Advanced Alarm Systems: Revision of Guidance and Its Technical Basis
Abstract
This report provides guidance to support the review of the human factors aspects of advanced alarm system designs in nuclear power plants. The guidance herein will serve as an update and revision to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) existing guidance for reviewing alarm system designs. The revisions are based on recent NRC research on the effects of alarm system design characteristics on operator performance and on a study examining the introduction of new computer-based human-system interface (HSI) systems into conventional nuclear power plants (NPPs). In addition, this study examined other recent research on alarm systems. Where supported by the technical bases, changes were made to the alarm system characterization, human factors engineering guidelines, and the previously identified human performance issues. In general, the research reviewed provided confirmatory data that was used to clarify the guidelines. In addition, several new guidelines were developed and the criteria of some existing guidelines were modified or supplemented based on this recent research. Several human performance issues were identified in the recent literature. In most cases, they reflect those previously identified in earlier phases of this project. This information was used to revise issues, where appropriate. The changes to the characterization and HFE guidelines discussed in this document were subjected to independent peer review and will be incorporated into the Human-System Interface Design Review Guideline, Revision 2.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA529682
Entities
People
- J. C. Higgins
- J. M. O'hara
- W. S. Brown
Organizations
- Brookhaven National Laboratory