U.S. Strategy with
Respect to ISO
Nuclear Energy
Standards
Dr. George Flanagan
ISO Subcommittee SC-6
Chairman, Reactor Technology
July 23, 2013
Background on ISO nuclear technology
standards
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ISO-TC-85 has 21 participating countries
(voting) and 20 observing countries
(non-voting)
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ISO-TC-85 has 21 participating countries
(voting) and 20 observing countries (non
voting) (cont’d)
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SC-6 has 22 participating countries (The
Netherlands is not participating TC-85) and
the U.S. national standards’ body is ANSI
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In addition to member states TC-85 has
established formal liaison contacts
• Institutional organizations: IAEA, UNSCEAR, WHO, ICRP, OECD/NEA, ICRU, EC, WANO, et.al ;
• Professional organizations: WNA, PNC, ENISS, WANO, ISSPA, WNTI, et.al.;
• Research organizations: ITER, GIF,et.al.;
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency ( ISO TC-85 chair and SC-6 chair -nonvoting member of
NUSSC (Nuclear Safety Standards Committee)
UNSCEAR: United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation
WHO: World Health Organization
ICRP: International Commission on Radiological Protection
ICRU: International Commission on Radiation Unit
WANO: World Association of Nuclear Operators
WNA: World Nuclear Association
PNC: Pacific Nuclear Council
WANO: World Association of Nuclear Operators
ISSPA: International source suppliers and producers association
WNTI : World Nuclear Transport Institute
ITER : International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
GIF: Generation IV International Forum
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SC-2 (radiation protection) is the largest TC
85 subcommittee (12 WG)
SC-2 is the largest TC 85 subcommittee
(12 WG)
SC-2 is the largest TC 85 subcommittee
(12 WG)
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SC-5 (nuclear fuel cycle) has 5 WGs
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SC-6 (reactor technology) has 3 WGs
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SC-6 WG 1 (power reactor analysis and
measurements) activities—Many of
these are harmonization of existing ANS
standards
• Active projects
– Technical specification guide for decay heat computation codes in
nuclear reactors
– Steady state neutronics methods for power reactor analysis
– Reload startup physics tests for pressurized water reactors
• Preliminary work items
− Calculation of decay heat power in nuclear fuel in light-water
reactors (LWRs)
− Nuclear data sets for reactor design calculations
− Nuclear data for the production of radioisotopes
• Ballot
− Neutron fluence in the pressure vessels of LWRs
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SC-6 WG 2 activities
• Working Group 2 has been inactive for a number of years.
• Dr. Lin-Wen Hue from MIT (has assumed the convener role for U.S.)
• Dr. Patrick Raymond (CEA) co-convener
• Examining ANSI / ANS Research Reactor Standards for harmonization
• Many previously non-nuclear member states are considering building
research reactors
– Important that they have guidance for this activity
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WG 3 (New title: Power reactor, siting,
design, operation, and decommissioning)
• Active
– Mobile equipment for emergency intervention on nuclear installations
– Fire partitioning
– Essential technical requirements for GEN IV nuclear reactors
• New work item proposal
– Estimating tornado, hurricane, and extreme straight line wind
characteristics at nuclear facility sites
– Criteria for assessing atmospheric effects on the ultimate heat sink
• Preliminary work item
– Criteria for investigations of nuclear facility sites for seismic hazard
assessments
– Probabilistic seismic hazards
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What should the U.S. strategy be regarding
ISO nuclear energy standard?—Consider:
• Many developing countries are using IAEA’s “standards” for
development of their nuclear programs
• IAEA’s “standards” are top level requirements (programs,
infrastructure)—Reviewed by regulatory bodies represented on
NUSSC
– Need to address technical issues at a lower level (design/process)
• IAEA looks to ISO to fulfill that role on an international basis
• Global nuclear market requires international standards
– Important to get it right
• US, France, Great Britain, Sweden, Canada are active in
harmonization of their standards into ISO standards (AREVA, CEA,
Sellafield, EdF)
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What should the U.S. strategy be
regarding ISO nuclear energy standard?
• Ignore them?
– Other members will produce them
– USNRC and WANO are beginning to recognize IAEA and ISO
activities - US market interest- NRC Chairwoman McFarland
Remarks to NEI “Nuclear Energy Assembly” May 2012—“The new
normal”
• Influence direction of ISO standards (U.S. expertise exists for
every TC-85 activity)
– Propose nuclear standards for international harmonization (ASTM
has done this for radiation protection— ANS beginning)
• Participate on working groups and standards development
bodies (experts)
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What should the U.S. strategy be
regarding ISO nuclear energy standard?
(cont’d)
• Influence direction of ISO standards (U.S. expertise exists for every
TC-85 activity) (cont’d)
– Review of PWI, NWIP and draft standards (ballot time is short)
• ANSI has one vote
• Nuclear Technical Advisory Group (NTAG) administered by ASTM
set up to reach consensus for U.S. vote by ANSI (U.S. has missed
several votes recently—can determine if the standard is approved)
–Each SC has a U.S. advisor responsible for NTAG input in their
area (SC-6 P. Kadambi)
• (ISO rule) Need to provide expert(s) if voting positively on a NWIP
• Populate a list of experts to NTAG (current list is out of date)
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What should the U.S. strategy be
regarding ISO nuclear energy standard?
(cont’d)
– Provide financial support to ISO nuclear standards especially
staffing of SC and WG positions (U.S. loses the position if it does
not have qualified active participation)
–Travel to international TC-85 and SC meetings
–Staff time for leadership roles
–Staff time for experts
– NUSSC participation by TC-85 and SC-6 provide opportunity for
input and comments to IAEA standards/revisions by organizations
outside the USNRC
• Active NTAG could review and comment on these important
standards
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Discussion / Questions?
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