IEEE 308-2020

IEEE 308-2020 is the standard for Class 1E power systems used in nuclear power generating stations. It addresses criteria for the design and performance of safety-related electrical power systems, helping define how components, circuits, devices, and system functions should be organized and evaluated. For engineering teams and buyers working in nuclear applications, this technical document supports clearer design decisions, more consistent procurement, and a stronger basis for compliance and verification.

Overview of IEEE 308-2020

This standard sets out criteria for Class 1E power systems, the safety-related electrical systems associated with nuclear power generating stations. IEEE 308-2020 is intended to guide the technical basis for those systems so they can support required plant functions under normal and abnormal conditions. Its focus is on power system criteria rather than a single component, which makes it relevant to system-level design, qualification, and documentation across nuclear electrical infrastructure.

Typical use cases

IEEE 308-2020 is commonly applied when specifying or reviewing Class 1E electrical power arrangements in nuclear power plants. It may be used for system design reviews, equipment selection, and verification of circuits, devices, and related power distribution elements that support safety functions. The standard is also useful during procurement and engineering documentation for nuclear-grade electrical systems where consistent criteria are needed for planning, testing, and acceptance.

Why it matters

In nuclear power applications, electrical power criteria must be clear, defensible, and consistently applied. IEEE 308-2020 helps reduce ambiguity in safety-related design and supports more reliable evaluation of system performance, which can matter during compliance work, testing, and lifecycle maintenance. By aligning requirements for Class 1E power systems, the standard can also improve traceability in engineering records and help limit risk when comparing or qualifying equipment and system configurations.

• Class 1E power system criteria
• Safety-related nuclear electrical applications
• System-level design and verification
• Circuits, devices, and power distribution
• Procurement and compliance support