The RSK closed the discussion on the topics of consultations for 2010 and continued discussions on the statement “Requirements for dowel connections in nuclear power plants”. The RSK asked the Committee on PRESSURE-RETAINING COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS (DKW) to consult on the draft statement on the "Evaluation of the three-pillar concept for testing of safety-relevant valves" of the RSK Committee on REACTOR OPERATION (RB) since the statement might concern issues related to the integrity of the valves.
The RSK started discussions on the statement “Safety requirements at the interface between systems engineering and civil engineering in nuclear power plants”.

Within the framework of BMU order, the RSK entered the consultation on a statement prepared by the working group on structural engineering (assigned to the RSK Committee on PLANT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING) on requirements for dowel connections in nuclear power plants.

The BMU welcomed the newly appointed RSK members and briefly reported on the current activities of the BMU (including lifetime extension of nuclear power plants, the amendment of the Atomic Energy Act, further development of the rules and regulations).The RSK discussed the main topics of consultation planned for 2010 and made proposals to the BMU on the compositions of the RSK Committees on PLANT- AND SYSTEMS-ENGINEERING (AST), PRESSURE-RETAINING COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS (DKW), ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS (EE) and REACTOR OPERATION (RB).

The RSK discussed the draft of the RSK Committee on REACTOR OPERATION on “Requirements on the determination of the minimum shift staffing at nuclear power plants to ensure safe operational management” and adopted the draft as RSK recommendation (in German). The consultations on the issue of increased risk of a containment failure due to hydrogen reactions caused by the ignition effect of passive autocatalytic recombiners were continued.

The RSK addressed the current status of draft revisions of KTA standards. Regarding the issue of increased risk of a containment failure due to hydrogen reactions caused by the ignition effect of passive autocatalytic recombiners, the RSK agreed to revise the draft according to the results of consultations achieved so far.

The RSK adopted the statement on "Increased risk of a containment failure due to hydrogen reactions caused by the ignition effect of passive autocatalytic recombiners" (in German).
It dealt with the position paper “Digital safety I&C for the use in the highest safety category at German nuclear power plants” of the RSK Committee on ELECTRICAL .INSTALLATIONS. In summarising, the RSK Chairman referred to the intensive discussion in the committee. These discussions were currently also held internationally. The RSK is of the opinion that committee should pursue the topic under consideration of the international development and more recent concept discussion of VdTÜV and VGB.

The RSK discussed the KTA standards at issue for the meeting of the Nuclear Safety Standards Commission (KTA) and casted its vote on the resolution documents concerned.

It continued the consultation on the draft of an RSK statement on requirements for dowel connections in nuclear power plants.

The RSK called in the ad hoc working group on the use of computer-based I&C (ERL) which is directly associated with the RSK. The ad hoc working group is to consult on various issues related to use of computer-based safety I&C in reactor protection systems. The ad hoc working group consists of members of the RSK Committees on PLANT- AND SYSTEMS-ENGINEERING (AST) and ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS (EE). The working programme of the ad hoc working group is to be specified at the next RSK meeting.

Further, the RSK called in the ad hoc working group on definitions and requirements for the post-accident phase (“Definitionen und Anforderungen zur Nachstörfallphase”). It continued the consultations on the statement “Requirements for dowel connections in nuclear power plants”.

The RSK specified the tasks for the ad hoc working group ERL (use of computer-based I&C). It was informed on the background and objectives of the statements on "Steam generator tube degradation – cause and identification" and on "Leakages from steam generator tubes to be postulated; multiple tube rupture/leak opening of wall thickness-reduced steam generator tubes" by the chairman of the RSK Committee on PRESSURE-RETAINING COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS (DKW).

The RSK adopted the statement “Requirements for dowel connections in nuclear power plants” (in German) and continued the consultations on the statement “Safety requirements at the interface between systems engineering and civil engineering in nuclear power plants”.

The RSK discussed draft revisions of KTA standards. It continued the consultation on the draft statement prepared by the RSK Committee on PLANT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING on the issue of increased risk of a containment failure due to hydrogen reactions caused by the ignition effect of passive autocatalytic recombiners. The leak postulates for the demonstration of core cooling (414th RSK) could not be discussed for lack of time.