QUALITY ASSURANCE ASPECTS DURING DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A REPOSITORY FOR RADIOACTIVE-WASTES

Quality assurance (QA) with regard to structures systems and component s is an important task during design, construction and operation of a repository for the final disposal of radioactive wastes. Therefore, an appropriate QA system has to be established and to be described in a general QA manual. A separate QA manual has to be prepared for the ope rational phase of a repository. A further QA activity is to classify t he structures, systems and components of the repository into different areas (QA grading). This classification can be based on the results o f a comprehensive safety assessment. Type and extent of the necessary documentation strongly depend on the relevance of the structures, syst ems and components to safely. Quality assurance procedures are necessa ry in the operational phase, especially in cases of deviations from th e licensed status and of nonconformances. Changes during design, const ruction and operation are also categorized.