Comparison and Harmonization of French RCCM and ASME Code

The objectives of this paper is to discuss technical harmonization of Nuclear Codes and Standards, based on French long experience in Codes and Standards used for design-fabrication and operation of nuclear components (mainly pressure retaining components). After a long period of use of ASME Section III code, during the Westinghouse licensing process, AFCEN (AREVA, EDF and the major manufacturers) decided to develop their own AFCEN French Codes. The 1st version has been issued in 1980 and the last one in 2007, completed by annual addendum. During more than 20 years the 2 Codes, RCCM and ASME Section III, have leave separately, with different constraints like industrial history, localisation of fabrication, more new plants in France than in USA, different R&D programs to support Code improvement… Recently a detailed review of differences for class 1 vessel has showed under a “general global quality equivalence”, a lot of differences in the Code development process, in the Code organization, in the scopes, in the State of the Art fulfillment, in ageing consideration at the design stage, in relation with national or international regulations, in term of standards used or complementary specification needs… The harmonization of Codes and Standards is possible under an important effort to move toward new ideas, more international rules and with a strong support of national safety authorities.