Issue Date: 06/16/89 - 1 - 9900 ASME Section III

NRC INSPECTION MANUAL ILPB

PART 9900: TECHNICAL GUIDANCE

ASMEIII.TG

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE, SECTION III

A. PURPOSE

To provide guidance on the problem of procurement of ASME Section

III replacements that are not currently available in full compliance

with the stamping and documentation requirements of Section III of

the Code.

B. BACKGROUND

Because of the decline in nuclear plant orders in the United States,

a number of utilities are experiencing difficulties in obtaining

replacements for components that were originally constructed in

accordance with Section III of the Code. This decline in nuclear

power plant orders has caused certain manufacturing companies that

previously provided nuclear-grade components in accordance with

Section III of the Code to allow the Certificates of Authorization

to expire. In other cases, companies have discontinued a product

line or sold a product line to another company that does not have

a Certificate of Authorization and, therefore, does not manufacture

nuclear-grade components. Some of the companies have retained the

capability to provide components which meet the design, fabrication,

and examination requirements of Section III of the Code. However,

because of the limited demand for nuclear-grade components and

parts, these companies have not maintained their Certificates of

Authorization and their related agreements with the Authorized

Inspection Agencies.

Even though the manufacturer of an original component does not

currently manufacture nuclear components and parts, it may sometimes

be necessary to procure replacements from the original manufacturer

in order to ensure adequate operation and proper fit and function.

In special cases, consideration may be given to procurement of

replacements from the original manufacturer in order to avoid an

adverse impact on existing components or systems. However, it is

also necessary to obtain objective evidence that the quality of the

replacement is adequate. When replacements are considered as

special cases, they shall be procured in a manner consistent with

the staff position provided in the following section.
9900 ASME Section III - 2 - Issue Date: 06/16/89

C. DISCUSSION

Where replacements are no longer available in full compliance with

the stamping and documentation requirements of Section III of the

Code, they shall be procured under the utility's Quality Assurance

Program that is in conformance with 10 CFR
Issue Date: 06/16/89 - 3 - 9900 ASME Section III

Part 50, Appendix B and included in the plant operational Quality

Assurance list. Furthermore, these replacements shall meet all

other applicable requirements of Section III (including third party

inspection by an Authorized Nuclear Inspector) endorsed by NRC

regulations except that the Code N-symbol need not be applied.

To use this approach a licensee must first establish that an

equivalent Section III stamped replacement is not available. When

replacements are required in accordance with Article IWA-7000 of

Section XI of the Code, cost cannot be used as a justification for

purchasing non-stamped parts.

Licensees that choose this method of obtaining replacement parts

need to submit a list of replacements in a Final Safety Analysis

Report annual update and certify their compliance with guidance

provided in accordance with Generic Letter 89-XX, and in conformance

with 10 CFR 50.59. Licensees shall retain on file for the service

lifetime of each replacement that information detailing the basis

for the action and all other related documentation in order to

demonstrate compliance with Generic Letter 89-09.

D. REFERENCE

The guidance in this directive was extracted from Generic Letter

89-XX, "NRC Position on ASME Section III Replacements." The

complete generic letter is in NUDOCS (microfiche 69765/036).

END