Turkey's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) Relaxes Certification Requirements for Testing of Short-Cycle Equipment

Turkey's Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) has recently adjusted testing requirements for equipment related to nuclear facilities, providing flexibility for equipment with a production cycle of less than 15 days. According to the decision published in the Official Gazette, under specific conditions, when such equipment undergoes certain tests, testing laboratories will no longer be required to hold specific accreditation for the corresponding test methods.

This adjustment applies to the supply chain under the framework of the Regulation on Authorization of Nuclear Facilities. When the NDK, suppliers, or subcontractors are unable to provide a laboratory accredited for the relevant test methods, the original accreditation prerequisite may be waived for the testing of such equipment. This indicates that the regulatory authority, while ensuring quality control of nuclear facility equipment, has also left operational leeway for the testing process of short-cycle production equipment.

However, the relaxation of accreditation requirements does not mean a lowering of testing standards. The relevant tests must still be carried out by accredited institutions with the necessary infrastructure and technical capabilities, which must comply with TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent standards. This arrangement shows that the NDK is not eliminating quality oversight, but rather, in cases where a laboratory accredited for specific test methods cannot be found, allowing institutions with overall laboratory competence to undertake the testing work.

The decision also requires that test results must be consistent with the values in the product type test reports and comply with the tolerance ranges specified in manufacturing standards. In other words, the equipment must ultimately pass dual verification of technical data and manufacturing specifications, ensuring that its performance and safety requirements are not compromised by procedural adjustments.

In practical implementation, the relevant institutions must submit an application to the NDK, and only when the above conditions are simultaneously met and a positive assessment is obtained from the NDK may the testing process proceed without requiring specific test method accreditation. This policy is expected to help reduce testing wait times for short-cycle production equipment in the nuclear facility supply chain, while maintaining necessary regulatory review and technical compliance requirements.