Structural Acceptance Criteria

DOE-HDBK-6004-99

Structural Acceptance Criteria

Cooling systems that are safety-class should have design, fabrication, inspection and testing in

accordance with a recognized safety-class code such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

(ASME 93a). The specific codes and criteria selected should be commensurate with the level of

safety required and should have a technical justification. Where ASME design is not feasible, such

as in the case of unique materials or designs, the alternate codes may be used. Piping and equipment

supports should be designed to AISC N690 and ASME 95.

Cooling system components that are not safety-class should have design, fabrication, inspection and

testing in accordance with a recognized national consensus code such as the ANSI/ASME Standard

B31.3 "Chemical Plant and Petroleum Refinery Piping."

Deflection Analysis

An analysis of cooling system deflections over the full range of temperatures, vacuums and pressures

should confirm no interferences or loss of pressure boundary integrity.

Testing and Inspection

The design of structures, systems and components of the safety-class cooling system should permit

initial and periodic testing and inspection of important areas and components to assure integrity and

capability to perform the safety function. The design should also permit a materials surveillance

program.

Non-destructive testing and inspection of safety-class welds, vessels, piping and valves should be in

accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME 93a). Where ASME design

is not feasible, such as in the case of unique materials or designs, alternate codes such as those listed

in Table II-1 may be used with justification. Weld acceptance criteria should be in accordance with

the requirements of codes listed in Table II-1.

Computational Methods Validation

Computer codes or other computational methods supporting the design of cooling systems should

have validation and verification for the range of normal and off-normal operations including design

basis accidents. This validation and verification should support the use of the computational method

in each intended application.

IEEE standard 730-1984, "IEEE Standard for Software Quality Assurance Plans" describes the

validation and verification process.

Materials

The cooling system boundary materials and design should provide sufficient margin to assure that,

when stressed, the boundary behaves in a non-brittle manner with a very low probability of rapidly

propagating fracture.