The management of design interfaces in the nuclear power construction

This paper introduces the design interfaces management in the construction of nuclear power plant through the Interface Control Manual (ICM). The ICM management model had been applied and practiced in the construction of both DAYA BAY and LING AO phase I (LNPS I ) nuclear power stations. It has solved many troublesome matters in the design interfaces information exchange among all concerned parties, and contributed to these projects greatly. The author considers that the ICM management: has great value for extending and applying in the new construction of nuclear power station. In order to understand easily the ICM management model, the paper expatiates on the compiling principle, the procedure establishing, the interface editing and the ICM updating. The advantages of using ICM are as follow: First, the ICM model provides the authoritative and legal document to be obeyed by all contractors for exchanging the design technical information basing on the responsibility and planning. Second, the ICM enhances the schedule control for the project engineering. Third, using ICM to manage the design information exchange solves the questions assorted with different parties, and decreases the times spent in unproductive coordination meeting. Fourth, the ICM management uses computer database and provides convenient method for engineers to track and control interface exchange, gets twice the result with half the effort. Fifth, the ICM database allows easy retrieval of any technical information for further re-use in a similar project. (authors)