Design Basis Review

DOE-STD-1073-2003

Configuration Management

5.3.1.1 Design Basis Review

If the proposed change is not within the current design basis, the contractor must perform

a design analysis for the change. The design analysis must be sufficiently detailed that

the technical reviewers can assess the adequacy of the analysis. The individuals

responsible for the technical review must be provided with the change control package

for those reviews. The design analysis should include:

current and proposed design inputs and constraints,

an analysis of the proposed changes and their impacts,

design outputs,

consideration of systems interactions,

any assumptions that must be verified in the post-operational testing, and

identification of any computer program that was used in the analysis.

Changes that affect the design basis require a design analysis by the design authority.

The design basis is generally identified by the design requirements in the equipment

database or the references listed in the equipment database. Therefore, changes to the

design requirements identified in the equipment database will likely require a design

analysis.

Examples of changes that would require a design analysis:

a change that permits an increase in the maximum number of plugged tubes in a

heat exchanger beyond that indicated in the equipment database or safety analysis

a setpoint change outside the range of acceptable setpoints identified in the

equipment database.

Example of a change that does not impact the design basis and generally would not

require a design analysis is a change to an equipment setting that continues to be within

the range specified in the equipment database (e.g., a pump actuation setpoint that is

changed from 60 psig to 62.5 psig when the equipment database indicates the acceptable

range is 55 to 65 psig).

A change to the design basis will often involve a revision to the safety basis (DSA and/or

the TSRs). Revisions to safety bases involve significant effort by the design authority

and include external evaluations and approvals. Typically, changes to safety bases will

require USQ reviews. Consequently, the contractor should weigh the resources needed to

process the design change against the benefits of the proposed change. Another change

that could accomplish the objectives of the original change within the current design

basis might be more cost-effective.

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