U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Perspective on Performance Demonstration of Ultrasonic Testing Systems

In the mid-1980's, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and the U.S. nuclear industry recognized that the reliability of ultrasonic testing (UT) used in in-service inspection (ISI) programs could be significantly improved through performance demonstration qualification of nondestructive examination (NDE) equipment, procedures, and examiners. The efforts of the industry to develop performance-based qualification criteria culminated in the publication of Appendix VIII to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code), Section XI, in the 1989 Addenda. The NRC has been developing a rule to make Appendix VIII a regulatory requirement. This paper discusses the regulatory perspective on the need for performance-based methods to qualify UT systems for inspecting U.S. reactor vessels and piping systems