Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
March 2025
Aim of inspection
The aim of this inspection was to determine whether the appropriate control and instrumentation (C&I) related Heysham 2 (HY2) reactor 7 (R7) statutory outage (S13R7) examination, inspection, maintenance, and testing (EIMT) activities that are necessary to support safety case claims have been / will be undertaken.
The findings of this inspection will contribute to ONR’s regulatory decision to grant a Consent to the return of R7 to normal operating service in accordance with Licence Condition (LC) 30 – periodic shutdown.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC28 - Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
During the inspection we sampled statutory outage control and instrumentation (C&I) related examination, inspection, maintenance, and testing (EIMT) activities important to nuclear safety, based on the schedule of activities contained within the Heysham 2 (HY2) maintenance schedule (MS).
During the inspection we held discussions with several system engineers (SEs) and found that they had a good understanding of the systems and equipment they were responsible for and that they appreciated the importance of the statutory outage work being undertaken.
We found the activities we sampled had either been satisfactorily completed or were on schedule to be completed. It should be noted that in relation to the latter we were confident, based on the information provided, that the outstanding EIMT activities would be completed satisfactorily.
We raised one Level 4 (L4) Regulatory Issue (RI) relating to the recording of as found condition codes (AFCCs). We will monitor its progress through to resolution as part of normal regulatory business. It should be noted that we did not consider that this issue posed an immediate or significant risk to nuclear safety or needed to be addressed before R7 returns to service.
Conclusion
Based on our sample inspection of the C&I aspects of the HY2 R7 2025 statutory outage (S13R7) we have assigned an intervention rating of Green to LC 28 (EIMT) compliance.
We did not identify any significant issues in relation to the C&I equipment and systems during this inspection that could prevent ONR from issuing a Consent to allow HY2 R7 to return to service. Based on our sampled inspection of the C&I aspects of the HY2 R7 2025 statutory outage (S13R7), we recommend that support be given for a Consent to allow R7 to return to service. This is subject to the completion of the planned EIMT activities and the completion of any emergent work.