Clarification of the Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Upper Head Bare Metal Visual Examinations

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2018-06, "Clarification of the Requirements for Reactor Pressure Vessel Upper Head Bare Metal Visual Examinations." This RIS is intended to clarify the requirements for bare-metal visual examination, which can be either a visual examination of the bare metal of the upper head or a visual testing (VT)-2 examination under the insulation to meet the requirements of notes 1 and 4 in Table 1 of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Case N-729-4, "Alternative Examination Requirements for PWR Reactor Vessel Upper Heads with Nozzles Having Pressure-Retaining Partial-Penetration Welds Section XI, Division 1." This RIS requires no action or written response on the part of an addressee.