Human-System Interface Design Review Guidelines (NUREG-0700, Revision 4)

On this page:

• Publication Information
• Abstract

Download complete document

• NUREG-0700, Revision 4 (PDF – 4.80 MB)

Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: August 2025
Date Published: January 2026

Authors:
J.M. O'Hara, BNL*
S. Fleger, NRC
N. Hughes Green, NRC
S. Morrow, NRC

Brookhaven National Laboratory*
Nuclear Science & Technology Department
Upton, NY 11973-5000

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Availability Notice

Abstract

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff reviews the human factors engineering (HFE) aspects of nuclear power plants in accordance with the Standard Review Plan (NUREG0800, Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition). The Human Factors Engineering Program Review Model (NUREG-0711, Revision 3) contains detailed design review procedures. As part of the review process, the interfaces between plant personnel and the plant’s systems and components are evaluated for conformance with HFE guidelines. This document, Human-System Interface Design Review Guidelines (NUREG-0700, Revision 4), provides the guidelines necessary to perform this evaluation. The review guidelines address the physical and functional characteristics of humansystem interfaces (HSIs). Because these guidelines only address the HFE aspects of design and not other related considerations, such as instrumentation and control design, they are referred to as HFE guidelines. In addition to the review of actual HSIs, the NRC staff can use the NUREG-0700 guidelines to evaluate a design specific HFE guidelines document or style guide.  The HFE guidelines are organized into four basic parts, which are divided into 15 sections. Part I contains guidelines for the basic HSI elements: (1) information displays, (2) user interface interaction and management, and (3) analog displays and controls. These elements are used as building blocks to develop HSI systems to serve specific functions. Part II contains the guidelines for reviewing the following HSI systems: (4) alarm systems, (5) safety parameter display system, (6) large panel HSIs, (7) soft control systems, (8) computer-based procedure systems, (9) automation systems, and (10) communication systems. Part III provides guidelines for the review of (11) workstations and (12) workplaces. Part IV provides guidelines for the review of HSI and cognitive task support with sections on (13) maintainability of digital systems, (14) degraded HSI and instrumentation and control conditions, and (15) integration of HSI resources. Revision 4 of NUREG-0700 includes minor updates to Sections 1, 2, 6, 7, and 10, and introduces a new Section 15, "Integration of HSI Resources," which provides guidelines on the integration of HSI resources to support reliable crew performance, including consolidated guidance on group view displays. General changes were also made throughout the document to enhance readability and formatting consistency. More information about the changes in this revision can be found in Appendix C.2, “Changes Resulting in Revision 4.”