BS IEC 63096:2020 - Nuclear Power Plants: Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical Power Systems Security Controls

In the ever-evolving landscape of nuclear power, ensuring the safety and security of nuclear power plants is of paramount importance. The BS IEC 63096:2020 standard is a comprehensive guide that addresses the critical aspects of instrumentation, control, and electrical power systems within nuclear power plants, with a specific focus on security controls.

Overview

Released on October 14, 2020, this standard is a crucial document for professionals in the nuclear energy sector. It provides detailed guidelines and requirements to enhance the security measures of nuclear power plants, ensuring that they are equipped to handle potential threats and vulnerabilities. With 250 pages of in-depth information, this standard is an essential resource for engineers, security experts, and plant operators.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Coverage: The standard covers a wide range of topics related to the security of nuclear power plants, including instrumentation, control systems, and electrical power systems.
• Security Controls: It provides detailed guidelines on implementing effective security controls to protect against unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.
• International Standard: As an internationally recognized standard, BS IEC 63096:2020 ensures that nuclear power plants adhere to global best practices in security management.
• ISBN: 978 0 539 00167 9

Importance of Security in Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear power plants are critical infrastructure facilities that require stringent security measures to prevent any form of sabotage, cyber-attacks, or unauthorized access. The consequences of a security breach in a nuclear facility can be catastrophic, not only for the plant itself but also for the surrounding environment and population. Therefore, implementing robust security controls is essential to safeguard these facilities.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The BS IEC 63096:2020 standard is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in the nuclear power industry, including:

• Engineers: Responsible for designing and maintaining the instrumentation and control systems within nuclear power plants.
• Security Experts: Tasked with developing and implementing security protocols to protect the plant from potential threats.
• Plant Operators: Ensuring the day-to-day operations of the plant adhere to the highest security standards.
• Regulatory Authorities: Overseeing compliance with international security standards and guidelines.

Benefits of Implementing BS IEC 63096:2020

Adopting the BS IEC 63096:2020 standard offers numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced Security: By following the guidelines outlined in the standard, nuclear power plants can significantly improve their security posture, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and cyber threats.
• Compliance with International Standards: Ensures that nuclear facilities meet global security requirements, facilitating international cooperation and trust.
• Improved Risk Management: Provides a framework for identifying and mitigating potential security risks, ensuring the safety of the plant and its surroundings.
• Operational Efficiency: By implementing standardized security controls, plants can streamline their operations, reducing downtime and enhancing overall efficiency.

Conclusion

The BS IEC 63096:2020 standard is an indispensable resource for anyone involved in the nuclear power industry. By providing comprehensive guidelines on security controls for instrumentation, control, and electrical power systems, it ensures that nuclear power plants are well-equipped to handle the challenges of modern security threats. With its focus on international best practices, this standard is a vital tool for enhancing the safety and security of nuclear facilities worldwide.

For those committed to maintaining the highest standards of security in nuclear power plants, the BS IEC 63096:2020 standard is an essential addition to their professional library.

BS IEC 63096:2020

This standard BS IEC 63096:2020 Nuclear power plants. Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems. Security controls is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.120.20 Nuclear power plants. Safety

IEC 63096:2020 provides a catalogue of highly recommended and optional security controls graded (see Clause 5 to Clause 20) in line with the security degrees defined by IEC 62645. These are intended for nuclear I&C programmable digital systems and architecture including related activities (I&C platform development, project engineering, operation and maintenance).
This document is intended to be used for designing I&C systems for new NPPs, and modernizing and modifying I&C systems for existing NPPs throughout the I&C programmable digital systems lifecycle. It may also be applicable to other types of nuclear facilities.
This document addresses the whole scope of nuclear I&C programmable digital systems, both safety and non-safety classified. The scope of this document also includes sensors, actuators and electrical systems that belong to the I&C control loop. It is also applicable to those parts of electrical systems covered by IEC 63046, which rely on digital programmable technology. For better readability the terms “nuclear I&C programmable digital systems”, “I&C system” or “I&C platform” used in this document implicitly include electrical systems if the electrical system includes a programmable digital systems.