KTA 1401: quality assurance for nuclear facilities

KTA 1401 is the safety standard of the German Nuclear Safety Standards Commission (KTA) for quality assurance in nuclear facilities. It specifies how operators, manufacturers and suppliers must organise, document and monitor their quality assurance so that safety-related parts are produced traceably. Suppliers of such parts need a qualification certificate: an independent body assesses whether the manufacturer’s quality assurance system meets the requirements of the standard.

What RS Randack’s qualification certificate covers

RS Randack is qualified to KTA 1401 for the manufacture and trading of fasteners for nuclear facilities: screws, nuts, bolts and threaded rods. The qualification certificate is issued in German and English and is renewed at fixed intervals; the current certificate is available in the Downloads section. It is based on quality management to ISO 9001, the traceability of every batch from the steel mill to the certificate, qualified test personnel certified to ISO 9712 and our own materials laboratory.

What is different in nuclear technology

Every bolt is traceable back to the heat, materials come from approved mills with a mill certificate, material verification (PMI) and crack testing are standard, and third-party inspections take place on our premises with the authorised expert or the body appointed by the operator. Documentation follows the inspection sequence specified by the customer and is archived for at least ten years, or longer if the operator requires. We supply plants in operation and in decommissioning, interim storage facilities and research facilities.

What you should specify

The applicable specification and inspection sequence, material with material data sheet, certificate type and inspection body, marking requirements and the form of documentation. First article inspections and on-site visits are possible.