EN 62808:2016/A1:2019

Overview

EN 62808:2016/A1:2019 is a European Standard relevant to the nuclear power industry, specifically focusing on instrumentation and control systems critical to safety. It provides guidelines for the design and qualification of isolation devices used within nuclear power plants. Developed by CLC and aligned with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62808:2015/A1:2018, this amendment ensures harmonized safety measures across CENELEC member states for electrical isolation components essential in nuclear safety systems.

This standard supports compliance with the Nuclear Safety Directive 2009/71/EURATOM and enforces stringent requirements for isolation device design to prevent safety hazards caused by electrical faults or failures in control instrumentation.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  EN 62808:2016/A1:2019 deals with devices that isolate parts of instrumentation and control systems to protect nuclear power plants' safety. It covers all aspects of design, testing, and qualification to meet high safety standards.

• Design Requirements
  The amendment expands on design specifics, including current-limiting devices like inverters, regulating transformers, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that must limit input currents under fault conditions to safe levels.

• Qualification Procedures
  The document mandates robust testing protocols for isolation devices, ensuring the devices’ characteristics are maintained throughout their operational life. It includes provisions for periodic verification or alternative demonstrable means of operability, such as internal tests within UPS to verify protection clearing times.

• Safety Compliance
  Compliance with this standard guarantees the isolation devices can successfully prevent fault propagation and maintain nuclear facility safety integrity in fault or emergency scenarios.

Applications

• Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation
  Isolation devices designed and qualified under this standard are used to safeguard critical instrumentation and control systems, preventing electrical faults from escalating into operational hazards.

• Electrical Fault Management
  Devices such as circuit breakers, current limiters, and protection devices are implemented to isolate fault currents, thereby reducing the risk of system failures impacting plant safety.

• Periodic Maintenance and Testing
  Facility engineers use the guidance in EN 62808:2016/A1:2019 to establish maintenance schedules and testing plans to verify continued operability of isolation components, crucial for safe nuclear operations.

• Design of Safety-Critical Systems
  Engineering teams incorporate requirements from this standard into the specification and procurement processes for safety-related electrical systems within nuclear facilities.

Related Standards

• IEC 62808:2015/A1:2018 – The international equivalent standard forming the technical basis of EN 62808:2016/A1:2019.
• Nuclear Safety Directive 2009/71/EURATOM – European legislation promoting enhanced safety measures in nuclear facilities.
• CENELEC Internal Regulations – Framework ensuring smooth adoption and implementation of amendments like EN 62808:2016/A1:2019 across European member states.
• Other IEC 45A Standards – Covering instrumentation, control, and electrical power systems specific to nuclear facilities to complement requirements stated in EN 62808.

Keywords: EN 62808:2016/A1:2019, nuclear power plants, instrumentation and control, safety systems, isolation devices, electrical isolation, current limiters, qualification procedures, nuclear safety standards, CENELEC, IEC 62808, nuclear instrumentation, fault current management, nuclear safety directive.