New Guide for Testing and Optimal Selection of Radiological Protection Garments
1. Scope
1. Scope 1.1 This guide provides a general approach for optimal selection of protective garments used by workers and other personnel encountering radiological contamination hazards. 1.2 In this guide, the protective garment ensemble consists of full-body garments that cover the wearers torso, arms, legs, feet, hands, and head (if necessary). 1.3 Protective ensembles may incorporate respiratory protection as part of the overall clothing ensemble. However, this document does not address selection or performance of respiratory equipment. 1.4 This guide suggests a combination of physical integrity, garment comfort, and barrier performance measures for radioactive contamination protection and defines acceptable levels of performance for each. 1.5 This guide defines only dermal protection against loose radioactive contamination agents and attenuation of certain particle radiation. Noble gases which may adhere to the skin or personal clothing are considered to present protection issues similar to particle contamination. See Note 1. 1.6 This guide does not attempt to address other specific criteria that a wearer deems necessary to select a product, nor does it address criteria for evaluating experimental products. 1.7 Use of this guide is facilitated by adherence to procedures outlined in a standard test method. 1.8 This guide is not intended to serve as a detailed manufacturing or purchase specification, but can be referenced in procurement specifications as a basis for test and selection requirements. 1.9 This guide does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with protective garment use. It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use. 1.10 The values stated in SI units or in other units shall be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system must be used independently of the other, without combining values in any way. Note 1 Anti-C protective clothing is not intended to attenuate the penetrating energy associated with certain radiological sources including high-energy beta particles, gamma rays, X-rays, and neutron. They will, however, have varying protection factors for particle radiation such as low energy beta and alpha.
Working in ionizing radiological environments such as nuclear energy, military, medical, or laboratory settings presents an array of personal protection issues. Fundamental hazards come from whole body and extremity radiation fields as well as external (skin) and internal contamination. Exposure from ambient radiation fields is controlled through proper planning of time, distance, and shielding and is subject to regulatory limits. Contamination potential is minimized by work area controls and prescription of PPE.
