Graded Approach - Analysis Techniques

DOE-STD-1027-92

4.0

GRADED APPROACH - ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

Order 5480.23 states that a graded approach is to be used in the preparation of SARs

for nuclear facilities.

Graded Approach Objective

The objective of a graded approach is to proportion SAR requirements for analysis,

evaluation, and documentation to the potential hazards associated with operating DOE

nuclear facilities. The level of understanding and control of hazards to workers, the

public, and the environment will be comparable for all facilities. For relatively simple

facilities, an acceptable level of understanding and control of hazards can be achieved

with less sophisticated techniques and less detailed knowledge of facility

characteristics than those required for more complex facilities.

The anticipated effect of applying the graded approach is that competing resources will

be used more efficiently and produce maximum benefit. As a result, SARs for complex,

higher-hazard facilities would be expected to use more resources in meeting the

requirements than SARs for simple, lower-hazard facilities. The expectation of the

greater expenditure of resources for SARs for complicated, higher-hazard facilities is not

meant to imply that a lower level of safety or attentiveness is acceptable for simple,

lower-hazard facilities. Regardless of hazard and complexity of a facility, adequate

safety analysis, evaluation, and supporting documentation must be provided.

The graded approach should be used to eliminate unproductive or unnecessary

features or activities which add to the costs of implementation, narrow the envelope of

permissible operation, or make the facility management unnecessarily ponderous or

burdensome. It does not relieve the contractor or the responsible manager or PSO

from the obligation to maintain and operate the facility safely and efficiently.

Requirements which conflict with this responsibility should be brought to the attention of

the appropriate DOE management.

This document provides the guidelines for a graded approach to development of the

analysis techniques which should be used in the SAR. This is the first step to the

graded approach for safety analysis of DOE facilities. The analysis techniques

described below are useful in the Hazard Analysis Section and the Accident Analysis

Section of the SAR. These sections discuss the analysis expected for various types of

facilities.

The primary objective of the graded approach to the accident analysis is to select and

apply a rigorous analysis technique which provides sufficient detail to assess each

postulated accident or failure, the resulting consequences, and all means of prevention

or mitigation. The choice of the technique should be defensible and produce

meaningful results.