When this applies

Parts going into a nuclear facility (OPG, Bruce, Point Lepreau, etc.). CSA N299 is the Canadian standard, invoked as N299.1 / .2 / .3 / .4 depending on component safety classification.

Menu: Plating → Nuclear → N299 Program.

Program level

Each nuclear customer specifies which N299 level applies. Set at the customer level:

N299.1 — highest, safety-critical (reactor pressure boundary)
N299.2 — high, safety significant
N299.3 — moderate
N299.4 — low, commercial quality

Level determines:

Number of witness/hold points
Inspection frequency
Material traceability depth
Documentation package contents

Inspection + Test Plan (ITP)

Plating → Nuclear → ITP — the core document for each nuclear job.

An ITP lists every process step with:

Description
Inspection code (W = witness, H = hold, O = observation)
Acceptance criteria (with reference to the spec)
Document to be produced (cert, test record, etc.)
Sign-off columns (plater, QC, customer rep)

Built once per recipe + customer combination, re-used across POs. Lives as a versioned document in the Document Control registry.

Hold points

At a hold point the job physically stops until the customer's QA representative signs off in person (or via digitally-witnessed remote inspection).

Tablet station shows hold points in the work order step list with a red lock icon. Operator can't advance.

Hold-point notification is automated — 24 hours before the expected hold point, system emails the customer's QA rep with the planned date/time.

Pedigree traceability

Plating → Nuclear → Pedigree — links every chemical replenishment, every Fischerscope reading, every operator signature, every calibration cert, every SOP revision back to a specific part.

Click Generate Pedigree Package on a shipment → single PDF binder with:

Purchase order references
Material certifications (incoming)
Process recipe version
Chemistry logs covering the plating window
Operator sign-offs
Calibration certs valid on the plate date
Test records (thickness, adhesion, hydrogen embrittlement, etc.)
FAIR
Final Certificate of Compliance

Often 100-200 pages per shipment. Customer QA reviews before acceptance.

10CFR21 reporting

US nuclear counterpart to N299. If you discover a defect in a delivered part that could create a substantial safety hazard, 10CFR21 reporting is mandatory within days.

Plating → Nuclear → 10CFR21 tracks:

Discovery event
Evaluation (is it reportable?)
Report filed (Y/N, date, case number)
Corrective action

CNSC inspections

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission may inspect your facility. Not frequent, but must be able to produce everything on demand.

Plating → Nuclear → CNSC tracks:

Inspection schedule
Auditor names
Findings
Corrective actions
Evidence of implementation

What can go wrong

Customer QA rep doesn't show up for the hold point

Part stays put. Document the missed appointment. Contact customer. Plan the next window. Do NOT advance past a hold point.

Pedigree package has a gap

One calibration cert is expired, or a chemistry reading is missing. Stop, investigate, repair the data if legitimate, or disposition as NCR if truly missing. Never fake evidence.

10CFR21 evaluation says "maybe reportable"

Err on the side of reporting. The penalties for under-reporting are worse than over-reporting.