Inspection Qualification and Implementation of ENIQ in Sweden
Tommy Zettervall
SQC Swedish Qualification Centre, P.O.Box 519, SE-183 25 Taby, SWEDEN
Phone: +46 8 6998942, tommy.zetterwall@sqc.se
Abstract
Many countries are currently considering their approaches to inspection qualification and risk-informed in-service inspection (RI-ISI) and are carefully assessing experience data. In Europe most of the utilities operating nuclear power plants have joined together to form the European Network for Inspection Qualification ENIQ.
In practice, qualification can be performed with varying degrees of complexity and cost, varying from capability statement based on existing evidence, through to an extensive qualification consisting of a detailed Technical Justification (TJ) together with open and blind trials on full-scale test blocks.
An Inspection Qualification is an investigation and demonstration, which confirm that an inspection system has the ability to solve its specific tasks. The qualification is a Quality Assurance of an inspection system based on documents and practical trials.
A reliable inspection system, based on a reliable qualification and correct prerequisites, will reduce total costs for Licensees and increase the credibility of the inspection result. To get such inspection system, which could be valid for many years, it’s of necessity to fulfil all included parts in the process. It begins with the Technical Specification from Licensee, where input data and requirements about the actual component are specified. To get an inspection system that could live over time, the Technical Justification is of importance. Finally the test blocks and used simulation techniques play an important part of the final result, and these test blocks together with TJ form the basis for qualification body’s decision.
Keywords
Inspection Qualification, ENIQ, SQC
Full Paper:PDFEJAM Vol.4No. 4 pp.116-124 "Inspection Qualification and Implementation of ENIQ in Sweden"