NRC Tweaks Boiler Codes for Safer Nuclear Boilers
Published Date: 2/27/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is updating its rules to include the latest 2023 ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, helping keep nuclear power plants safe and running smoothly. This update lets plant operators use new engineering options and includes some small fixes. If you’re involved with nuclear plants, get ready to review and comment by April 28, 2026—this could affect how inspections and tests are done, but won’t add extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
NRC Adopts 2023 ASME BPV Code
The NRC proposes to incorporate by reference the 2023 Edition (Division 1) of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) Code into 10 CFR 50.55a, allowing nuclear power plant licensees and applicants to use the latest ASME code provisions, with NRC-specified conditions. The rulemaking also proposes incorporation by reference of revised regulatory guides so licensees can use newly listed ASME code cases as voluntary alternatives for construction, inservice inspection, and inservice testing.
Draft Analysis Shows Multi‑Million Net Savings
The NRC's draft regulatory analysis estimates the proposed rule would produce a total net benefit (industry plus NRC) of approximately $9.52 million (7-percent NPV) to $11.72 million (3-percent NPV). The analysis reports industry averted operation costs of about $6.65 million to $9.58 million and net combined benefits in the ranges shown in Table I of the document.
Regulatory Guides List New Code Cases
The NRC proposes to incorporate by reference three draft regulatory guides (RG 1.84 Revision 41 (DG-1446), RG 1.147 Revision 22 (DG-1447), and RG 1.192 Revision 6 (DG-1448)) that list ASME code cases the NRC has determined are acceptable for voluntary use. The NRC also notes a proposed version of RG 1.193 (DG-1449) that lists code cases the NRC has not approved for generic use.
Limits on Mechanical Clamping Device Use
The NRC proposes to add conditions that prohibit use of ASME Section XI Appendix W (mechanical clamping devices) for Class 1 piping, piping that forms part of the containment boundary, piping larger than NPS 2 when temperature or pressure exceed 200 °F (95 °C) or 275 psig (1,900 kPa), and piping greater than NPS 6. The proposal would maintain prior prohibitions and require case-by-case NRC approval where Appendix W was previously allowed only by alternate request.
Radiographic Film Record Retention Rules
The NRC proposes conditions requiring that reasonable protection from deterioration of radiographic film include the reproduction provisions in NCA-4134.17(c) of the 2023 ASME BPV Code and that reproductions be retained as lifetime records per Table NCA-4134.17-1 or as nonpermanent records per Table NCA-4134.17-2 (10-year retention for nonpermanent radiographic film). These proposed conditions preserve the current record-retention approach from the 2021 Edition.
NDE Personnel Recertification Clarified
The NRC proposes removing one prior provision and clarifying that a 5-year recertification interval for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) personnel is acceptable when accompanied by the prescribed hands-on practice and other prerequisites in the ASME Code. The NRC cites ASME support and international experience with ISO 9712 as part of its rationale.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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