This Safety Guide provides specific recommendations on the maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of research reactors to meet the relevant requirements of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR-3, Safety of Research Reactors. It provides guidance on design considerations and recommends good practices in implementing the programme and establishing the organization and responsibilities for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection as well as for the selection, training and qualification of personnel. Procedures, administrative controls and maintenance facilities are also covered as well as procurement and storage of spare parts and components, and testing and inspection methods and techniques used for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection. The recommendations provided in this Safety Guide are aimed at operating organizations of research reactors, regulatory bodies and other organizations involved in a research reactor project. This Safety Guide is a revision of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. NS-G-4.2, which it supersedes.

• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • Background
  • Objective
  • Scope
  • Structure
• 2. APPLICATION OF THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO THE MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION OF A RESEARCH REACTOR
  • Management responsibility for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of a research reactor
  • Resource management for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of a research reactor
  • Process implementation for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of a research reactor
  • Measurement, assessment and improvement of the management system for a research reactor
• 3. OVERVIEW OF MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION OF RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Interrelationship between maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
  • Maintenance of research reactors
    • Preventive maintenance
    • Corrective maintenance
  • Periodic testing of research reactors
  • Inspection of research reactors
• 4. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION OF RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Design of a research reactor for maintainability
  • Design of a research reactor for testability
  • Design of a research reactor for inspectability
• 5. PROGRAMMES FOR MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION OF RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Content of the programmes for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of research reactors
    • General description
    • Management system
    • Organizational structure and responsibilities
    • Selection, training and qualification of maintenance personnel
    • Structures, systems and components included in the programmes for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
    • Technical and administrative procedures and administrative controls
    • Scheduling of maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
    • Review and verification of the programmes for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
    • Documents and records associated with the programmes for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
    • Review of results of maintenance, periodic testing and inspection
    • Maintenance facilities at the research reactor
    • Procurement and storage of spare parts
    • Interface with the ageing management programme
  • Non-routine maintenance, testing and inspection of research reactors
• 6. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION OF RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Organizational structure for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of research reactors
  • Coordination and interfaces in maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of a research reactor
    • Interface control
  • Responsibilities for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of research reactors
    • Operating organization
    • Regulatory body
    • Reactor safety committee
    • Reactor manager
    • Maintenance supervisor
    • Contractors
    • Maintenance personnel
• 7. SELECTION, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT A RESEARCH REACTOR
• 8. PROCEDURES FOR MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION AT RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Administrative procedures for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection at research reactors
  • Work procedures for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection at research reactors
• 9. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS FOR MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION AT RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Work permit system for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection at research reactors
  • Work coordination for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection at research reactors
  • Maintenance, periodic testing and inspection performed by contractors at research reactors
• 10. MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AT RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Workshop facilities at research reactors
  • Facilities for maintenance of radioactive or contaminated items at research reactors
  • Decontamination facilities at research reactors
  • Maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of lifting and handling equipment at research reactors
  • Special equipment and tools for maintenance, periodic testing and inspection of research reactors
  • Mock-ups and models for research reactors
• 11. PROCUREMENT, RECEIPT AND STORAGE OF SPARE PARTS, COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS AT RESEARCH REACTORS
• 12. TESTING AND INSPECTION METHODS AND TECHNIQUES FOR RESEARCH REACTORS
  • Visual examination
  • Surface examination
  • Volumetric examination
  • Other testing techniques
• Appendix RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE MAINTENANCE, PERIODIC TESTING AND INSPECTION
• REFERENCES
• Annex I EXAMPLES OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AT RESEARCH REACTORS
• Annex II EXAMPLES OF PERIODIC TESTING ACTIVITIES FOR RESEARCH REACTORS
• Annex III EXAMPLE OF A WORK PERMIT FORM FOR A RESEARCH REACTOR
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW