Regulations Concerning Equipment Quality Supervision and Surveillance for Nuclear Power Plant EPC Projects

Use of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracting arrangement is increasing in China recently, especially for those important construction projects. The nuclear power plant construction projects are as well. Because of the associated hazards, nuclear power plant construction projects require more strict safety and quality requirements as compared with more conventional construction projects. As essential means and safety shields, the equipment quality supervision and surveillance requirements and their implementation mode should be explored to meet the requirements of EPC projects. It is highly demanded to establish new rules to meet the quick development of nuclear power plant construction projects. The article discusses the current equipment quality supervision and surveillance mode first, and then discusses the needs to build rules especially the significance of introducing independent organizations to supervise equipment quality for those nuclear power plant construction projects for using EPC contracting arrangement despite the supervision and surveillance conducted by manufactures, EPC contractors, nuclear power plant owners and the National Nuclear Safety Administration.