General

Q1: What is NQA-1?
A: NQA-1 is the ASME Nuclear Quality Assurance standard titled “Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications.” It provides requirements and guidance for establishing and maintaining a quality assurance program for the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

Q2: Who uses NQA-1?
A: It is used by organizations involved in supplying, designing, or operating nuclear facilities—including utilities, engineering firms, suppliers, and subcontractors.

Q3: Is NQA-1 a regulatory requirement?
A: No, NQA-1 is a consensus standard. However, compliance may be required contractually or by regulatory bodies (e.g., the U.S. NRC recognizes NQA-1 in certain regulatory guides).

Program Structure

Q4: What are the key parts of NQA-1?
A: NQA-1 is divided into three main sections:

• Part I: Requirements for a Quality Assurance Program (mandatory).

• Part II: Quality Assurance Guides (non-mandatory but informative).

• Part III & IV: Appendices and reference documents (supplemental guidance).

Q5: What are the 18 Basic Requirements in Part I?
A: These include requirements such as Organization, Quality Assurance Program, Design Control, Procurement, Inspections, Testing, Control of Nonconformances, Audits, etc.

Implementation & Auditing

Q6: How does an organization implement NQA-1?
A: By developing a Quality Assurance Program Description (QAPD) that aligns with NQA-1 requirements, applying controls commensurate with risk and complexity, and maintaining documented procedures.

Q7: How are suppliers evaluated under NQA-1?
A: Suppliers are typically qualified through audits, surveys, or historical performance evaluations. Ongoing surveillance or requalification may be required.

Q8: What is a NQA-1 audit?
A: An independent evaluation to verify that an organization is complying with its QA program and NQA-1 requirements. Audits are conducted periodically and must be documented.

Common Issues & Clarifications

Q9: What is the difference between Part I and Part II?
A: Part I contains mandatory requirements for compliance. Part II contains non-mandatory guidance that helps interpret or implement the Part I requirements.

Q10: Can an organization claim NQA-1 compliance partially?
A: Yes. Organizations often specify that they comply with select Basic Requirements and applicable Supplementary Requirements. This is called “graded application” and must be justified based on safety significance.

Q11: What version of NQA-1 should be used?
A: This depends on contractual requirements or regulatory guidance. Common versions include NQA-1-2008 with the NQA-1a-2009 addendum, or later versions such as NQA-1-2015 or NQA-1-2022.

Miscellaneous

Q12: What is the difference between NQA-1 and ISO 9001?
A: ISO 9001 is a general quality management standard, while NQA-1 is specific to nuclear facilities and includes additional safety, traceability, and documentation requirements.

Q13: Do NQA-1 requirements apply to software?
A: Yes. Supplementary Requirement SR QAP-Software (formerly Subpart 2.7) outlines specific controls for software used in nuclear safety applications.

Q14: How is training handled under NQA-1?
A: Personnel must be trained and qualified for their responsibilities. Training requirements are described in Basic Requirement 2 and Supplementary Requirement 2S-1.