Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 87c94eb7-1d88-4510-b85b-196ad319d0ae
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Software Unit Testing for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants + HISTORY - HISTORY 08/2012 – DG-1208 , Proposed Revision 1 08/1996 – DG-1057 , Proposed Revision 0 (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1031/ML103120751.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.171
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
es must include provisions for ensuring that all prerequisites for the given test have been met, that adequate test instrumentation is available and used, and that the test is performed under suitable environmental conditions. Criterion XI also requires that test results be documented and evaluated to ensure that test requirements have been satisfied. DG-1208, Page 4 • Criterion XVII, “Quality Assurance Records,” requires, in part, that sufficient records be maintained so that data that are closely associated with the qualifications of personnel, procedures, and equipment are identifiable and retrievable. Test records must identify the inspector or data recorder, the type of observation made, the results, the acceptability of the results, and the action taken in connection with any noted deficiencies. Description of Change Both the original version of this regulatory guide and this revision endorse ANSI/IEEE Std. 1008- 1987. Subsequently, associated software regulatory guides various related software standards have been developed or updated and this revision of Regulatory Guide 1.171 is being updated to be consistent with these standards and related guidance. The applicant or licensee should consider the hierarchy guidance of these different regulatory guides and standards that relate to the software development process and unit testing. For example, Regulatory Guide 1.170, “Software Test Documentation for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants” (Ref. 7), endorses IEEE Std. 829-2008, “IEEE Standard for Software and System Test Documentation” (Ref. 8), and provides an approach that the NRC staff considers acceptable for meeting the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50 as they apply to the test documentation, including unit test documentation, of safety system software. The endorsed consensus standard, ANSI/IEEE Std. 1008-1987, defines a method for planning, preparing, conducting, and evaluating software unit testing that is