The Russian System for Certification: Quality Assurance for MPC&A Systems at Nuclear Facilities

The following paper provides a general overview of the current certification process for specialized equipment and software used to upgrade Material Protection Control and Accounting (MPC&A) systems at Russian nuclear facilities. It will explain the purpose of certification with an emphasis on ensuring conformity to Russian standards for safety and security. The paper will also provide a preview of changes that will take place as a result of implementing new regulations governing certification. Certification of equipment, products, and services is understood as a process by which an accredited (or authorized) certification body issues a written document (certificate) for a product or service stating that it conforms to a standard or manufacturer’s specification. The goal for the certification process is to assure conformity with established Russian government standards. Under the Russian regulatory system, any activity in the nuclear sector, specifically upgrades of MPC&A systems, is subject to preliminary approval (permit, license, and etc.) from appropriate authorities with jurisdiction. The type of equipment, product, or process in question is used to determine (1) whether certification is required, (2) which body is authorized to issue certificates, and (3) what requirements must be met for certification. Currently, most MPC&A equipment and software is subject to obligatory certification. Obligatory certification is implemented within a number of specialized certification regimes established and controlled by various Russian governmental agencies. Here, two certification regimes that are applicable to most MPC&A equipment and software are briefly described. Although these regimes have been set up within the last 10 years under the common regulatory framework provided by the Russian Law on Certification, each has its own organizational structure. As a result, certification procedures and requirements may vary significantly in different certification regimes. Certification and regulatory requirements will be subject to major revisions in the near future; the first changes have occurred now that the new law on “Technical Regulation” took effect as of July 1, 2003. This new law superceded the law on Certification and has triggered a fundamental restructuring of the mandatory requirements, conformity assessment processes, and those government agencies involved with certification and establishing requirements.