1 Scope
This document provides guidance and establishes requirements for the qualification of I&C platforms, according to IEC nuclear standards, aimed to be used in nuclear applications important to safety. Qualification of an I&C platform (also called pre-qualification or generic qualification) is performed as a generic activity outside the framework of a plant-specific application project. Platform qualification aims to fulfil in an anticipated manner all requirements leading to an I&C platform fully suitable for the implementation of a plant-specific application project. It enables a licensing process to concentrate on two separate steps; one dedicated to the suitability of the I&C platform, considering safety features and development processes, and one dedicated to the plant-specific implementation, considering safety functions.
The platform qualification covers consequently all I&C platform specific aspects including hardware, software, HPD, engineering tools, environmental qualification, quality and the applied safety life cycle supporting these activities. Platform qualification also considers interaction of platform assemblies. This document applies to I&C platforms under development, as well as to pre-existing I&C platforms.
I&C platforms and their qualification are, in principle, mentioned within IEC 61513, but in some cases, it is not clear which requirements on I&C systems are relevant for an I&C platform, and are therefore required for their qualification. This document provides guidance on what is relevant to I&C platform qualification and what is relevant to the implementation of an I&C system design based on a qualified I&C platform.
According to IEC 61513:2011, 6.5.2, it is convenient to use evidence from the qualification of hardware and software modules, established outside the framework of a plant-specific application (i.e. pre-qualification or generic qualification of COTS products or of an equipment family). The objective of this document is to identify those requirements that relate closely to an I&C platform qualification and aims to support a two-step approach for the licensing of I&C systems based on this I&C platform. If the complete qualification of an I&C system is performed in the framework of a plant-specific application, this document does not apply.
In any case, requirements specified by IECSC 45A standards (e.g. hardware, software and programmable logic requirements) apply for the qualification of an I&C platform. Therefore, this document refers to existing requirements within the IECSC 45A series of standards that are necessary for qualifying an I&C platform and for its use in the NPP. Basic means of equipment and seismic qualification, as prescribed by IEC/IEEE 60780‑323 and IEC/IEEE 60980‑344, are through analysis, type testing and documented operational experience. Other documents applicable for qualification for nuclear use include IEC 61513, IEC 63046, IEC 60880, IEC 62138, IEC 62566, IEC 62566‑2, IEC 60987, IEC 62671, and IEC 61226.