Title: Nuclear regulations - towards requirements harmonization

Authors: Jose-Maria Martinez-Val, Maria Teresa Dominguez

Addresses: Director, College of International Engineering, Madrid Polytechnic University, Jose Gutierrez Abascal, 2 - 28006 Madrid, Spain. ' Subdirector of Safety & Licensing Department, Empresarios Agrupados, Spain Magallanes, 3 - 28015 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This paper describes the evolution of regulations applicable to installations for nuclear power production, from its beginnings in the 1960s to the present. After analysing the regulatory process in the US and Europe and the way regulations are applied in the licensing process, we conclude that nuclear power plants currently operating have achieved the safety goal established in terms of risk assessment. Now that safety objectives have been achieved, and a wealth of experience gained, three important milestones remain: to harmonize regulation criteria in different countries, improve capacity to control severe accidents and to rationalize requirements that are costly while not significantly improving safety. To achieve these new objectives, at the end of this article, we analyse international initiatives for the development of standards and requirements for the new advanced reactor designs.

Keywords: design standardisation; harmonisation; international collaboration; nuclear safety; standards; regulations; nuclear power; nuclear energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1995.063464

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1995 Vol.8 No.1/2/3, pp.152-168

Published online: 14 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article