This International Standard describes the basic requirements for qualifying electrical equipment important to safety and interfaces (electrical and mechanical) that are to be used in nuclear facilities. The principles, methods, and procedures described are intended to be used for qualifying equipment, maintaining and extending qualification, and updating qualification, as required, if the equipment is modified. The qualification requirements in this standard, when met, demonstrate and document the ability of equipment to perform safety function(s) under applicable service conditions, including design basis events and certain design extension conditions, and reduce the risk of environmentally induced common-cause equipment failure.

This standard does not provide environmental stress levels or performance requirements.

Other aspects, relating to quality assurance, selection and use of electronic devices, design and modification of digital systems are not part of this standard.

Other IEC or IEEE standards that present qualification programmes for specific equipment, specific environments, or specific parts of the qualification programme may be used to supplement this standard, as applicable. The bibliography lists other standards related to equipment qualification.