IEEE 383:2015 pdf free download – IEEE Standard for Qualifying Electric Cables and Splicesfor Nuclear Facilities
4. Principle qualification criteria
lt is required that Class 1E cable and splices meet or exceed specified performance requirements throughouttheir installed life.This is accomplished, in part, by ensuring that cables are manufactured in accordance withapplicable industry standards(as defined in Clause 7) and that cables and splices are subjected to quality assur-ance programs that include, but are not limited to, design, qualification, and production quality control.
lt is the role of qualification to ensure that Class 1E cable and splices can be demonstrated to perform as spec-ified and that no failure mechanism exists that could lead to common-cause failures under postulated serviceconditions.
Degradation with time(aging), followed by exposure to the environmental extremes of temperature, pressure,humidity, radiation, mechanical stress, or chemical spray or a combination of these resulting from design-ba-sis events (DBEs) present a potential for common-cause failures of Class 1E cable and splices. For these rea-sons, it is necessary to establish a qualified life for cables and splices required to function during and followingDBEs, which subject the cables and splices to DBE environments that exceed their normal and abnormallevels. This shall be accomplished using the qualification methods described in the following clauses of thisstandard, including type testing,operating experience, analysis as a supplement to type testing and operatingexperience, ongoing qualification, or any combination thereof.
5.2 Qualification by type testing
Type testing of sample cable or splice is the preferred method of qualification.Clause 6 provides additionalinformation on methods for type testing.The type tests shall be designed to demonstrate that the cable or spliceis capable of performing its Class 1E functions after being subjected to stresses caused by specified serviceconditions,including DBE, for its qualified life. The tests shall simulate conditions that meet or exceed thespecified service conditions at the location of the cable or splice. Test samples shall be assembled by docu-mented production or fabrication assembly methods and then subjected to the test program. The componentsof the sample shall be selected at random if in production, or a prototype shall be manufactured and assembledusing simulated production procedures.They shall be tested in a position that represents their most severegeneric or plant-specific application.
6.1 General
Type testing is the preferred method of demonstrating or assisting in demonstrating that cables and splices arecapable of meeting performance requirements under applicable service conditions. Margins shall be appliedto type test parameters for DBE testing.These margins increase the severity of the test to assure conservatism.Guidance on the use and application of margin is contained in IEEE Std 323-2003.Type testing shall be inaccordance with a test plan (see IEEE Std 323-2003).Satisfactory assessment of cable and splice performanceshall be accomplished by electrical and physical measurements appropriate for the required service condition,and for the type of cable and splice being evaluated.
6.2 Type test sample selection
6.2.1 General
The samples selected for type testing shall be representative of the cables and splices being qualified.6.2.2 Single, multiconductor, and multiplexed cables
When the insulation and jacket are thermoset, the qualification shall proceed as outlined in this subclause. Ifone or more of the materials are thermoplastic, or if radiation can improve the performance of the materials.additional samples that have not been thermally aged or irradiated shall also be included in DBE testing.
Insulated wire used as a jacketed or unjacketed single-conductor cable or a component of a multiconductor ormultiplexed cable shall be qualified with the insulation exposed to the test environment. This exposure is in-tended to establish the ability of the wire insulation to perform its intended function independent of the jacketmaterial.However, medium-voltage cable shall only be tested as a completed cable, including jackets, shields,and stress control layers where applicable.Reasoning for choice of colors tested shall be documented.
Jacketed single-conductor specimens shall also be tested to demonstrate that a ) there is no adverse interactionbetween the jacketing system and the underlying insulation for single-conductor and multiplexed cables, andb) jacket integrity is maintained for connector and splice applications requiring such integrity. Bonded jacketspecimens are considered to adequately simulate interactions in constructions with and without such bonding.“Bonded jacket”refers to construction that causes that cable jacket to adhere to the cable insulation.Thisbonding can be achieved with fabrication techniques or by using adhesives or bonding agents between thejacket and insulation during manufacture.