Current Status of Japanese Code on Fitness-for-Service for Nuclear Power Plants Available to Purchase

Following a recognition of the need to establish a FFS (Fitness-for-Service) Code in Japan, JSME (Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers) published its first edition in May 2000, which provided rules on flaw evaluation for Class 1 pressure vessels and piping, referring to the ASME Code Section XI. The second edition of the FFS Code was published in October 2002, to include rules on in-service inspection, which also referred to the ASME Code Section XI incorporating independent Japanese concepts. In addition, individual inspection rules for specific structures, such as shroud and shroud support for BWR plants, were prescribed in consideration of aging degradation by SCC. Furthermore, the third edition, which includes requirements on repair and replacement methods, will be published in 2004. Along with the efforts of the JSME on the preparation of the FFS Code, the Japanese Regulatory Agency has approved and endorsed this Code as the national rule, which has been in effect since October 2003.