ML26034C081
| ML26034C081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/29/2026 |
| From: | Sunil Weerakkody Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Erick Martinez Rodriguez 4150840 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML26034C077 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML26034C081 (0) | |
Text
A Few Perspectives on Risk-Informing Standards Sunil Weerakkody, Ph.D.
Senior Level Advisor, Probabilistic Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation US Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC Standards Forum Part II :Codes and Standards for Nuclear Energy Applications, January 28, 2026 1
Key Messages
- As a modern risk-informed regulator, US NRC supports development of risk-informed codes and standards and including risk insights when updating exiting standards.
- US NRC has and continues to take measures to create an environment that is conducive to risk-informing codes and standards.
- For long-term success, developing risk-informed codes and standards or risk-informing existing codes and standards must harmonize with the regulatory structure (regulatory requirements, policies) and ensure that there are no unintended adverse consequences on public safety or perception.
NRC Standards Forum Part II :Codes and Standards for Nuclear Energy Applications, January 28, 2026 2
Some Strengths and Limitation: Prescriptive vs. Risk-Informed Prescriptive Standards (Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions)
Strengths:
- Clear, unambiguous, requirements
- Easy to align on compliance, inspect and enforce
- Strong defense-in-depth baseline
- Less reliant on modeling uncertainties Limitations:
- Can be rigid, overly conservative
- May not address unique risks
- May misallocate resources
- Difficult to incorporate new information Risk-Informed Standards (Data-Driven Insights (e.g., PRA) to Focus Effort Strengths
- Focus safety where it matters most
- Improve operational safety
- Better treatment complex interactions
- Allows for innovation Limitations:
- More complex to implement
- Requires expertise and high-quality data
- Difficult to align on compliance, inspect and enforce
- Less intuitive to the public NRC Standards Forum Part II :Codes and Standards for Nuclear Energy Applications, January 28, 2026 3
Enabling the Development of Risk-Informed Standards; Examples of US NRC Initiatives 10 CFR 50.69 10 CFR 50.48(c)
SRM-SECY-19-0036 10 CFR 53 NRC Standards Forum Part II :Codes and Standards for Nuclear Energy Applications, January 28, 2026 4
EO 14300 (many more on the way) 10 CFR 50 Appendix B 10 CFR 50.49 9 more regulatory requirements
Guard Rails for Long-Term Success Based on the ASP indicator, the United States Industry safety trend continues to improve NRC Standards Forum Part II :Codes and Standards for Nuclear Energy Applications, January 28, 2026 5