Background information on NIKIET

Russian history relative to development of normative documents regulating design and service of pressure vessels begins on February 8, 1843, when the requirements for adherence to special rules and precautions when using steam boilers were first included in the “Charter on factory and plant industry” by Russian Empire Government decree. In December of the same year, an article pertaining to steam boiler inspections was added to the Charter.

The rules played an important part not only in organization of government supervision in Russia, but also in furthering industrial development, improving boiler design, and leading to creation of new materials.

The rules consisted of only 10 paragraphs, which are still in existence today. Requirements in these rules included maximum pressure in boilers; boiler design and materials; installation of water level gauges, manometers, and relief valves; and requirements for personnel and facility arrangement.

These initial rules were in force in Russia for the next 50 years, and only in 1893 were improved rules introduced. These rules were rather detailed, consisting of 27 paragraphs in 10 chapters, and included requirements for boiler design, reinforcement, boiler rooms, and defined the period and order of boiler inspection. The rules also established a system for obtaining permission for installation of steam boilers.

In 1911, the rules were revised again. Technical requirements of these rules were embodied in the first rules of the USSR in 1920, 1923, and 1929. Following the development of technology, new requirements for steam superheaters, economizers, feedwater, high-pressure boilers (above 2.2 MPa), and other requirements were also included in these rules.

In the mid-1930s, the Central Boiler and Turbine Institution (CKTI), named by Polzunov, began the development of code documents including requirements for design, choice of materials, strength analysis, welding, production control, testing, and maintenance of steam boilers. Documents included in this code were issued and reissued in 1950, 1956, and 1965.

The history of specialized normative acts in the nuclear power industry in the USSR began in 1970 with the establishment of the department of nuclear energy supervision in Gosgortechnadzor. In 1971, by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on the basis of NIKIET, a special division was founded that eventually would grow into ENES (ICP MAE). Carrying out research in the field of materials science and developing normative documents became its main tasks. During the period of 1970-1973, using specialists from NIKIET and IMASH, with help of experts from other nuclear power industry organizations in the USSR, the first code documents were issued, including “Strength analysis rules,” “Rules for safety operation,” “General welding regulations,” and “Rules for welding control.” Documents issued by the department of “Kotlonadzor” (State boilers’ supervisor) as part of

“Gosgortechnadzor” (Mining and Industrial regulation) that were in force at that time, were a basis for development of that code. The code was also based on documents issued by CKTI and ASME Code (1968) regulations. It was published in 1974.

Between 1975 and 1979, the code of normative documents for the USSR nuclear navy was developed.

In 1978, an interdepartmental commission headed by NIKIET was organized. Its main task was to revise the code of 1974 and create on the basis of code documents a new series, PNAE G-7 (Rules and Norms in nuclear energy). Experts from all nuclear power organizations of the USSR were involved. Specialists from CKTI and the Central Research Institute of Structural Materials (CRISM)

“Prometey” made significant contributions to the development of the PNAE G-7 series of documents.

Requirements of 1977 and 1980 editions of ASME Code were also taken into consideration.

Developed documents included:

• PNAE G-7-002-86, “Regulations of strength analysis of equipment and piping of nuclear power facilities”

• PNAE G-7-003-87, “Rules for certification of welders of equipment and piping of nuclear power facilities”

• PNAE G-7-008-89, “Rules for design and safe operation of equipment and piping of nuclear power facilities”

• PNAE G-7-009-89, “Equipment and piping of nuclear power facilities. Welding and Cladding. General rules”

• PNAE G-7-010-89, “Equipment and piping of nuclear power facilities. Welding and Cladding. Examination rules”

• PNAE G-7-013-89, “Rules on design and safe operation of actuators of reactivity control devices”

• PNAE G-7-014-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Ultrasonic Examination. Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts)”

• PNAE G-7-015-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Magnetic Particle Examination”

• PNAE G-7-016-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Visual and Measuring Examination”

• PNAE G-7-017-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Radiographic Examination”

• PNAE G-7-018-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Liquid Penetrant Examination”

• PNAE G-7-019-89, “Standard Methods for Examination of Base Materials (Semiproducts), Welded Joints and Claddings of NPPs. Leaktightness Examination. Gas and Liquids Methods”

The publication of PNAE G-7 documents was carried out in 1989.

In 1995, the new Federal Law, “On Nuclear Power Uses,” was issued in Russia. According to this law, only a part of the PNAE G-7 document series, namely PNAE G-7-002-86, PNAE G-7-008-86, PNAE G-7-009-86, and PNAE G-7-010-86, were added to the list of mandatory documents.

In 2003, the new Federal Law, “On Technical Regulation,” became operative in Russia. This law dramatically changed the system of standardization in Russia. This was done to satisfy the requirements for Russia to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). The law, “On Technical Regulation,” set two levels of normative documents: (1) mandatory normative legal level; and (2) national standards. At the same time, the law paved the way for future regulations in the field of nuclear energy with additional documents.

Today, in the field of nuclear energy in Russia, the only mandatory normative documents are those that fall under law “On Nuclear Power Uses,” particularly PNAE G-7-002-86, PNAE G-7-008-89, PNAE G-7-009-89, and PNAE G-7-010-89. In addition to these PNAE G-series documents, which focus on equipment/component design and analysis however, there are many Russian Federal rules

and regulations pertaining to General Safety Provisions; Site Design and Construction; Operation and Decommissioning; and requirements for Safety Analysis Reports.

At present, the role of codes in nuclear energy is being explored. Since 2005, development of codes for various purposes (for different types of reactors and related components) is proceeding.

In 2008, at the end of a three-year cycle of development (encompassing first edition, second edition, and final edition), code SPiR-O-2008, “Code of Rules and Manuals for supports of elements of NPPs with WWER,” was prepared and published. Work was ordered by Rosatom (the Russian State Corporation dealing with nuclear energy) and carried out by specialists of ENES (ICP MAE), involving experts from leading organizations of nuclear and other related industry sectors in Russia. It should be noted that this was the first unified document for equipment supports and piping developed in Russia. During the development, some provisions of similar international documents – ASME Code, RCC-M Rules, KTA standard – were also considered.

As a result of activity on SPiR-O-2008, in 2009, a special organizational structure was established (Figure 17), and procedures for development of modern Russian nuclear codes were developed.

Figure 17—Organizational Pattern of SPiR Codes Development

In 2009 and 2010, the development of two modern codes (for high-temperature sodium reactors (SPiR-BN-2011) and WWER (water water energy reactor) type reactors (SPiR-WWER-2012)) was

started. The first of these works, BN-2011, was completed in 2011, and completion of SPiR-BN-2011 is planned for 2013. In the future, it is planned to reissue these codes every 5 years.

The planned structure of codes SPiR-BN-2011 and SPiR-WWER-2012 is shown in Figure 18.

Given that codes SPiR-BN-2011 and SPiR-WWER-2010 are now under development, the current PNAE G-7 series documents will be used in an eventual code comparison project.

Figure 18—Structure of the Developed Codes SPiR-BN-2011 and SPiR-WWER-2012