Spare parts: issues and answers

Since the Three Mile Island accident, due to many factors including the political and regulatory climate in the US, there have been a number of transitions in the functions necessary to build and operate a nuclear power plant. One of the functions that has changed significantly is the purchase and handling of spare parts. Using the example of the commercial grade solenoid valve, alternative methods of dedication may include source surveillance, partial reliance on supplier surveys and inspection, third party testing, or a combination of two or more methods. The focus is always the minimum requirements necessary to verify that the commercial grade item is adequate for use in a safety-related application.