Equipment Qualification: The Process for New Plants as Seen by a Utility

The qualification process, based on the experience an electric utility gained through its efforts to meet the requirements of IEEE Standards 627-80 and 323-1974 and the attendant regulatory guidance for new plants, is presented. Important aspects of each step from initial plant design to maintaining equipment qualification during operations are described. Although all these steps are not directly applicable to near-term and operating plants, the guidance offered is generally appropriate for procurement of qualified spare and replacement parts and for plant modifications of safety systems.