Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection: March 2024
Aim of inspection
The aim of the inspection was to gain confidence in NNB Generation Company (HPC) Ltd’s (NNB GenCo) identification and management of safety functional requirements for hazards (internal and external) within its safety case and to follow the identification of these requirements through safety case documentation including construction documentation, equipment specification and qualification documents to on-plant installation (where available). This was assessed against compliance with Licence Condition (LC) 14 Safety Documentation. Due to the maturity of the commissioning documentation and other ONR inspections on this area, commissioning documentation was excluded from this inspection.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC14 - Safety documentation - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
From the evidence presented, ONR concluded that the implementation of the LC14 arrangements sampled during this inspection demonstrated areas of good practice in the identification and management of safety functional requirements for the sampled internal/external hazards and building combinations within Hinkley Point C’s (HPC) safety case. Despite the process being complex and the limited maturity of the project, NNB GenCo was able to demonstrate that the principles for requirements, architecture, design/implementation, integration, verification and validation of functional requirements (respectively the “golden thread”) were understood and followed.
The inspection identified a few minor shortfalls, which will be followed-up as part of routine engagement. ONR recognised that some of the shortfalls had been identified by the licensee and we acknowledged that the licensee is committed to address them within its safety case, specifically the hazards intermediate documents.
Where only limited information was provided during the inspection to support ONR’s judgement, actions were raised to obtain additional information. ONR will follow up on these topics during regular engagements with the licensee once information is available.
The inspection identified a few minor shortfalls, which will be followed-up as part of routine engagement. ONR recognised that some of the shortfalls had been identified by the licensee and we acknowledged that the licensee is committed to address them within its safety case, specifically the hazards intermediate documents.
Where only limited information was provided during the inspection to support ONR’s judgement, actions were raised to obtain additional information. ONR will follow up on these topics during regular engagements with the licensee once information is available.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence provided which demonstrated the traceability of the functional requirements, the maturity of this project, the commitment of the licensee to address the identified shortfalls and actions while taking into account that currently this is a “construction” project with no fuel on site, the inspection was rated Green (no formal action) for LC14 (Safety Documentation).