Using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software in high-consequence safety systems

This Paper is based On work performed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory[ to assist the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in understanding the state of the art with respect to applying commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) -software to high-consequence safety systems. These systems, for which the consequences of failure can be severe or catastrophic, must be developer implemented, and maintained in ways that Provide assurance that catastrophic consequences will be prevented. This paper discusses various aspects of the question of using commercially available software in these systems. Risk, grading, and system assessment are discussed, and relevant standards are summarized. A recommendation for addressing key issues regarding the use of commercial software in high-consequence safety systems is given.