Levels of Control

three levels of essentiality. (Strictly speaking,

Level C: Provides for minimum or "as necessary"

verification techniques. This normally

SUBSAFE is not a level of essentiality.)

will require very little QC or tests and

inspections.

SUBSAFE

To help you understand SUBSAFE, we will discuss

LEVELS OF CONTROL

a little of the background of the program. The Submarine

Safety Program (hence the name SUBSAFE) was

established in 1963 as a direct result of the loss of USS

QC may also be assigned generally to any of the

Thresher. The program is two-fold, consisting of both

three levelsA, B, or C. Levels of control are the degrees

material and operability requirements. It provides a high

of control measures required to assure reliability of

level of confidence in the material condition of the hull

repairs made to a system, subsystem, or component.

integrity boundary and in the ability of a submarine to

Furthermore, levels of control (QC techniques) are the

recover from control surface casualties and flooding,

means by which we achieve levels of assurance.

SUBSAFE requirements are split into five

An additional category that you will see is level I.

categories, which are devoted to

This is reserved for systems that require maximum

confidence that the composition of installed material is

piping systems,

correct.

flooding control and recovery,

CONTROLLED MATERIAL

documentation,

pressure hull boundary, and

Some material, as part of a product destined for fleet

use, has to be systematically controlled from

government-furnished material.

procurement, receipt, stowage, issue, fabrication, repair,

There are three SUBSAFE definitions you need to

and installation to ensure both quality and material

consider: SUB SAFE system, SUBSAFE boundary, and

traceability. Controlled material is any material you use

SUBSAFE material.

that must be accounted for (controlled) and identified

throughout the manufacturing and repair process,

SUBSAFE System

including installation, to meet the specifications

required of the end product. Controlled material must be

A SUBSAFE system is any submarine system

inspected by your CMPO for required attributes before

determined by NAVSEA to require the special material

you can use it in a system or component and must have

or operability requirements of the SUBSAFE program.

inspection documentation maintained on record. You

How does it concern you? After you have installed and

must retain traceability through the repair and

maintained a system, it must prevent flooding of the

installation process. These records of traceability must

submarine, enhance recovery in the event of flooding,

be maintained for 7 years (3 years aboard ship and 4

and ensure reliable ship control.

years in record storage). Controlled material requires

special marking and tagging for identification and

SUBSAFE Boundary

separate storage to preclude loss of control. The RO may

designate as controlled material any material that

A SUBSAFE boundary marks the specific portion

requires material traceability.

of a SUBSAFE system within which the stringent

Under this definition, controlled material has two

material or operability requirements of SUBSAFE

meanings. The first meaning applies to items considered

apply.

critical enough to warrant the label of controlled

material. Your CMPOs will be responsible for

SUBSAFE Material

inspecting the material when it is received, stowing it

separately from other material, providing custody, and

Within the SUBSAFE boundary, two different sets

seeing that controlled assembly procedures are used

of requirements applySUBSAFE and level I. What is

during its installation.

the difference between the two? The difference is

The term controlled material is used in reference to

expressed by two words, certification and verification.

material either labeled SUBSAFE or classed in one of

Material certification pertains to the SUBSAFE

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