Classification of electrical equipment in nuclear power generating stations IEEE project 1049

This paper expresses the position of the Nuclear Power Engineering Committee (NPEC) of the IEEE Power Engineering Society concerning the classification of electrical equipment in nuclear power generating stations. NPEC believes that the term Class 1E is reserved for the electrical portion of nuclear safety-related systems. Identification of systems or equipment as Class 1E based on anything other than their function is an improper use of the term and shall be avoided. Design requirements which are necessary for Class 1E equipment and systems can be applied selectively to other systems and equipment if determined prudent without inappropriately involving the Class 1E classification. Existing plants, because of their diverse designs and vintages, can not implement rigid prescriptive classification standards. Utilities would all benefit from retrofitting a uniform classification process that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate the differences. Attributes of such a classification process are presented