AP600 - Not a Traditional Design

The AP600 has received final design approval from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) following over six years of review, which included over 380 technical meetings and over 7400 requests for additional information.  From a regulatory perspective, the AP600 design is a significant departure from traditional plant design and is not directly comparable to all aspects of the traditional review practices.

Extensive Review of Data from AP600 Test Programs

The most significant activity in the AP600 approval process was the execution and review of the extensive test and analysis program that provided the data base used to verify and validate the safety analysis computer codes. 

AP600 - The Most Thoroughly Reviewed Plant In NRC History

Completing the design certification review required the NRC to examine not only the compliance of the design with the regulations, but the underlying intent of the regulations as well.  As a result of the unique features of the AP600 design, the AP600 has received the most thorough review ever performed by the NRC.

Passive Plant Concepts Intact After Extensive Review

The number of design changes required to obtain the final design approval was small and did not compromise the concept of the passive plant.  The number of exceptions to the regulations required for the AP600 passive design was similar to that required for the evolutionary plant design certifications. 

AP600 Design Objective Achieved

The AP600 design objective, of providing a greatly simplified plant that meets the NRC regulatory requirements and meets or exceeds the requirements published by the utilities in the ALWR Passive Plant Utilty Requirements Document using technology that is sufficiently proven that neither a plant prototype nor a demonstration plant was required, has been achieved.