2. Nuclear safety of nuclear power plants

Nuclear safety is defined in Czechoslovak regulations as the condition and capability of nuclear installations and their operators of preventing uncontrolled development of fission chain reaction and release of radioactive material and of ionizing radiation in the environment. From this point of view, two basic principles are described of securing nuclear safety in the installation project design, namely, the so-called in-depth protection comprising the prevention, control and localization of failures and accidents, and a system of subsequent physical barriers against radioactive material propagation. The role of siting, securing the quality of installations, and of operating personnel of nuclear power plants is briefly characterized with respect to nuclear safety. State inspection bodies whose task and operations are briefly described are the guarantors of the observance of the safety requirements. (Z.M.)