Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: a5ee4c78-1135-4bb6-8d54-e974a3402f87
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: An Approach for Plant-Specific, Risk-Informed Decisionmaking: Graded Quality Assurance
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1221/ML12216A017.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.176
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
ry to provide a reasonable level of confidence that the SSCs will be .capable of performing their intended function. The licensee will demonstrate that the proposed program, in total, is sufficient to achieve this objective. 3.1 Grading of Quality Activities The first step of the evaluation process is for the licensee to identify specific elements of the QA program controls that will be adjusted for the set of plant equipment that is defined to be low safety significant. For example, a licensee may propose a change to its verification practices and perform verifications by sampling. Additionally, the licensee should identify the approach for evaluating the adequacy of QA controls for non-safety-related SSCs determined to be high safety significant. Augmented quality controls will likely be warranted for these items. 3.1.1 Regulations and Commitments In accordance with the first principle, no exemptions from current regulations are expected to be needed to implement a GQA program. 1.176-13 The licensee's QA program description should be revised to address GQA activities applicable to safety- related SSCs of low safety significance, including a discussion of how the applicable requirements of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50 will be satisfied for that part of the program in accordance with 10 CFR 50.34(b)(6)(ii). This may be accomplished by a discussion that identifies exceptions to applicable NRC regulatory guides and associated endorsed industry standards or by including additional text that describes how Appendix B will be satisfied (merely re- stating the Appendix B provisions will not be acceptable). The submittal should adequately describe the safety-significance determination process and the adjustments made to the QA provisions associated with the 18 criteria of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 50 to describe how the requirements will be satisfied in a graded manner. While considerable flexibility may be exercised, the GQA program should be based on standards of