NEA Mandates and Structures

Working Group on Digital Instrumentation and Control (WGDIC)

Mandate (Document reference):

• Summary record of the 37^th Meeting of the CNRA, held on 29-30 May 2017 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2017)3]
• 2017-2022 CNRA Operating Plan and Guidelines [NEA/CNRA/R(2017)5]
• Summary record of the 44th Meeting of the CNRA [NEA/SEN/NRA(2020)2]
• Operating Plan and Guidelines for the Nuclear Energy Agency Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities: 2017-2022 [NEA/CNRA/R(2017)5/REV2]
• Participant Status of India in the CNRA and its subsidiary bodies: 2018 Update of the NEA Participation Plan [NEA/NE(2018)8] and official letter received from India on 15 October 2018 confirming its acceptance of Participant Status in the CNRA and its subsidiary bodies

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document NEA/CNRA/R(2017)5/REV2

Background

The scale and complexity of digital instrumentation and control (DI&C) systems present particular challenges, when used for protection and control systems in operating and new nuclear reactors. The continual advancement of DI&C technology exacerbates these challenges for power plant designers, operators and regulators. Regulations and guidance can become obsolete or inadequate as technology changes push the boundaries of what was originally considered; thus changing the underlying assumptions that were the foundation when they were first enacted. 

The development and application of timely and practical guidance is therefore essential to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants. 

Mandate

In this context, the mandate of the Working Group on Digital Instrumentation and Control (WGDIC) is to promote harmonisation and improvements in nuclear safety through the development of regulatory guidance to address DI&C topics and technical issues of concern to its member countries, for both operating and new reactors. This guidance is not intended to replace the guidance already available from international standards organisations; instead, the collective scientific and technical knowledge and experience of the WGDIC members is brought together to develop Consensus Positions (CPs) representing the common understanding and harmonisation of regulatory practices.

The CPs provides a consistent set of regulatory expectations for industry and may be used by members in the development of guidance in their own specific domain.

The WGDIC constitutes an international forum for nuclear regulatory organisations to co-operate in the development of CPs and to exchange information and experience. 

To this end, the WGDIC will:

• develop and maintain CPs concerning current and emerging technical challenges in the DI&C field for both operating and new reactors;
• promote harmonisation of DI&C regulatory practices and standards of significance;
• increase collaboration, co-operation, and knowledge transfer among members;
• explore the synergies between safety and security of DI&C systems;
• identify research needs, in co-ordination with Committee on Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI), where the WGDIC concludes that the current level of technical knowledge is not sufficient to support establishment of technical guidance;
• collaborate with Standards Development Organisations (SDOs) and other international organisations, including the Regulator Task Force on Safety Critical Software (TF SCS), to provide regulatory insights and lessons learnt from the WGDIC activities regarding the harmonisation and convergence of standards and guidance (e.g. comparison of standards during the development of technical guidance);
• develop and maintain interfaces with international industry organisations and stakeholders (e.g. Co-operation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing DI&C Task Force – CORDEL DICTF).

Working methods

In terms of working methods, the WGDIC will:

• develop and periodically maintain issued CPs, which will eventually be documented in a Green Booklet
• maintain mechanisms for sharing information within the working group, such as quick inquiries, self-surveys, and a document repository, e.g. a Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) library similar to the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) Library;
• co-ordinate its work with SDOs, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and other international organisations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), the Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing (CORDEL) Working Group of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) and the TF SCS;
• strive to achieve the following objectives when co-ordinating its work with the TF SCS: 1) maintain good awareness of issues under review, consult and co-ordinate in support of future work products; 2) ensure that the corresponding technical products enhance the practical guidance available to users; and 3) avoid duplication of effort and divergence or inconsistent technical positions;
• organise, on a regular basis, meetings, workshops and conferences;
• report to the CNRA and assist that Committee with its work;
• support and assist the CSNI with its work;
• co-ordinate its work with other NEA standing technical committees and working groups as well as with MDEP, as required.

Interactions

The NEA has established Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with a number of organisations – e.g. COG, CRIEPI, EPRI and WANO – to promote international collaboration, particularly in the area of nuclear safety. Accordingly, representatives from these organisations can be invited, as appropriate, in the activities of CNRA working groups, consistent with the MOUs.

Deliverables

The CNRA and its working groups generally produce guidance documents for nuclear safety regulators and other stakeholders interested in commercial nuclear power. Examples include, but are not limited to, proceedings of seminars and workshops, collections of commendable practices implemented by regulatory bodies, case studies and summaries of operating experience.