N-725 Guideline for Design and Analysis of Nuclear Safety Related Earth Structures covers the design and analysis of earth structures incorporated into nuclear facilities. For such structures, the use of nominal material parameters and design assumption alone is often inadequate. Site verification of design assumptions and materials parameters, evaluation of the interrelationship between construction methods and analytical treatment, and verification testing are also important. Because of the need for continuity from design and analysis through actual construction, a section on inspection, instrumentation, and monitoring is included, even though the standard is primarily concerned with design and analysis. This standard covers:

• earth structures used to form the ultimate heat sink (reservoirs) including dams, dikes, and baffles;
• earth structures normally used to protect the nuclear plant site from extreme hydrodynamic loads including dams, dikes, breakwaters, seawalls, and revetments; and
• earth structures used to maintain site contours, the stability of natural and cut slopes, fills and retaining walls.

Originally formulated in 1982, this Standard was approved by ANSI on November 5, 1986.