Grading Based on Facility Operational Status and Lifecycle Phase

DOE-STD-1073-2003

Configuration Management

be able to establish a configuration management process that envelopes expected

operations or is modified with changing missions.

Because it is easier to establish and implement a configuration management process for a

new facility, facility remaining lifetime will be a less significant factor in grading the

configuration management process for a new facility.

3.10.5 Grading Based on Facility Operational Status and Lifecycle Phase

The facility operating status and life-cycle stage indicate the amount of emphasis and

rigor that is appropriate for the configuration management process. The life-cycle phases

of a nuclear facility include:

design,

construction,

operation,

decontamination, and

decommissioning.

During the early part of the design phase, designers may need to make rapid changes

unhampered by configuration control, but as the design interfaces are established, design

requirements will need to be documented and controlled to ensure systems will function

properly and construction can proceed.

During construction, which will likely overlap the final design phase, configuration

changes need to be controlled and documented, but the contractor will continue to need a

configuration management process that responds rapidly and provides timely resolutions

to keep construction on schedule.

If the facility is currently operating (including periodic shutdowns for maintenance and

other conditions), the operational status consideration generally does not affect the

grading of the configuration management process. However, during a major

modification to an existing facility, contractors will need the configuration management

process to be as responsive as when a facility is in the construction phase. In particular,

the contractor must be vigilant that the changes in one part of the facility that affect

another part of the facility are properly evaluated, approved, and documented. In

addition, if part of the facility is operating during the modification, some of the

configuration considerations of an operating facility will remain in effect. The phase of

the facility life cycle during the modification will determine the relative importance of,

and thus the degree of emphasis on:

design basis,

design requirements,

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