Executive summary
Date(s) of inspection:
- November 2025
Aim of inspection
The aim of this inspection was to determine whether suitable arrangements were in place to carry out examination, inspection, maintenance, and testing (EIMT) of the control and instrumentation (C&I) equipment during the Heysham 1 (HY1) reactor 2 (R2) statutory outage, as required under licence condition (LC) 28.
The findings of this inspection will contribute to the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (ONR’s) regulatory decision to grant a Consent to the return of R2 to normal operating service in accordance with LC30 – periodic shutdown.
Subject(s) of inspection
- LC28 - Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing - Rating: Green
Key findings, inspector's opinions and reasons for judgement made
During the inspection we sampled statutory outage control and instrumentation (C&I) related examination, inspection, maintenance, and testing (EIMT) activities important to nuclear safety, based on the schedule of activities contained within the Heysham 1 (HY1) maintenance schedule (MS).
We found the EIMT activities sampled had either been satisfactorily completed or were on schedule to be completed. It should be noted that in relation to the latter we were confident, based on the information provided, that the outstanding EIMT activities would be completed satisfactorily.
We also held discussions with several system engineers (SEs) and found that they had a good understanding of the systems and equipment for which they were responsible and appreciated the importance to nuclear safety of the statutory outage EIMT work being undertaken.
We also found that, in general, appropriate focus had been given to ageing and obsolescence equipment management to ensure that the equipment reliability could be sustained going forward. However, there was an exception to this with respect to availability of spares for an obsolete chloride ingress protection system (CIPS) component. We, therefore, raised a Level 4 (L4) Regulatory Issue (RI-12832) to address this issue, which we will track through to resolution as part of normal regulatory business. It should be noted that we did not consider that this issue posed an immediate or significant risk to nuclear safety or needed to be addressed before R2 returns to service.
We did identify a small number of maintenance documentation and record keeping shortfalls, and raised them with the relevant SEs, who agreed to address them. However, we considered them to be minor in nature and that they did not pose an immediate or significant risk to nuclear safety. It should be noted that none of these issues would preclude R2 returning to service.
We conducted a plant walkdown during the inspection and found the operating conditions and lighting levels afforded a good working environment for maintainers. We did not identify any significant signs of age-related degradation with respect to the items of C&I equipment we examined. We also found the general standard of housekeeping to be adequate; however, did identify some shortfalls, and raised them with the relevant SEs who took appropriate action to address them.
Based on our sample inspection of the C&I aspects of the HY1 R2 statutory outage we have assigned an intervention rating of Green to LC 28 compliance. We also recommend that support be given for a consent to allow R2 to return to normal operating service. This is subject to HY1 confirming the satisfactory completion of the planned EIMT statutory outage maintenance schedule activities.
Conclusion
Based on our sampled inspection of the C&I aspects of the HY1 R2 2025 statutory outage, we have assigned an intervention rating of Green to LC 28 (EIMT) compliance.
We did not identify any significant issues in relation to the C&I equipment during this inspection that could prevent ONR from issuing a consent to allow HY1 R2 to return to service.
Prior to the inspection we also reviewed EC 377834, associated with deferral of 2A1 gas circulator exchange, and are content that the nuclear safety risks associated with deferring the maintenance to the 15th June 2027 are negligible from a C&I perspective.
Therefore, we recommend that support be given for a consent to allow R2 to return to normal operating service. This is subject to HY1 confirming the satisfactory completion of the planned EIMT statutory outage maintenance schedule activities.