ASME Operation and Maintenance (OM) Code Overview

The purpose of this paper is to provide a general overview of the organization and content of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM) Code. This will involve a brief description of the regulatory requirements associated with Inservice Testing (IST) as well as a brief overview of the OM Code scope and requirements. This paper will discuss, in general, the regulations requiring IST as well as a brief discussion on when Preservice Testing (PST) and IST become required. A general organization of the ASME OM Code will be provided as well as general topics associated with how to determine when testing and examination intervals are established; what documentation is required; and general discussion regarding the various subsections of the OM Code and the components associated with the OM Code. Alternatives to the OM Code requirements and how to obtain these alternatives will also be provided as well as how the edition applicability of the ASME OM Code is determined. There is also discussion regarding a few general issues associated with the OM Code regarding existing reactor power plants as well as the “new builds” and advanced reactor plants and designs.