From the Center for Research and Technology Development
(CRTD-Vol. 40-1) | Price and Ordering Information

This document is the first of a series titled, "Risk-Based Testing-Development of Guidelines," developed by a multi-disciplined ASME research task force. This publication describes a general risk-based process that can be used to develop testing guidelines for addressing equipment and system failure concerns in any industrial process facility.

The recommended process for applying risk-based methods to the testing of operating equipment is centered on three major areas:

--The identification of high-risk and low-risk impact operating equipment using risk-ranking techniques that take into account system functions, component performance and equipment service conditions.
--The identification of equipment or component-specific failure-cause processes, to develop highly effective test strategies, in terms of both safety and economics, for determining precursors to failure that are applicable to the high-risk impact components. 
--The identification of test strategies that adequately assess the performance of low-risk impact equipment.

Subsequent volumes in the series provide specific applications.

The second document, "Volume 2: Light Water Reactor (LWR) Nuclear Power Plant Components," is the first specific application and is directed at the In-Service Testing (IST) of nuclear pumps and valves. That document has already been issued to respond to increasing pressure within the commercial nuclear power industry to make more efficient use of resources while maintaining a high level of safety.

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