---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 C.F.R. § 53.415"
title: "10"
number: "53.415"
heading: "Protection against external hazards."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/10/53.415"
---

# §53.415. Protection against external hazards.


Safety-related SSCs must be protected against or must be designed to withstand the effects of natural phenomena (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, tsunami, and seiches) and constructed hazards (e.g., dams, transportation routes, military and industrial facilities) considering an event severity up to the design-basis external hazard levels as determined under [§ 53.510](/cfr/10/53.510.md) without losing the capability to perform the safety functions identified under [§ 53.230](/cfr/10/53.230.md). Specific requirements for earthquake engineering are included in [§ 53.480](/cfr/10/53.480.md).


## Notes

### Authority

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 101, 103, 108, 122, 147, 161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234 (42 U.S.C. 2014, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2138, 2152, 2167, 2169, 2201, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2235, 2236, 2237, 2239, 2273, 2282); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, sec. 306 (42 U.S.C. 10226); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note; Pub. L. 115-439, 132 Stat. 5571.

### Source

Source: 91 FR 15794, Mar. 30, 2026, unless otherwise noted.