The failure modes and effects analysis as a design tool for nuclear safety systems

The activities of nuclear power plant designers are monitored by government and industry to an unprecendented degree. This involves not only rigid design and quality assurance criteria, but extensive documentation and reporting. The failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a technique for checking designs and assuring quality. Included in the FMEA is a system of documentation. A simplified example of the reactor protective system (RPS) is used to illustrate the method.