Minimum functional and design criteria for the power, instrumentation, and control portions of nuclear power generating station safety systems are established. The criteria are to be applied to those systems required to protect the public health and safety by functioning to mitigate the consequences of design basis events. The intent is to promote appropriate practices for design and evaluation of safety system performance and reliability. Although the standard is limited to safety systems, many of the principles may have applicability to equipment provided for safe shutdown, post-accident monitoring display instrumentation, interlock features, or any other systems, structures, or equipment related to safety.

The criteria contained in this standard establish minimum functional and design requirements for the power, instrumentation, and control portions of safety systems for nuclear power generating stations. To satisfy the criteria in this standard, interface requirements may be imposed on the other portions of the safety system as shown in Figure 1. Safety system functional and design criteria are also contained in other standards.