[ RadSafe ] Classification of areas

[Sandra Matzkin]

OK, maybe I should try to explain this better.

Imagine a nuclear (non-power) facility, currently 
under design, which has to comply with US, not 
Argentinian, regulations. The plant is only a 
project at this time, but will eventually have to 
be licensed. I am now looking into the 
classification of rooms and areas. As I have seen 
on 10 CFR 20, it is a bit different from what we 
use here. It is also different from what I've 
seen in some European countries. As an example, 
for some other regulatory bodies "controlled 
areas are areas in which persons may receive an 
effective dose of more than 6 millisievert or 
higher organ doses than 45 millisievert for the 
eye lens or 150 millisievert for the skin, the 
hands, the forearms, feet and ankles in a 
calendar year", among other conditions. This is a 
practical distinction, and if there is such a 
thing, or any other, on the US regulations then I should take it into account.

I did take the time to read the rest of 10 CFR 20 
and also NUREG 1736 before posting the question. 
I found nothing of the sort there, but I may have 
missed it, or maybe there is something else on 
other regulatory guides which I don't know. That's what I intended to ask.

Sandra

At 22:09 10/08/2008, WILLIAM LIPTON wrote:
>Do United States regulations apply to you?  If 
>your regulations are similar, you have some sort 
>of license or permit which specifies the 
>requirements, including the applicable 
>regulations.  One of these requirements is 
>probably to have a qualified Radiation Safety 
>Officer.  Depending on the complexity of your 
>radionuclide use, this may have to be a 
>professional health physicist.  If your use has 
>minimal radiological hazards, a staff member can 
>probably handle it.  However, this person should 
>have training, such as a 40 hour short 
>course.  There are several of these available in 
>the United States.  I would guess that Argentina also has some available.
>
>Bill Lipton
>It's not about dose, it's about trust.
>Perception is reality.
>
>
>----- Original Message ----
>From: Sandra Matzkin <matzkin at invap.com.ar>
>To: WILLIAM LIPTON <doctorbill at post.harvard.edu>; radsafe at radlab.nl
>Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 4:29:50 PM
>Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Classification of areas
>
>You are right, I should have worded my question 
>better. I really meant to ask if there are any 
>specific requirements for each type of area. 
>Thanks for the reference. And for the advice, also.
>
>Sandra
>
>At 17:25 10/08/2008, WILLIAM LIPTON wrote:
>>"Are there any further requirements to be met by
>>each type of area..."
>>
>>
>>
>>What you quoted does not specify 
>>requirements.  It is merely a classification 
>>system.  As a start, read the rest of 10 CFR 
>>20, the associated USNRC Regulatory Guides, and 
>>other interpretive material, such as NUREG 
>>1736, " Consolidated Guidance: 10 CFR Part 20 - 
>>Standards for Protection Against 
>>Radiation."  You should be consulting a professional health physicist.
>>
>>
>>
>>Bill Lipton
>>
>>It's not about dose, it's about trust.
>>
>>Perception is reality.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----
>>From: Sandra Matzkin <matzkin at invap.com.ar>
>>To: radsafe at radlab.nl
>>Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:52:59 PM
>>Subject: [ RadSafe ] Classification of areas
>>
>>Hi Radsafers,
>>
>>I've seen in 10 CFR 20.1003 a classification for
>>areas in nuclear facilities, part of which I'm quoting below:
>>
>>·        Controlled area means an area, outside
>>of a restricted area but inside the site
>>boundary, access to which can be limited by the licensee for any reason.
>>...
>>·        Restricted area means an area, access
>>to which is limited by the licensee for the
>>purpose of protecting individuals against undue
>>risks from exposure to radiation and radioactive
>>materials. Restricted area does not include areas
>>used as residential quarters, but separate rooms
>>in a residential building may be set apart as a restricted area.
>>...
>>·        Unrestricted area means an area, access
>>to which is neither limited nor controlled by the licensee.
>>
>>Are there any further requirements to be met by
>>each type of area, like the need for special work
>>procedures, dose limits, warning signals, and so
>>on? If so, in which standards or regulatory
>>guides or documents in general can I find them?
>>
>>I'll appreciate your inputs.
>>
>>Sandra
>>
>>Sandra Matzkin
>>Nuclear Engineering Department
>>INVAP SE
>>Bariloche
>>ARGENTINA
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