This standard presents accepted methods and practices regarding the use of cathodic protection (CP) for the control of external corrosion on buried or submerged carbon steel, stainless steel, gray cast iron, ductile cast iron, copper, and aluminum piping systems at nuclear power plants. This standard may be useful at facilities other than nuclear power plants that contain complex networks of buried or submerged piping, which may be composed of more than one material and may or may not be grounded.

This standard addresses the design of CP systems in nuclear power plants for new piping systems and existing coated and uncoated piping systems. For each type of system, information is provided concerning the effects of grounding of the piping system on the design of the CP system. It also introduces design concepts for new piping systems that will assist in the design, operation, testing, or maintenance of a CP system.

This standard also presents accepted methods and practices for the installation, operation (including acceptance criteria), testing, and maintenance of CP systems in nuclear power plants. It presents criteria and procedures that may be used to determine the conditions under which a pipe or piping system need not be cathodically protected.