Present Quality Assurance for the LHC Beam Vacuum System and its Future Improvement

During the Long Shutdown 1 (LS1), the LHC beam vacuum system was upgraded to minimize dynamic vacuum effects like stimulated desorption and beam-induced electron multipacting. A quality assurance plan was mandatory due to the demanding vacuum performance and the limited access to the equipment during the following operation period. Laboratory assessment tests and underground interventions were performed following well-defined and approved procedures. All vacuum related activities were documented and written reports stored in dedicated databases. Quality controls were performed to find mechanical, cabling and equipment functionality non-conformities. Possible issues were identified, classified and tracked in a non-conformity database for future corrective actions. This contribution give an overview of the quality assurance policy followed during the LS1 and the non-conformities reported after quality control. Possible future improvements are also discussed.