A documented design process and a stepwise V&V approach is necessary to quality assure these types of systems. When implementing computerized I&C systems, it is not possible to write a technical description in the end of a project which someone outside the project can grasp, review or follow in a way that can quality assure a new or updated product. Especially not, when used for safety functions. Due to that, these types of projects require demonstration which is continuously accounted for during the project and also continues over the life cycle for the product or plant.
Already in the beginning of the project a dialog between the Regulator and the licensee must be established, where the required information needed for quality assurance and licensing of the plant are identified and an agreement on how the accounting through the project shall be performed, must be made.
