- Site: Heysham 2
- IR number: 19-051
- Date: July 2019
- LC numbers: 28
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
The purpose of this intervention was to conduct an Ageing Management Inspection of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd’s (NGL) Heysham 2 Power Station.
This intervention was undertaken as part of a series of planned interventions that are listed in the Heysham 2 Integrated Intervention Strategy 2019/2020.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
We performed an Ageing Management Inspection on the following systems;
- B11 – Main reheat and decay heat boilers;
- B31 – Pressure vessel and safety relief valves (safety valve aspects only);
- C43 – Condensate system;
- C51 – Main feed system;
- C54 – Auxiliary/emergency feed pump system.
These systems were selected based on their importance to nuclear safety identified by the licensee’s safety case and hence, their role in response to a boiler tube leak fault. Through sampling of evidence and a plant walk down of these systems, we judged compliance against LC 28 – examination, inspection, maintenance and testing.
The focus of the inspection was to establish if the licensee’s arrangements are adequately implemented to detect the onset of equipment degradation and to quantify the extant material condition and the rate of ageing of nuclear safety significant plant. Findings will be used as part of ONR’s assessment for Heysham 2’s periodic safety review undertaken by the licensee in line with LC15.
The Heysham 2 nominated site inspector also undertook the following regulatory activities on site:
- Observance of the station operations focus meeting;
- Observance of an Operational Decision Making session (ODM);
- Quarterly engagement with the INA;
- Engagement with Safety Representatives;
- Meeting with the Strategic Outage Manager;
- Regulatory Issues Review.
The intervention was performed in line with ONR's guidance requirements (as described in our technical inspection guides) in the areas inspected.
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
A system-based inspection was not performed
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
Ageing Management: We sampled licensee’s arrangements and their implementation for the systems under consideration. We undertook plant walk downs to observe the systems and spoke with various members of staff including system engineers and senior management.
Overall, based on the areas sampled we are content that the arrangements for ageing management have been adequately controlled and implemented in line with station arrangements and ONR expectations.
We did, however, identify a number of minor compliance gaps. These were associated with staff familiarity with the relevant company processes, clarity of roles and responsibilities, work management process in terms of ageing related work and the requirement for ageing management specific training to the system engineers. Regulatory Issue RI – 7430 has been raised to monitor progress against these issues.
Conclusion of Intervention
From the evidence gathered during the ageing management intervention, we assigned an intervention rating of green (no formal action) against licence condition 28.
There were no findings from this inspection that could significantly undermine nuclear safety. At present, no additional regulatory action is needed over and above the planned interventions at Heysham 2 power station as set out in the 2019/20 Integrated Intervention Strategy.
As this was the first operating reactors ageing management inspection, a review, learn, and improve (RLI) study will be carried out to capture any learning and improvement opportunities for subsequent ageing management inspections.