s e I n s p e c t o r a t e s a r e guided by the C e n t r a l B o i l e r s
B o a r d and the Chief A d v i s o r of F a c t o r i e s in t h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r
respectively.

ITALY
T h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n f o r the C o n t r o l of C o m b u s t i o n (ANCC) h a s
p u b l i s h e d c i r c u l a r s which c o n s t i t u t e the c o d e . B o t h the code and i t s l e g a l
s t a n d i n g a r e b e i n g r e v i s e d . T h e ANCC h a s a c e n t r a l p o s i t i o n c o n c e r n i n g
b o t h w r i t i n g and i n s p e c t i o n .

JAPAN
The Regulation f o r Safety of B o i l e r s and P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s is a Ministry
of L a b o u r O r d i n a n c e w h i c h , t o g e t h e r with the M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r N o t i c e s ,
" B o i l e r C o n s t r u c t i o n Code" and " P r e s s u r e V e s s e l C o n s t r u c t i o n Code", app l i e s t o b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . E x e c u t i v e b o d i e s a r e the L a b o u r
S t a n d a r d s B u r e a u of the M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r and L a b o u r S t a n d a r d s O f f i c e s
29

and L a b o u r S t a n d a r d s I n s p e c t i o n O f f i c e s in e a c h p r e f e c t u r e . The inspections

a r e p e r f o r m e d by a g e n t s , t h e B o i l e r A s s o c i a t i o n , t h e S a f e t y A s s o c i a t i o n
o r the Y a s u d a F i r e and M a r i n e I n s u r a n c e Co. Ltd.

NETHERLANDS
" G r o n d s l a g e n w a a r o p de b e e o r d e l i n g van de c o n s t r u c t i e en het m a t e r i a l
van s t o o m t o e s t e l l e n , d a m p t o e s t e l l e n en d r u k h o u d e r s b e r u s t " ( P r i n c i p l e s
f o r the a s s e s s m e n t of t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n and of t h e m a t e r i a l s u s e d in the c o n s t r u c t i o n of b o i l e r s and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s ) t o g e t h e r with a n u m b e r of s u p p l e m e n t a r y and e x p l a n a t o r y publication s h e e t s constitute the code, which i s
m a n d a t o r y and h a s the s t a n d i n g of a r e g u l a t i o n by v i r t u e of the Steam V e s s e l s
Act and i t s d e c r e e s .
T h e i n s p e c t o r a t e w h i c h e n f o r c e s t h e s e l a w s i s t h e " D i e n s t v o o r het
Stoomwezen" (Boiler Inspection Department).
A d e c r e e i s in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s which, a s r e g a r d s d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n , w i l l c o n f o r m c l o s e l y w i t h t h e r e g u l a t i o n s
mentioned above.

NORWAY
The " W o r k e r s P r o t e c t i o n Act" of 1956 e s t a b l i s h e s t h r e e codes as having
s t a t u s of law; " S t a n d a r d s and R u l e s f o r P o w e r B o i l e r s and S t e a m P r e s s u r e
P i p e - L i n e s " , " M a t e r i a l S p e c i f i c a t i o n s and Rules f o r Calculation of Strength",
and " S t a n d a r d s f o r W e l d i n g of B o i l e r s , P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s and S t e a m P r e s sure Pipe-Lines".
T h e c o d e s a r e e n f o r c e d by t h e B o i l e r I n s p e c t i o n D e p a r t m e n t .

SWEDEN
A n u m b e r of c o d e s h a v e b e e n c o m p i l e d and p u b l i s h e d b y t h e P r e s s u r e
V e s s e l C o m m i s s i o n a n d the W e l d i n g C o m m i s s i o n of the R o y a l S w e d i s h
A c a d e m y of E n g i n e e r i n g S c i e n c e s , i n c l u d i n g a " P r e s s u r e V e s s e l C o d e " , a
" B o i l e r Welding Code" and a " S t e a m B o i l e r Code". T h e r e i s a continuous
e f f o r t to publish new c o d e s f o r v a r i o u s s p e c i a l c a s e s . T h e s e codes have
no l e g a l s t a n d i n g i n t h e m s e l v e s but t h e N a t i o n a l W o r k e r ' s P r o t e c t i o n B o a r d ,
w h i c h i s t h e c o m p e t e n t r e g u l a t o r y a u t h o r i t y and which i s r e p r e s e n t e d on the
above-mentioned c o m m i s s i o n s , h a s accepted and e n f o r c e s t h e m and they
a r e in p r a c t i c e m a n d a t o r y .
I n s p e c t i o n s a r e c a r r i e d out by c o m p e t e n t , l i c e n s e d p r i v a t e f i r m s . T h e r e
a r e no o f f i c i a l r u l e s r e g a r d i n g t h e n e u t r a l i n s p e c t i o n of c o n v e n t i o n a l p r e s sure v e s s e l s during manufacture.
UNITED KINGDOM
T h e l a w (The F a c t o r i e s A c t of 1961, s e c t i o n 3 2 - 3 9 ) g i v e s a m i n i m u m
of g u i d a n c e on t e c h n i c a l q u e s t i o n s . C o n d i t i o n s of e x a m i n a t i o n s a r e t o be
30

p r e s c r i b e d in r e g u l a t i o n s , which have not yet b e e n w r i t t e n . E n g i n e e r i n g

c o d e s e x i s t , e . g . L l o y d ' s r u l e s f o r b o i l e r s and u n f i r e d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s ,
r u l e s of A s s o c i a t e d O f f i c e s T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e (AOTC) and B r i t i s h Stand a r d s f o r b o i l e r s and welded p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s . F o r p r e s s u r e - b e a r i n g c o m p o n e n t s of r e a c t o r u n i t s g e n e r a l s c h e d u l e s of p r e - c o m m i s s i o n i n g i n s p e c t i o n
s e r v i c e s and s u p p l e m e n t a r y i n s p e c t i o n and t e s t r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e c o n t a i n e d
in t h e Code of A s s o c i a t e d E n g i n e e r i n g I n s u r e r s . D e s i g n of r e a c t o r s y s t e m s
g e n e r a l l y i s b a s e d upon the r e q u i r e m e n t s of B r i t i s h Standard 1500 f o r F u s i o n W e l d e d P r e s s u r e V e s s e l s f o r u s e in the c h e m i c a l o r a l l i e d i n d u s t r i e s . M i nimum s u p e r v i s o r y procedure, detailed inspection procedures for m a t e r i a l s ,
a n d m e t h o d s of c o n s t r u c t i o n a r e s p e c i f i e d f o r r e a c t o r s y s t e m s in L l o y d ' s
" S u r v e y of p r e s s u r e c o m p o n e n t s f o r l a n d - b a s e d n u c l e a r i n s t a l l a t i o n s p r o v i s i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s 1960".
T h e F a c t o r i e s Act i m p o s e s a s t a t u t o r y duty on the u s e r s of s t e a m b o i l e r s
and p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s f o r the s a f e t y of t h e i r o p e r a t i o n . H e r M a j e s t y ' s F a c t o r y I n s p e c t o r s of t h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e e n f o r c e m e n t of t h e A c t .
T h e c o d e s have no l e g a l s t a n d i n g in t h e m s e l v e s but in r e a c t o r c a s e s the
A s s o c i a t e d E n g i n e e r i n g I n s u r e r s ' Code and the AOTC Code have had r e g u l a t o r y s t a t u s by v i r t u e of a condition of N u c l e a r Site L i c e n c e s . They have been
e n f o r c e d t h r o u g h t h e d e t a i l e d d e s i g n s a f e t y s t u d i e s , s u p p l e m e n t e d by c o m p r e h e n s i v e and independent c h e c k s on the c o n s t r u c t i o n , inspection and t e s t i n g
of p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s by L l o y d ' s o r by A s s o c i a t e d E n g i n e e r i n g I n s u r e r s . The
s t a n d a r d s w r i t t e n by t h e B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d s I n s t i t u t i o n and the R o y a l Society
f o r P r e v e n t i o n of A c c i d e n t s a l s o h a v e n o s t a t u t o r y f o r c e but t h e y a r e p r e p a r e d , t o a l a r g e e x t e n t , in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h a u t h o r i t a t i v e b o d i e s and a r e
g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d by i n d u s t r y .
T h e s i t u a t i o n w i l l p r o b a b l y c h a n g e in t h e f u t u r e a s a r e s u l t of the n e w
N u c l e a r I n s t a l l a t i o n s A c t of 1965 and t h e new B . S . 3 9 1 5 s t a n d a r d of 1965.

USA
T h e code w i d e l y u s e d f o r d e s i g n , c o n s t r u c t i o n and i n i t i a l i n s p e c t i o n of
b o i l e r s a n d p r e s s u r e v e s s e l s i s t h e A m e r i c a n S o c i e t y of M e c h a n i c a l
E n g i n e e r s (ASME) B o i l e r and P r e s s u r e V e s s e l Code w h i c h s i n c e 1964 a l s o
i n c l u d e s a c o m p l e t e c o d e s e c t i o n on n u c l e a r v e s s e l s .
T h i s code c o n s t i t u t e s a l e g a l document in those s t a t e s and m u n i c i p a l i t i e s
which c h o s e to adopt i t . Some a u t h o r i t i e s m a i n t a i n t h e i r own s e p a r a t e codes
which, h o w e v e r , g e n e r a l l y a r e p a t t e r n e d a f t e r the ASME code.
Initial inspection is accomplished by s t a t e s o r i n s u r a n c e company ins p e c t o r s w h o a r e c e r t i f i e d by t h e N a t i o n a l B o a r d of B o i l e r a n d P r e s s u r e
V e s s e l I n s p e c t o r s , t h e r e b y p r o v i d i n g a c c e p t a n c e by all s t a t e s and a u t h o r i t i e s
which have adopted the ASME code.
R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r r e c u r r i n g s e r v i c e i n s p e c t i o n s a r e i n t h e h a n d s of
l o c a l and o t h e r e n f o r c i n g a g e n t s , and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o r e n f o r c e m e n t of such
r e q u i r e m e n t s v a r y f r o m one s t a t e to a n o t h e r .

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USSR
T h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e s h a v e b e e n i s s u e d b y t h e " S t a t e C o m m i t t e e of t h e
C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s of the USSR on Safety I n s p e c t i o n in I n d u s t r y and Mining":
(a)

" R u l e s f o r C a l c u l a t i n g t h e S t r e n g t h of S t e a m B o i l e r C o m p o n e n t s
1956";
(b) " R u l e s f o r t h e C o n s t r u c t i o n and S a f e U t i l i z a t i o n of S t e a m P i p e s and
Hot W a t e r P i p e s 1957";
(c) " R u l e s f o r t h e C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d S a f e O p e r a t i o n of S t e a m B o i l e r s
1957".
T h e s e r u l e s a r e b i n d i n g on a l l m i n i s t r i e s a n d d e p a r t m e n t s .

32

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