The Japanese government has announced it is updating its technical rules on nuclear power generating equipment used within Japan, reforming its 1965 Regulations on Nuclear Power Generation Equipments (the MITI Ordinance No. 62). Notably, specific requirements for materials and structures are being converted into performance-linked standards.
Other rules – on working atmospheres, redundancy/diversity/independency, testability, shutdown systems, safety systems, and containment – are being brought into line with the safety design guidelines of Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission. Also, additional standards are being introduced for high frequency thermal fatigue; the combustion of hydrogen decomposed from water; stress corrosion cracking; radioactive waste transportation casks and spent fuel dry casks for on-site storage. The new rules would come into force on 7 December, said a Tokyo note to the World Trade Organisation.
