In nuclear facilities, on-site heat treatment services are not just another scope of work. Every cycle, every adjustment, and every record exists within an environment where safety, accountability, and performance are inseparable. At Superheat, quality is not a supporting function behind the scenes. It is a core pillar of how we operate in some of the most regulated and demanding conditions in our industry.
In this video, Superheat Quality Director Roberta Ashdown shares how we approach nuclear quality with intent, discipline, and experience. Her perspective offers insight into the two quality programs that support our on-site heat treatment work in nuclear power plants, a Class 1 nuclear quality program compliant with 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, and an ISO 9001-certified quality program. Together, these programs allow us to perform both safety-related and non-safety-related work while maintaining rigorous control, traceability, and accountability at every stage.
Built for the Nuclear Environment:
Nuclear work leaves no room for ambiguity. Superheat’s Class 1 nuclear quality program was designed to operate in that reality. Every activity is guided by clearly defined procedures, reviewed and approved, and fully traceable from the workpiece to the people responsible for execution and oversight.
This level of structure is especially critical for safety-related work, where systems must be able to perform their intended safety function under abnormal or emergency conditions. As Roberta explains, performing safety-related work entails an inherent awareness of the risks at stake. Decisions made in the field can have implications that extend far beyond the immediate task, reinforcing the need for discipline, documentation, and technical rigor.
This is also why nuclear quality programs are intentionally documentation-intensive. Procedures, records, and verification steps are not administrative overhead; they are the framework that enables consistent execution, repeatable outcomes, and defensible results.
Experience That Shapes the Program:
Superheat’s first nuclear project was completed more than two decades ago. Since then, we have executed over 300 projects in nuclear power plants to date, many of them safety-related and delivered under our Class 1 nuclear quality program.
That experience has influenced more than just procedures. It has shaped a culture in which quality is embedded in how work is planned, performed, reviewed, and improved. The same disciplined mindset applies whether the scope is safety-related or non-safety-related, ensuring a consistent approach to quality across all nuclear projects.
For non-safety-related work, our ISO 9001-certified program provides clients with assurance that robust controls, documentation, and continuous improvement processes remain firmly in place.
Enhancing Safety Through Technology:
One of our most distinctive advantages in the nuclear space is our centralized Superheat SmartCenter™, with facilities strategically located worldwide. Through the SmartCenter, heat treatment cycles can be monitored and controlled remotely, reducing the need for field personnel to remain in potentially radioactive areas during active operations.
This approach directly supports ALARA principles by minimizing potential radiation exposure, while also improving consistency and control throughout the heat treatment process. Adjustments can be made by experienced personnel operating in a controlled environment, without compromising safety or quality in the field.
Cybersecurity Built into the Process:
Remote operations within nuclear facilities naturally raise cybersecurity concerns. Superheat addresses these concerns early and directly. As Roberta highlights, our IT team works closely with our clients’ IT teams to ensure remote operations align with strict cybersecurity protocols.
These collaborations are a standard part of nuclear project execution, ensuring SmartCenter connectivity is secure, approved, and tailored to each facility’s cyber requirements, without introducing unnecessary risk.
Quality With Purpose:
The strength of Superheat’s nuclear quality programs lies not only in compliance but also in intent. Procedures exist to ensure disciplined execution. Traceability exists to ensure accountability. Technology exists to enhance safety and efficiency, not to replace them. Together, these elements form a nuclear quality program built to meet the highest expectations, supported by a team that understands why quality matters, every time.
