RCC-M Code: 2024 Edition and Ongoing Developments

Abstract Since 2018, the AFCEN association for Design, Construction and In-Service Inspection Rules for Nuclear Island Components, defines and updates a strategic roadmap to better serve the project’s needs, for new constructions as well as for existing plants in France and abroad. In line with the strategic roadmap, the AFCEN Editorial Committee defines an editorial program covering all AFCEN Codes (RCC-CW, RCC-M, RCC-E, RCC-F, RCC-C, RSE-M, RCC-MRx), that is updated on a regular basis. The editorial program is developed along five axes: users’ needs, operational experience feedback, innovative practices, alignment with standards and regulations, and editorial improvement. Since 2018, a new edition of the RCC-M Code [1], “Design and Construction Rules for Mechanical Components of PWR Nuclear Islands” has been published every two years, to integrate the results of the editorial program. While the 2018 Edition of the RCC-M constituted a major revision of the Code for the compliance with French regulations for Nuclear Pressure Equipment, an extensive work has been carried out by the Working groups and Task groups to prepare the 2022 and 2024 editions, mainly to integrate the experience feedback from recent projects, including Flamanville 3 EPR. This paper presents the main evolutions introduced in the 2024 Edition, and the ongoing developments for the next edition. All fields covered by the Code are concerned: design and analysis rules, material procurement, fabrication, nondestructive testing, and qualification of active mechanical equipment.