ASME Code Reconiliation

[ekschwab]

What process do you have to go through to do a Code reconciliation? We will have to do one in the future for equipment purchesed against a later edition than what the plant (nuclear) was certified and built to.

Is it a formalized procedure? What tools are available to do this?

Regards

 

[ekschwab]

Sorry for the typo in the title.... should be reconciliation.

 

[lostsailor]

ekschwab,
There is a lot of ground to cover here, the reconciliation should be performed by the equipment manufacturer, the plant owner, and the issuer/certifier of the design specification.

All aspects of materials, design, fabrication will have to be addressed to ensure that the original specification criteria has been met or exceeded. The actual reconciliation process should be addressed by the respective QA programs of the parties involved.

Based on my experience, the areas that tend to trip most people up are design and materials. Basically you are going to have to address each area of the code that differs/departs from the year/edition of construction.

Regards,
RLS

 

[ekschwab]

Thanks for the response lostsailor. I am assuming it can be tedious. I was wondering if there was a formalized process and if there were standard formats for documenting the findings.

 

[lostsailor]

ekschwab,
The requisite QA program requirements constitute the formal process and the design report/design report summary/data report serve as the documentation vehicles.
Regards,
RLS

 

[JoeTank]

You can do all of the reconcilliation you wish, but you cannot re-stamp any of the equipment. The best you will get is a letter or memo or report that the equipment also meets the old Code requirements. Which Code editions are you working with?

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com

 

[ekschwab]

Steve,

I understand about the re-stamping. My situation is we have a nuclear plant design certified to the 1998 Edition thru 2000 addenda of the ASME III code. We will not be purchasing equipment for a while yet. But since our plant is certified to the older code edition, I want to write a paper on what we will do when equipment is purchased to reconcile the newer code to the older plant design certified code. It will not be realistic to ask a supplier to build to the older code.

Thanks for the input.

 

[GenB]

Your procedure should allow new equipment to be cert to the latest Edition and Addenda if not, you really need some fixing.
I will ask my AI, he knows a lot about Nuc Codes components/audits and all.
genb

 

[ekschwab]

Thanks GenB.

I would think my situation would be similar to equipment repairs and replacements performed for operating nuclear plants. If the plant was certified to an ASME Code from the 70's or 80's and I have to repair or replace a component today, obviously the work would not be done to the earlier code. But it has to be done (and proven) that the work does not “weaken” the plant certification done to the earlier code. My assumption is you cannot just say the later code is better - it has to be shown by review and reconciliation.

I am going to be the one laying the ground work (processes) that must be contained in those procedures you mention to allow the use of later code editions.

 

[JoeTank]

ekschwab
Many years ago while in the employ of an ASME III shop, we often built equipment to non-current editions. It was simply a matter of which edition and addenda were referenced in the contract. Perhaps things have changed though.

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com

 

[ekschwab]

Steve,

That is an interesting comment. I was wondering if shops and equipment manufacturers handled requests like that. If you had an N stamp, you probably knew the codes better than just about anyone else.

Regards

 

[lostsailor]

ekschwab,
SteveBraune is correct, N type certificate holders routinely fabricate components to Code editions other than the most current. The only nuclear components I have seen fabricated to the most current Code/Addenda have been for nuclear plants being constructed abroad and for U.S. Government facilities.

If your plant is designed in accordance with the 1998 Edition with 2000 addenda you would be mandated to purchase equipment to this edition.

You should spend some time reading ASME Section III part NCA, ASME NQA-1, 10CFR50, and 10CFR21.

In order to save yourself a lot of future pain, I highly suggest consulting with an individual well versed in nuclear QA and procurement. The site ANI/ANIS and NRC resident would be a good place to start and if you do not have someone in your department with experience in these areas such a person would be a valuable asset.

Regards,
RLS

 

[EdStainless]

We are often asked to supply material (tubing) to an old Code version. The catch is that sometimes people want to use a mateiral that was not in the Code in the year that they ref. This is when they need to draft a review backing up the change in material.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion, every where, all the time.
Manage it or it will manage you.

http://www.trent-tube.com/contact/Tech_Assist.cfm

 

[GenB]

Most repairs are to the Code of Construction(yr &Add)

Buy reconciling the procedure must allow to build (when possible) to the latest edition.
Code of construction Ed/Ad on replacement parts are also allowed by the Code (also within the QA Manual),
Generally the Code allows to use any older Ed/Add by contract date; Nuclear facilities could could be an example.
In RE to Sec I and VIII, I have a coouple contracts
from year 2000 which are now being finished to the old edition,
Upgrading to the latest edition can take a lot of work.
genb