Standards development
For 30 years, health physicists with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) have actively participated in the development of industry standards that provide guidance and support to decontamination and decommissioning projects across the United States.
Because of our extensive experience conducting radiological surveys and site characterization, our federal agency customers, such as the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Department of Energy, have called upon ORISE for assistance when developing new or revising industry standards.
Some of the standards ORISE has leant its expertise to include:
- Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM)
- Manual for Conducting Radiological Surveys in Support of License Termination (NUREG/CR-5849)
- Background as a Residual Radioactivity Criterion for Decommissioning (NUREG-1501)
- A Nonparametric Statistical Methodology for the Design and Analysis of Final Status Decommissioning Surveys (NUREG-1505, Rev. 1)
- Minimum Detectable Concentrations with Typical Radiological Survey Instrumentation for Various Contaminants and Field Conditions (NUREG-1507)
- Radiological Surveys for Controlling Release of Solid Materials (NUREG-1761)
- Performance and Documentation of Ionizing Surveys (ANSI N13.49)
- Training Requirements for Homeland Security Responders Using Radiation Detection Instruments (ANSI N42.37), which also references:
- Use of personal radiation detectors (ANSI N42.32)
- Portable radiation detection instruments (ANSI N42.33)
- Portable radionuclide identifiers (ANSI N42.34)
- Portable radiation monitors (ANSI N42.35)
- Characterization of Land Areas and Structures in Support of Decommissioning (ANSI N13.59)
We also continue to provide support to the NRC and its regulatory guide update program.