IEC 61839-2000 PDF

Full title and description

St IEC 61839-2000 — Nuclear power plants — Design of control rooms — Functional analysis and assignment. This International Standard specifies procedures for functional analysis and for assigning (allocating) functions when designing the control‑room system of nuclear power plants; it supplements IEC 60964 and applies to both new control rooms and backfits to existing control rooms.

Abstract

IEC 61839:2000 defines a structured methodology for identifying, analysing and allocating operational functions within nuclear power plant control rooms. It gives rules for developing criteria used to assign functions to personnel, control‑room equipment and support systems, with the aim of ensuring coherent functional distribution, safe operation and effective human–system interaction.

General information

• Status: Published International Standard (Edition 1.0). Some national/adopted versions and later regional (EN) publications exist that align or update the material for regional use.
• Publication date: 21 July 2000.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 29.120.10, 27.120.20 (control rooms; nuclear power plant safety).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2000).
• Number of pages: 39 pages.

Scope

This standard specifies functional analysis and assignment procedures to be used in the design of main control‑room systems for nuclear power plants. It provides guidance for developing assignment criteria and complements IEC 60964 (design of control rooms). The procedures are applicable to both the design of new control rooms and to modifications (backfits) of existing control rooms.

Key topics and requirements

• Methodology for functional analysis (identification and decomposition of control functions).
• Principles and criteria for allocation/assignment of functions to operators, automation, displays and controls.
• Guidance on human factors considerations in function allocation to support safe operation.
• Requirements for documentation of functional analysis and assignment decisions.
• Applicability to both new control‑room design and retrofits / backfits to existing installations.
• Relationship and supplementation to IEC 60964 (control room design standards).

These topics follow the structure and intent described in the IEC publication.

Typical use and users

Primary users are control‑room designers, system engineers, human factors specialists, safety analysts, plant operators, utilities and national regulators involved in the design, modification or assessment of nuclear power plant control rooms. The standard is used during requirement definition, system architecture design, human‑system interface development and safety reviews.

Related standards

IEC 61839 complements and is commonly used alongside IEC 60964 (design of control rooms for nuclear power plants) and other IEC/EN documents covering alarm presentation, human factors and control‑room ergonomics (for example IEC 62241 and regional EN adoptions such as EN 61839:2014/2015). National adoptions or replacements (EN versions) exist in some countries.

Keywords

nuclear power plants; control room design; functional analysis; function allocation; human factors; backfit; operator interface; IEC 60964; safety; main control room.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61839:2000 is an international standard that specifies procedures for functional analysis and the assignment of functions during the design of nuclear power plant control rooms.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the methods to identify and decompose plant control functions, criteria and rules to allocate those functions to operators, automation and control‑room systems, documentation practices and human factors considerations relevant to control‑room design and backfits.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Control‑room architects and designers, system integrators, human factors engineers, plant operators, safety assessors, utilities and regulators involved in nuclear plant control‑room projects.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61839 was published in July 2000 (Edition 1.0) and remains the base IEC publication; IEC lists its publication details and stability information. Some regional/adopted versions (EN 61839:2014/2015 or national adoptions) have been issued and, in some national catalogues, the original IEC or national IEC-based version has been replaced by an EN or a national adoption. Users should check the applicable national adoption or amendment status for regulatory compliance in their country.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the body of IEC documents addressing control‑room design and human factors for nuclear power plants and is intended to be used together with related standards such as IEC 60964 and other IEC/EN publications covering alarms, displays and operator interaction.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Functional analysis, function allocation, control room, nuclear power plant, human factors, backfit, operator interface, IEC 61839, IEC 60964.