Nuclear Construction Quality Assurance Systems

Practices implemented on nuclear power plant construction projects to assure acceptable construction quality are presented and discussed. The highly active role of the Federal government in the nuclear construction process in presented in detail. Quality assurance requirements imposed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also discussed. Various organizational structures and quality assurance programs which have developed in response to Federal requirements are presented and compared. Various levels of owner (utility) involvement in the quality assurance of design and construction activities are compared, and reasons are cited for the trend toward increased owner involvement in quality assurance activities. Federal requirements for objective evidence of quality and the tremendous volumes of documentation which have resulted are also considered.