Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
July 2025
Aim of inspection
This is a planned compliance inspection at the NRS Ltd Winfrith site.
The inspection was undertaken as part of the 2025/26 intervention strategy for Decommissioning Fuel and Waste Sub-Division of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The aim of this inspection is for ONR to undertake a compliance inspection under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at Winfrith to determine the adequacy of implementation of the Licensee’s claims associated with life fire safety, at the site's current stage of operation, to ensure that conventional fire risks are reduced as so far as is reasonably practicable. Fire hazards, if not controlled, can present risks to safety. It is therefore important that the risks from fire are adequately controlled.
Subject(s) of inspection
- Fire (Life Safety) Compliance Inspection - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
This inspection assessed the adequacy of NRS Ltd Winfrith site’s arrangements to support Life Fire Safety (LFS) to ensure that conventional fire risks are reduced as so far as is reasonably practicable. The inspection sampled the implementation of these arrangements on site. Compliance was assessed against Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 using relevant Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) inspection guidance, specifically Technical Inspection Guide (TIG) NS-INSP-GD-073 Issue 2 – The Regulation of Life Fire Safety Provision on GB Nuclear Sites.
The inspection consisted of examination of the licensee’s arrangements regarding LFS covering the entire site, meetings to assess the implementation and management of LFS at a site level and walkdowns of the D60 SGHWR facilities.
I sampled the following areas identified in the scope:
- Competency for fire safety roles/Staff Training (e.g. FSC, System Engineer)
- Fire Risk Assessments – ownership and methodology/ management/ prioritisation of actions
- Management of fire risks & impacts on safety/ management structure and arrangements
- Management of the fire systems (passive and active)
- Testing & Maintenance of fire safety systems and structures
- Health/Obsolescence of the fire systems
- Preventative measure, for example hot working/ control of combustibles
- Site fire safety culture / review of fire incidents
- Management of contractors/ projects in relation to fire safety
- Interfaces nuclear fire safety/ life fire safety
Based on the site intervention and sampling of information provided by NRS Winfrith, I judge that overall NRS Ltd demonstrated adequate compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
On the day of the inspection I identified some deficiencies in tracking, categorising and close-out of actions from the fire risk assessments (FRAs). NRS Winfrith was unable to demonstrate suitable and sufficient governance around the closure of actions raised in the FRAs. Therefore, I have raised a Level 4 Regulatory Issue (RI-12707) to capture and track progress against these deficiencies.
I consider that an ONR inspection rating of Green “no formal action” is appropriate with regards to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 compliance.
Conclusion
Based on the site intervention and sampling of information provided by NRS Winfrith, I judge that overall NRS have demonstrated adequate compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
I have identified some deficiencies in tracking, categorising and close-out of actions from the FRAs. NRS Winfrith were unable to demonstrate suitable and sufficient governance around the closure of actions raised in the fire risk assessments. Therefore, I have raised a Level 4 Regulatory Issue (RI-12707) to capture and track progress against these deficiencies.
I consider that an ONR inspection rating of Green “no formal action” is appropriate with regards to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 compliance.