- Site: Hinkley Point C
- IR number: 21-015
- Date: July 2021
- LC numbers: 28
Executive summary
Purpose of Intervention
In accordance with the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR’s) Hinkley Point C (HPC) Construction Inspection Plan, ONR performs a series of planned compliance inspections of identified licence conditions (LC) and other applicable legislation, to ensure that NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd (NNB GenCo), is meeting its legal requirements.
Interventions Carried Out by ONR
Licence condition 28 requires that “the licensee make adequate and implement adequate arrangements for the regular and systematic examination, inspection, maintenance and testing of all plant which may affect safety.”
ONR carried out the following LC28 intervention:
- A one-day intervention assessing the adequacy of NNB GenCo’s and its contractor’s arrangements for preservation and maintenance during the construction phase – including readiness for the bulk mechanical, electrical and heating & ventilation and air-conditioning (MEH) equipment phase.
The following guidance was used in this intervention:
- NS-INSP-GD-019 Revision 7 – LC 19: Construction or Installation of New Plant
- NS-INSP-GD-028 Revision 8 – LC28 Examination, Inspection, Maintenance and Testing (EIMT)
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
Overall, it was evident that NNB GenCo’s processes and standards have evolved to provide an appropriate framework for the delivery of care and maintenance during the construction phase.
NNB GenCo and its contractors were able to demonstrate appropriate implementation of care and maintenance arrangements.
Overall, during my visit to the unit 1 nuclear island I found that asset care/foreign material exclusion protection was generally adequate, although I did note a number of relatively minor areas for improvement which NNB GenCo has committed to address.
The MEH alliance is engaged with NNB GenCo’s site asset management and has developed appropriate documents to guide its care and maintenance responsibilities. However, it will need to ensure its resources for delivering care and maintenance activities are clearly defined, to ensure they mature in line with project requirements.
NNB GenCo needs to clarify the responsibilities for the care and maintenance of civil structures once they have been handed over to the MEH alliance for fit out.
Conclusion of Intervention
I judge that an inspection rating of Green (no formal action) is appropriate for LC28. This is because overall I found that NNB GenCo and its contractors have made and implemented appropriate arrangements for the management of preservation and maintenance activities during the construction phase.
I have however raised a level 4 regulatory issue (the lowest level) to ensure that NNB GenCo addresses the improvement areas relating to the MEH alliance resourcing plan and clarity of civil asset care responsibilities post-handover to the MEH alliance.