- Site: Heysham 1
- IR number: 19-116
- Date: November 2019
- LC numbers: N/A
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
This was a planned compliance inspection of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd.’s (NGL’s) Heysham 1 Power Station, undertaken as part of the planned intervention strategy for the Operating Facilities Division (OFD) of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
On 25 January 2019, ONR issued two improvement notices to EDF-Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd for contraventions of the Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) associated with the operation and maintenance of the Heysham 1 auxiliary steam system.
The auxiliary steam system is a saturated steam system designed to provide steam for, amongst other things, heating buildings and evaporating stored carbon dioxide.
Both improvement notices required compliance by 16 December 2019.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
As part of this intervention I, the nominated site inspector, carried out an inspection to determine if the measures specified in the following two improvement notices had been complied with:
- Improvement notice ref. ONR-IN-18-008 required EDF to either:
- Ensure for any person operating the auxiliary steam system that adequate and suitable instructions for the safe operation of the system are provided; or
- Any other equally effective means of remedying the said contraventions.
- Improvement notice ref. ONR-IN-18-009 required EDF to either:
- Devise and implement adequate procedures to ensure that the auxiliary steam system is properly maintained in good repair, so as to prevent danger; or
- Any other equally effective means of remedying the said contraventions.
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
No system based inspection was undertaken hence, this is not applicable for this intervention.
Key Findings, Inspector's Opinions and Reasons for Judgements Made
The inspection sampled the adequacy of EDF arrangements and their implementation for the operation and maintenance of the Heysham 1 auxiliary steam system.
I sampled revised EDF corporate arrangements developed to improve operational instructions used for the management of saturated steam systems and in particular a revised requirement to adhere to a steam system return to service risk assessment process.
I sampled the implementation of the revised corporate arrangements for a number of auxiliary steam systems which had recently been returned to service. I noted that in all cases the recently issued corporate arrangements had been adequately implemented at Heysham 1.
From the evidence sampled I was satisfied that improvement notice ref. ONR-IN-18-008 had been complied with and adequate suitable instructions were now provided.
I sampled revised EDF corporate arrangements developed to improve the maintenance of saturated steam systems. This included revisions to the equipment reliability review process; the scoping, identification and management of critical components; plant health committees and guidance on the design, maintenance and operation of saturated steam systems.
I sampled the implementation of the revised corporate arrangements and examined the Heysham 1 saturated steam system equipment reliability review and an auxiliary steam system plant maintenance policy. I also sampled the maintenance schedule against a number of steam system components to determine if the components had been correctly categorised for maintenance purposes.
From the evidence sampled I found no shortfalls with the adequacy and implementation of revised maintenance arrangements associated with the auxiliary steam system and I was satisfied that improvement notice ref. ONR-IN-18-009 had been complied with.
Conclusion of Intervention
There were no findings from this inspection and I am satisfied, from the evidence sampled, that the two improvement notices issued for contraventions with PSSR Regulation 11 ‘Operations’ and Regulation 12 ‘Maintenance’ against the auxiliary steam system at Heysham 1 have been complied with. At present, no additional regulatory action is needed over and above the planned interventions at Heysham 1 Power Station as set out in the Integrated Intervention Strategy, which will continue as planned.