BS IEC 61504:2017

What is BS IEC 61504-Monitoring of radiation from nuclear facilities about? 

BS IEC 61504 is an international standard that discusses nuclear facilities and its instrumentation and control (I&C) systems that are important to safety. The main objective of BS IEC 61504 is to maintain integrity of centralized systems that monitor radiation levels for efficient and timely implementation of risk mitigation measures.  

BS IEC 61504 defines the communication criteria to link distributed radiation monitoring equipment in the facility, integrates data processing, storage, optimization, and correlation of data flow and displays, and provides criteria for the interface between monitors of different safety classes. 

BS IEC 61504 supplements IEC 61559-1 to include radiation monitoring functions important to safety that are not within the scope of IEC 61559-1. It applies to centralized systems having a direct role in the achievement or maintenance of radiation protection in nuclear facilities. These systems perform functions such as: 

• Radiation protection of plant discharge 
• Interlock of control functions to prevent or to mitigate accidental release of radioactive material 
• Radiation and environmental monitoring functions to support monitoring of and response to accidents 
• Provide information 

Who is BS IEC 61504 - Monitoring of radiation from nuclear facilities for? 

BS IEC 61504 on nuclear facilities is useful for: 

• Nuclear power stations 
• Atomic research organizations 
• Nuclear power plants electrical systems and equipment manufacturers 
• Operators of nuclear power plants , system evaluators and licensors 
• Regulatory authorities 

Why should you use BS IEC 61504- Monitoring of radiation from nuclear facilities? 

A nuclear power plant (NPP) has a large number of components and equipment, which are all coordinated by instrumentation systems. Hence, the safety of nuclear power plant instrumentation is important for support and reliable power generation through controlling plant processes. 

BS IEC 61504 assists you in defining the communication criteria to link distributed radiation monitoring equipment in the facility, integrates data processing, storage, optimization, and correlation of data flow and displays, and provides criteria for the interface between monitors of different safety classes. 

You can adopt BS IEC 61504 guidance to improve the integration of all functions of a centralized system. It assists you with requirements for optimal design, electrical, mechanical, and software performance. As a result, the plant operator can be provided with with timely information as well as efficient control functions to be used during various conditions in facility including normal, anticipated operational occurrence, and accident conditions. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS IEC 61504:2017 supersedes BS IEC 61504:2000, which is withdrawn. BS IEC 61504:2017 includes some technical changes with respect to BS IEC 61504:2000. These include: 

• It supplements IEC 61559-1 and integrates IEC 61559-2 
• It describes the integration of functions including equipment such as those covered by IEC 60761-1, IEC 60761-2, IEC 60761-3, IEC 60761-4, IEC 60761-5, IEC 60768, IEC 60861, IEC 60910, IEC 60951-1 IEC 60951-2, IEC 60951-3, IEC 60951-4, IEC 60951-5, IEC 61031, IEC 61250, IEC 62302, and IEC 62303. 
• It establishes requirements for integration in centralized systems as defined by IEC 62705