5.15. Periodic in-service tests and inspections should be performed to demonstrate that the containment systems continue to meet the requirements for design and safety throughout the operating lifetime of the plant.

5.16. The test methods and intervals for in-service tests should be specified so as to reflect the importance to safety of the items concerned. In devising test methods and determining the frequency of testing, consideration should be given to the necessary levels of performance and reliability of the containment systems individually and as a whole.

5.17. Appropriate features should be provided for performing commissioning and in-service testing for containment pressure and leaktightness, and the correlated loads should be considered for the purposes of structural design.

5.18. General guidance on in-service inspection is provided in Ref. [16]. The remainder of Section 5 provides additional guidance specific to containment systems.