Nuclear Standards for Polymeric Piping Aaron Forster, NIST

Engineering LaboratoryNIST, MS 8615

100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(301) 975-8701Email: aaron.forster@nist.gov

NESCC HDPE Status:

• PPTG report released in January 2013

• Held a workshop on February 28, 2013 to discuss merger of NESCC and ASME HDPE Roadmaps

• Continue to Formalize Roadmap with communication between ASME and NRC

• Held meeting at NRC on March 14, 2013 to discuss input on short term priorities.

• Planning 2nd workshop for April 18, 2013 to further progress in creating a “Joint HDPE Roadmap” plan

ASME Roadmap Implementation

Issues Planning ResolutionsStandards

Development Endorsement

1 2 3 4 5• Capturing Issues

from Regulators and industry

• Prioritization of Issues/concerns with input from NRC, DOE, SDOs and industry

• Confirm Regulatory acceptance of priorities

• Identify projects: utilize ASME’s HDPE Roadmap, NESCC’s report & other sources

• Develop project scope

• Establish tasks, schedule & budgets

• Identify target code case or standard

• Identify funding

• Coordinate with other SDO’s, & government entities.

• Obtain regulatory buy- in on the plan forward

• Solicit Contracts with R&D Entities

• Oversee R&D Projects

• Review Results

• Share Final Findings and Outcome with Committees/NRC

• Confirm regulatory agreement of Issue Resolution

• Standards development and writing

• Revise or create Technical Concerns, Code Cases or Standards

• Consensus process

• Adoption to the Code

• NRC participation in first 4 phases lead to standards endorsement

• Obtain NRC endorsement of new or modified code cases or standards

HDPE Roadmap WorkshopEPRI HeadquartersFebruary 28, 2013

Objective: Coordinate the NESCC and ASME “Joint Roadmap” efforts. Let’s work from one template.Identify potential short and long term R&D projects, deliverables, and standards impacts.Prioritize projects Identify current efforts on R&D, both confirmatory and new research

Attendees: • DOE, NRC, ASME, ASTM, EPRI, NIST

Deliverables: Consensus Roadmap with basic prioritizationDevelop an understanding of current efforts and future research efforts requiredMethodology to track progress at ASMEMethodology to prioritize projects and sub-tasksStrategy for Stakeholder engagement (Future Meeting)

Move away from a numbered list to an actionable plan….

1. NESCC 10-013 – HDPE use by Catawba Nuclear Station, Steve Lefler, Duke Energy2. NRC Issues Regarding the use of HDPE piping in safety-related nuclear applications, Use of HDPE for Power Plant Piping Systems Workshop, June

7-10, 2010 North Carolina3. STP-NU-YYY ASME Code Development Roadmap for HDPE Service Pipe in Nuclear Service, under revision4. NESCC Polymeric Pipe Task Group Report, 2012, balloted for draft

Need or Concern Identified Need?1 Thin wall vs. thick wall and thermal gradients NRC ASME 2 Fusion Joints

2a Validated and standardized fusion joint test for short and long term performance NRC ASME NESCC

2b Butt fusion standardization and qualification NRC ASME NESCC2c Electrofusion standardization and qualification NRC ASME NESCC2d Essential variables for fusion of all materials NRC ASME NESCC2e Qualification procedure personnel and equipment NRC ASME NESCC2f Long term performance of fusion joints (SCG resistance) NRC ASME NESCC

2gPerformance based fusion procedure, performance, equipment NRC ASME NESCC

3 Expanded standards for fittings and design ASME NESCC4 Allowable stress for service temperature up to 140 F NRC ASME NESCC

5Determination of allowable surface flaw up to 10% of wall thickness NRC ASME NESCC

6 Long term performance

6aCreep behavior at elevated temperature and transient temperature and pressure NRC ASME

6b Fracture mechanics qualification for crack growth ASME 6c Substantiation of linearity of HDB curve at 140 F NRC ASME NESCC6d Incorporation of chemical degradation into standards NRC ASME NESCC7 Pipe hangers and supports NESCC8 Seismic design ASME NESCC9 Fire Resistance ASME NESCC

10Visual and volumetric testing qualifications and requirements NRC ASME NESCC

Prioritization:• Prioritize according to Code Deliverables:

i. Short term (under 3 years)1. Specify as “A” priority2. conditioned code case: N755 (Section III) and 808 (Section XI)3. currently working to finalize these priorities. Hard deadline is April

18, 2013.

ii. Med term (under 5 years)1. Specify as “B” priority2. Collecting identified research gaps. Negatives resolved to go from

conditionally accepted to fully accepted.

iii. Long term (under 10 years)1. Accept conditions and details into ASME code

a. N755 (Section III) and 808 (Section XI)2. Fully accepted code case with no conditions

Interconnecting Roadmap

Short Term (Conditioned CC)

Medium Term (Unconditioned CC)

Methodology to Commonize Roadmaps:

• Basic level: Do they have the same information

• Answering the questions: What are all the issues? Why these issue are critical? What needs to be done for conditional endorsement and then for full

endorsement? Priorities within a group? What issues have been resolved, what activities under way including

research and what research still needs to be done? Project timing for new activities and research?.

Methodology to Track Progress:

• Go through 1 line of the ASME tracking spreadsheet• Go through 1 topic of the research plans• Need to switch to Excel during presentation

Concerns:

• Main concerns (personal view):• Acceptance of this path forward in ASME volunteer community• Developing a champion within the community of stakeholders• Stewardship of roadmap• Fostering communication between the stakeholders and regulators

• Funding those tasks that require more than code writing in the short term

Stakeholders Meeting

Objective: •Educate the economic and operational case for HDPE code acceptance,

•Demonstrate the current regulatory and engineering challenges for HDPE usage that have limited deployment,

•Identify impact of conditional approval on market development,

•Present effort to manage existing ASME and NESCC R&D priorities into one Roadmap to support short and long term design, implementation, and regulatory goals,

•Gain feedback from relevant industries regarding implementation and support of this process

•Attendees: Utility Operators, Plant Design and Construction, Plastic Pipe producers, NRC, ASME