Re: Safety of Am-241 Smoke Detectors

[David W Lee <lee_david_w@lanl.gov>]

Mike:  I don't know if this will help you, but here goes.  Items like smoke
detectors, in NRC terminology, are under NRC "general" license (to the
public).  This means that you and I, as members of the public, do not have
to have an Agreement State or NRC specific license to buy, possess, use,
etc., such items.  The manufacturers of these items, however, must obtain a
specific license from either an Agreement State or the NRC.  The information
requirements that such manufacturers must provide the NRC in their
application for a specific license, for gas and aerosol detectors, are set
forth in 10 CFR 32.26.  Thus, if and when the NRC approves the
manufacturers' license application, that approved application constitutes
the "safety evaluation."  Hopefully an NRC expert will reply to you as to
whether or not one must get a specific license to remove an Am-241 source
from a generally licensed smoke detector to use in the classroom for
demonstration purposes.  REGARDS  David





At 02:59 PM 9/3/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>
>     In a effort to educate the public (especially students) about radiation
>     science it is useful to point out common, non-threatening consumer
>     products like lantern mantles and smoke detectors.
>
>     Can anyone provide references of safety evaluations of these products?
>
>     Specifically, this information is needed for obtaining an exemption or
>     possibly a license for the use of Am-241 smoke detector sources in the
>     class room.
>
>     Thanks for your help...mjr
>
>
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>
>
>
David W. Lee
Radiation Protection Policy
& Programs Analysis Group (ESH-12)
Los Alamos National Laboratory
PO Box 1663, MS K483
Los Alamos, NM  87545
Ph:  (505) 667-8085
FAX: (505) 667-9726