Handling the unexpected

Complex engineering projects always give rise to unexpected problems, and this was appreciated when the design of the Heysham 2 and Torness Power Stations first started. The likelihood of unexpected problems arising was minimised by repeating design features from previous stations whenever it was practicable to do so. Furthermore independent staff were used to check all work done in line with standard Quality Assurance practice. Programmes for building the stations included allowances for a limited amount of unexpected re-engineering, and the superheater penetrations, standpipe cracking and control rod instability problems are used as examples of difficulties which arose and were subsequently overcome without undue adverse programme effects. (author)