The preservation of both explicit and tacit knowledge is crucial for nuclear safety. This practical guide provides an engineering perspective to help future engineers and scientists access vital information on material performance and piping safety. It emphasizes ongoing engagement in nuclear safety and risk assessment, presenting a framework that integrates theory, practical applications, design elements, and evaluation standards. It highlights effective data-collection strategies critical to current and future risk assessments, building on research from 1955 to 1975 on non-nuclear piping systems and detailing developments from 1975 to 2025. The resource captures evolving methods and techniques and presents data relevant to risk and reliability analyses for new and advanced reactors. Additionally, it guides the conversion of existing knowledge into probabilistic metrics to assist decision-makers. A review of material performance in commercial nuclear power plants helps professionals grasp the implications of various findings. Coverage also includes methods for assessing the probability of failure in passive components and establishes a common language for pressure boundary integrity, supporting risk-informed decisions. Case studies and examples clarify complex concepts, enhancing usability for professionals conducting safety assessments and managing risks.

Bengt Olof Yngve Lydell brings over fifty years of extensive experience in applied risk and reliability analysis, with a particular focus on passive component reliability, risk-informed in-service inspection, and reliability and integrity management (RIM). His expertise has been instrumental in numerous probabilistic safety analysis projects both in the United States and internationally. From 2003 to 2005, he served on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Expert Panel on Loss-of-Coolant Accident Frequency (NUREG-1829). In 2024, he contributed to the Commission's re-evaluation of the findings from this pivotal work. Since 2002, he has acted as the Operating Agent for various OECD Nuclear Energy Agency database projects related to piping and non-piping passive components, including OPDE (2002­-2011), SCAP-SCC (2006-2010), and CODAP (2011-present). As Project Chairperson, Lydell supported the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Coordinated Research Project (CRP) from 2018 to 2022, focusing on the "Methodology for Assessing Pipe Failure Rates in Advanced Water-Cooled Reactors" (IAEA-TECDOC-1988 and NES NR-T-2.16). Moreover, he led the Evaluation Group on Pipe Failure Probability Analysis during the OECD/NEA and EC-JRC coordinated RI-ISI methodologies benchmark (RISMET) from 2006 to 2008. A dedicated member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Lydell's deep knowledge and commitment to safety and reliability continue to shape the field of nuclear engineering. He received a Master's in Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering from Chalmers University of Technology.