5 Subsection NCA—General Requirements for Division 1 and Division 2

Chapter 5, authored by Richard W. Swayne, describes the general requirements of Section III applicable to all Construction Classes, including concrete structures and steel vessels, piping, pumps, and valves. It identifies how to classify components and describes how the jurisdictional boundaries of Section III define what is within and what is outside the scope of the Code. This chapter includes coverage of Subsection NCA, which pertains to general requirements for Divisions 1, 2, and 3 of Section III. Division 1 includes steel items such as vessels, storage tanks, piping systems, pumps, valves, supports, and core support structures for use at commercial nuclear power plants; Division 2 includes concrete reactor vessels and concrete containment vessels; and Division 3 includes requirements for the construction of containment vessels for transportation of spent nuclear fuel. The scope of Division 3 now also includes recently-published requirements for construction of storage canisters for spent nuclear fuel and spent-fuel transportation-containment vessels.

Chapter 5 also explains the use of Code Editions, Addenda, and Code Cases. The requirements for design basis, design and construction specifications, and design reports are described, and the responsibilities and quality assurance program requirements of the different entities involved in nuclear power plant construction—from the Material Manufacturer to the Owner—are addressed. Requirements for ASME accreditation, application of the ASME Code Symbol Stamp, and use of Code Data Reports are described. With in-depth information, Mr. Swayne outlines the basis for exemptions, component classification, load combinations, responsibilities, Certificate of Authorization Holders and Quality System Certificate Holders. Also, Mr. Swayne provides cross-referencing to other Code Sections and Subsections, such as Sections III and XI, as well as to pertinent Regulatory Guides, such as the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).