IEEE 338-1971

338-1971 is a technical standard for use criteria in the periodic testing of nuclear power generating station protection systems. It focuses on how protection and safety-related functions should be evaluated at set intervals so equipment and circuits continue to perform as intended. For nuclear engineering and power applications, this kind of guidance supports consistent test practices, clearer acceptance decisions, and better control of operational risk in critical station protection equipment.

338-1971 overview

This standard addresses the periodic testing of nuclear power generating station protection systems, with attention to the criteria used to judge whether those systems remain fit for service. The document is relevant to engineers and test personnel working with components, circuits, devices, and system-level protection functions. As 338-1971 is a superseded standard, it is mainly useful as a historical technical reference, especially where legacy procedures, documentation, or design records still refer to it.

Typical use cases

Typical applications include periodic surveillance testing of reactor protection and related station protection circuits, evaluation of trip logic, and verification of device response within safety-significant control paths. It may also be used when reviewing maintenance procedures, test intervals, and acceptance criteria for electrical and instrumentation systems in nuclear generating stations. In practice, 338-1971 can help align field testing, engineering review, and compliance documentation around the same technical basis.

Why this standard matters

Clear use criteria are important in protection-system testing because small differences in test interpretation can affect safety and availability. 338-1971 helps provide a consistent basis for deciding whether periodic test results are acceptable, which supports design control, operational discipline, and traceable maintenance records. For nuclear facilities, that consistency is valuable when managing risk, demonstrating compliance expectations, and reducing the chance that a protection function is left outside its intended performance range.

• Periodic testing criteria for protection systems
• Safety-related electrical and logic functions
• Acceptance of test results and surveillance checks
• Legacy reference for nuclear station procedures