- Site: Hinkley Point C
- IR number: 19-012
- Date: August 2019
- LC numbers: 19
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR’s) Hinkley Point C Construction Inspection Plan, ONR performs a series of planned compliance inspections of identified licence conditions. This is to ensure that NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd (NNB GenCo) is proportionately and adequately developing and implementing its licence compliance arrangements commensurate with the current stage of the project.
This intervention was a routine licence condition inspection carried out to assess NNB GenCo (HPC)’s compliance with licence condition 19; Construction or installation of new plant. The purpose was to derive confidence in the technical compliance of reinforcement and couplers in respect of key engineering properties. This included ensuring that an appropriate surveillance regime is in place and that quality and consistency of record keeping in respect of the basic parameters is commensurate with the requirements of the safety case.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
LC19 requires that “Where the licensee proposes to construct or install any new plant which may affect safety the licensee shall make and implement adequate arrangements to control the construction or installation.”
ONR carried out the following LC 19 inspections:
- An inspection assessing the technical compliance in respect of reinforcement and couplers being used in the works on site.
The following guidance was used in this intervention:
- NS-INSP-GD-019 Revision 4 LC19 – Construction or Installation of New Plant
- NS-TAST-GD-076 Revision 2 – Construction Assurance
Explanation of Judgement if Safety System Not Judged to be Adequate
N/A as this was not a safety systems inspection.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
NNB GenCo demonstrated, via contactor compliance with BTS1.11, suitable evidence and records of technical compliance of key engineering parameters for reinforcing steel and couplers. Supplier accreditation of reinforcement and couplers was evidenced along with accreditation of a laboratory to carry out independent tests at defined frequencies.
To conclude, from the evidence sampled, I have confidence that the materials for grade B500C reinforcement and Dextra couplers are being tested to ensure compliance with the specification, those carrying out surveillance and installation of couplers are suitably trained and that NNB GenCo has access to records on key material properties for reinforcement and couplers.
On this basis the intervention was rated Green.
Conclusion of Intervention
I judge that overall an inspection rating of GREEN (No formal action) is appropriate for licence condition 19; Construction or installation of new plant in relation to the delivery of civil engineering work packages to site construction teams. This is because I found NNB GenCo to be compliant with its legal duties with only minor areas for potential further improvement.