The projected time scale for a 800 MWt fast reactor plant might occupy five years as shown in Fig. 6.6. It is worth noting that long term items such as the nuclear vessel and head must be ordered very soon after the PSAR is submitted. These order dates become the critical dates at which the design needs to be fixed to some extent.

The time scale for obtaining a license is very long: this is a public safety factor to allow the most searching reviews by the designers, the utility, the ACRS, and the public. Here again, a balance must be struck between a lack of critical review and an overemphasis of the review period with review for the sake of review. Both extremes can be detrimental to the plant safety.