ASTM E1893

The purpose of this standard is to provide the user information and guidance for selecting and using instrumentation that will provide measurement results that can be compared to criteria for unrestricted use.

Use of this standard will provide greater assurance that the measurements obtained will be technically and administratively sufficient for making decisions regarding completion of decontamination and/or demolition/removal activities.

Use of this standard will provide greater assurance that the measurements obtained will be technically and administratively sufficient to meet all applicable regulatory requirements for unrestricted release of a component for recycle or reuse, or for unrestricted release of a remaining surface or area.

1. Scope

1.1 This standard provides recommendations on the selection and use of portable instrumentation that is responsive to levels of radiation that are close to natural background. These instruments are employed to detect the presence of residual radioactivity that is at, or below, the criteria for release from further regulatory control of a component to be salvaged or reused, or a surface remaining at the conclusion of decontamination and/or decommissioning.

1.2 The choice of these instruments, their operating characteristics and the protocols by which they are calibrated and used will provide adequate assurance that the measurements of the residual radioactivity meet the requirements established for release from further regulatory control.

1.3 This standard is applicable to the in situ measurement of radioactive emissions that include:

1.3.1 alpha

1.3.2 beta (electrons)

1.3.3 gamma

1.3.4 characteristic x-rays

1.3.5 The measurement of neutron emissions is not included as part of this standard.

1.4 This standard dose not address instrumentation used to assess residual radioactivity levels contained in air samples, surface contamination smears, bulk material removals, or half/whole body personnel monitors.

1.5 This standard does not address records retention requirements for calibration, maintenance, etc. as these topics are considered in several of the referenced documents.

2. Referenced Documents

C 1215 Standard Guide for Preparing and Interpreting Precision and Bias Statements in Test Method Standards Used in the Nuclear Industry
E 170 Standard Terminology Relating to Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry
E 181 Standard General Methods for Detector Calibration and Analysis of Radionuclides
ANSI N15.5 Statistical Terminology and Notation for Nuclear Materials Management
ANSI N323 Radiation Protection Instrumentation Test and Calibration
ANSI N42.17A Performance Specifications for Health Physics Instrumentation-Portable Instrumentation for Use in Normal Environmental Conditions
ANSI N42.17C Performance Specifications for Health Physics Instrumentation-Portable Instrumentation for Use in Extreme Environmental Conditions
ANSI N42.3 Standard Test Procedure for Geiger Mueller Counters
G-10CFR835/E1-Rev. 1 "Instrument Calibration for Portable Survey Instruments," Implementation Guide for Use with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 835, November 1994.
ISO-4037 X and Gamma Reference Radiations for Calibrating Dosimeters and Dose-rate Meters and for Determining their Response as a Function of Photon Energy, International Organization for Standardization, 1979
ISO-6980 Reference Beta Radiations for Calibrating Dosimeters and Dose-rate Meters and for Determining Their Response as a Function of Beta Radiation Energy, International Organization for Standardization, 1984
ISO-7503-1 Evaluation of Surface Contamination - Part 1: Beta Emitters (Maximum Beta Energy Greater than 0.15 MeV) and Alpha Emitters, International Organization for Standardization, 1988
ISO-7503-2 Evaluation of Surface Contamination - Part 2: Tritium Surface Contamination, International Organization for Standardization, 1988
ISO-7503-3 Evaluation of Surface Contamination - Part 3: Isomeric Transition and Electron Capture Emitters, Low Energy Beta Emitters (E 0.15 MeV), International Organization for Standardization, 1993 (draft)
ISO-8769 Reference Sources for the Calibration of Surface Contamination Monitors - Beta Emitters (Maximum Beta Energy Greater than 0.15 MeV) and Alpha Emitters, International Organization for Standardization, 1988
NCRP Report No. 112 Calibration of Survey Instruments Used in Radiation Protection for the Assessment of Ionizing Radiation Fields and Radioactive Surface Contamination, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, December 1991
NCRP Report No. 57 Instrumentation and Monitoring Methods for Radiation Protection, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, May 1978
NCRP Report No. 58 A Handbook of Radioactivity Measurement Procedures, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 2nd Ed. February 1985

Index Terms

Decommissioning operations; Decontamination; In-situ inspection/analysis; Portable radiological survey; Radiological examination; ICS Number Code 17.240

Citing ASTM Standards

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