Which statement about PRA Level 1 is true?

Which statement about PRA Level 1 is true?

• A. Level 1 analyzes radiological dose to the public
• B. Level 1 analyzes core damage frequency
• C. Level 1 analyzes containment performance and release
• D. Level 1 analyzes societal economic impact

Answer: (B)

PRA Level 1 focuses on estimating how often the reactor core becomes damaged during an accident. It does this by tracing potential initiating events through event trees and fault trees to calculate the core damage frequency—the probability that core damage occurs. That core damage frequency is the central output of Level 1 and is what Level 2 and Level 3 build upon. Radiological dose to the public and societal economic impact relate to consequences after core damage, which are addressed in higher PRA levels. Containment performance and releases describe what happens after core damage and are the focus of Level 2, not Level 1.

PRA Level 1 focuses on estimating how often the reactor core becomes damaged during an accident. It does this by tracing potential initiating events through event trees and fault trees to calculate the core damage frequency—the probability that core damage occurs. That core damage frequency is the central output of Level 1 and is what Level 2 and Level 3 build upon.

Radiological dose to the public and societal economic impact relate to consequences after core damage, which are addressed in higher PRA levels. Containment performance and releases describe what happens after core damage and are the focus of Level 2, not Level 1.