A company owned and operated by Cavendish Fluor Partnership Limited
on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Setting the scene Construction Quality in the
body of Nuclear Quality
Knowledge (NQK)
Richard Hibbert
RSRL Head of QMS
Nuclear Construction Overview
• Strong emphasis on Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
Construction in the World and UK
– 68 Reactors under construction in the world
– UK plans for up to 16GW of new nuclear power capacity
• Nuclear Construction is not just about NPPs:
– AWE recent experience
– RSRL ILW Store Project
– Major construction plans at Sellafield
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Sellafield New Build Projects
• Extract from Sellafield 2014/15 Procurement Plan
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NQK Overview
• The Nuclear Quality Knowledge (NQK) is a nuclear
industry guidance document produced by members of
the CQI Nuclear Special Interest Group (NucSIG).
– Currently at version 2 - 2013
– Can be downloaded free from CQI Website
• NQK aims to highlight the differences that a quality
professional will experience on joining or supplying the
nuclear sector
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NQK - Key Chapters covering Construction
• The NQK has 11 Chapters and 2 Appendices
– There is no single chapter on Nuclear Construction
• The most important chapters from a Nuclear
Construction perspective are:
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Chapter 3 - Leadership and Management
Chapter 4 - Project Management
Chapter 6 – Supply Chain
Chapter 7 – Product Quality
• There are also links to important reference documents
– ONR Technical Assessment Guides
– NIA Supply Chain Guide
– Engineering the future publications
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NIA - Essential Guide for the Nuclear New
Build Supply Chain – 2013
• http://www.niauk.org/supply-chain-guide
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Nuclear Lessons Learned
• Engineering the Future Publication - Oct 2010
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Engineering the Future Publications - 2012
• http://www.niauk.org/engineering-the-future
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NQK - Key Nuclear Construction Issues (1)
• Leadership for safety and quality
• Getting the project organisation and roles right
– Integration of functions
• Understanding Regulatory Requirements
• Proactive Stakeholder Engagement
• Learning from similar projects
– First of a kind projects are more challenging, complex and
costly
• Stable design before start of construction
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NQK - Key Nuclear Construction Issues (2)
• Positive Safety Culture across the supply chain
– High priority to safety and quality over cost and schedule
• Use of appropriate standards, specifications and codes
• Excellent project and supply chain management
– Capable sub-contractors and suppliers
– Ensure that true extent of the supply chain is understood
• Attention to product quality across the supply chain
– Graded approach related to nuclear safety significance
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Why Projects Fail – Common Issues
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Unrealistic programmes
Focus on cost and schedule at expense of quality
Lack of competent resources
Inadequate sub-contractor and supplier capability
Inadequate specifications and works information
Incomplete design
Inadequate supply chain management
Concrete and fabrication problems
Failure to deliver nuclear grade materials
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Learning for the Future
• Lessons learned from nuclear construction projects can
prevent accidents and reduce costs in the future
• Key lessons has been well captured and documented
• To apply these lessons requires sustained effort
“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to
repeat it”
George Santayana
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