4.5 Application of Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Standards in China

In China, nuclear power programs have been ramped up to a fast lane in recent years. Latest statistics suggest that 26 units are in operation with a total capacity of 23,060 MWe and 24 units are under construction with a total capacity of another 23,740 MWe. By 2020, the capacity is expected to be increased to about 80,000 MWe. Therefore, a set of nuclear power codes and standards is urgently needed. However, historically, ever since China developed its own 300 MWe technology, deployed in Qinshan I, it has introduced different technologies from various countries, namely, Russia (ASE-91 VVER), France (M310), Canada (CANDU6), and the latest from the United States (AP1000). Consequently, different international codes, such as American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Règles de Conception et de Construction des Ilôts Nucléaires REP (RCC), ГОсударственныйСТандарт CCCP (ΓOCT), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), were adopted. Table 17.1 depicts the application of the different codes in China.