RCC-M

Purpose and scope

AFCEN's RCC-M code concerns the mechanical components designed and manufactured for pressurised water reactors (PWR).

It applies to pressure equipment in nuclear islands in safety classes 1, 2 and 3, and certain non-pressure components, such as vessel internals, supporting structures for safety class components, storage tanks and containment penetrations.

RCC-M covers the following technical subjects:

• Sizing and design rating.
• Choice of materials and terms of procurement.
• Fabrication and control, including:
  • Associated qualification requirements (procedures, welders and operators, etc.).
  • Control methods to be implemented.
  • Acceptance criteria for detected defects.
• Documentation associated with the different activities covered, and quality assurance.

The design, fabrication and inspection rules defined in RCC-M leverage the results of the research and development work pioneered in France, Europe and worldwide, and which have been successfully used by industry to design and build PWR nuclear islands. AFCEN's rules incorporate the resulting feedback.

EDITION 2018

This book is the eleventh edition of the RCC-M by AFCEN. It incorporates all the modifications and additions made to the previous edition (2017) by this 2018 edition.

The changes made by this 2018 edition relate to the following provisions:

o The integration of work to demonstrate the compliance of the code with the essential requirements of French regulations (Annex I of directive 2014/68/EU and Annexes I to IV of the decree of 30 December 2015 amended to 3 September 2018, known as the "ESPN order"), including the update of the ZY and ZZ annexes relating respectively to French and European regulations that incorporate the entire work

o The introduction of two new probationary phase rules (RPP n°5 and n°6) for Assemblies N1 and N2/N3 respectively

o The introduction of a new appendix to Section III specifying the procedures for carrying out an equivalence file defined in MC 2900 concerning the methodology of Advanced Ultrasonic controls

o Introduction of effective fatigue strength reduction factors for welded joints

o Introduction of two new TPS

o Alignment with harmonised standards 4126 and 764-7 of chapters B C D 6000

o Revision of the procedures for carrying out tensile tests

o Reduction of the ultrasonic examination threshold for level 1 and 2 welds to -12 dB

o Introduction of eddy current examination for GV tubes

An errata in RCC-M appendix ZG edition 2000 addenda 2007 and following editions is available: Errata RCC-M Appendix ZG

To know more about RCC-M