ISO 11932-1996 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 11932-1996 — "Activity measurements of solid materials considered for recycling, re-use or disposal as non-radioactive waste". Guidance and methods for measuring radionuclide activity in solid materials that are candidates for release from nuclear facilities for recycling, reuse or disposal as non-radioactive waste.

Abstract

This International Standard provides guidance and recommended methods for activity measurements on solid materials arising from the operation of nuclear facilities when those materials are being evaluated for release (recycling, re‑use) or disposal as non‑radioactive waste. It covers sampling, measurement techniques, evaluation of results against clearance criteria and associated quality assurance considerations.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard).
• Publication date: 26 December 1996 (Edition 1, 1996-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.030.10 (Solid wastes); 13.280 (Radiation protection) — related to waste characterization and radiation measurement.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1996).
• Number of pages: 18 pages.

Basic bibliographic and lifecycle information as recorded in the ISO catalogue and national standards listings. The ISO record shows the standard was published in December 1996 and has been subject to periodic review; it has been listed for future revision in recent ISO lifecycle entries.

Scope

Specifies guidance and practical methods for determining radionuclide activity in solid materials that may be released from nuclear facilities for recycling, re‑use or disposal as non‑radioactive waste. The scope includes sampling strategy, measurement methods appropriate for typical radionuclides in such materials, evaluation of measurement uncertainty and comparability with clearance or exemption criteria, and record‑keeping necessary to demonstrate compliance. It is intended for use in decommissioning, routine cleanup and operational waste management contexts.

Key topics and requirements

• Sampling strategies for representative solid material samples (selection, reduction, handling).
• Measurement methods and instrumentation guidance (gamma spectrometry, gross alpha/beta and other appropriate techniques, calibration and reference sources).
• Evaluation of detection limits, decision thresholds and uncertainty for release decisions.
• Criteria for comparing measured activities with clearance/exemption values and national regulatory limits.
• Sample preparation, quality assurance and traceability of results (including documentation required to support release or disposal decisions).
• References to related technical documents and national/adopted procedures that may be used to complement the standard.

These topics summarize the measurable requirements and practical guidance indicated in the standard and in connected standards for radioactivity measurement and surface/solid contamination evaluation.

Typical use and users

Primary users are nuclear facility operators, decommissioning teams, environmental and radiochemical laboratories, waste management organizations, regulatory bodies and independent consultants who perform activity measurements and make release/clearance decisions for solid materials. The standard is used to structure measurement programmes, justify sampling and analytical methods, and document decisions about material recycling, reuse or disposal.

Related standards

ISO 11932 is used alongside other standards for radioactivity measurement and surface/solid contamination assessment. Relevant related documents include standards in the ISO 7503 series (measurement and evaluation of surface contamination — wipe tests, apparatus calibration, etc.) and the ISO 11929/11929‑1 family on detection limits and decision thresholds for ionizing radiation measurements. National adoptions and technical reports (and some CEI references cited in distributor records) can also complement the ISO guidance for local regulatory implementation.

Keywords

activity measurement, clearance, release, recycling, reuse, non-radioactive waste, solid materials, sampling, gamma spectrometry, gross alpha/beta, detection limit, decision threshold, decommissioning, waste characterization.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: St ISO 11932-1996 is an ISO International Standard titled "Activity measurements of solid materials considered for recycling, re‑use or disposal as non‑radioactive waste" that gives guidance and recommended methods for measuring radionuclide activity in solid materials to support release/clearance decisions.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling, measurement techniques, evaluation of detection limits and uncertainties, criteria comparison with clearance values, and the quality‑assurance and documentation necessary to demonstrate that materials may be recycled, re‑used or disposed of as non‑radioactive waste.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Nuclear operators, radiochemistry and environmental laboratories, decommissioning teams, waste managers, regulators and consultants involved in material release/clearance and waste characterization.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 1996 edition remains the published International Standard. ISO catalogue entries show the standard has been periodically reviewed; it was confirmed in reviews and has appeared in ISO lifecycle records as subject to future revision. Users should check the ISO catalogue or national standards bodies for any draft or replacement (for example ISO/DIS activity) before relying on the text for regulatory compliance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Not a multi‑part series itself, but it is commonly used together with other ISO standards addressing radioactivity measurement, surface contamination and decision‑limit/detection‑limit calculations (for example the ISO 7503 series and the ISO 11929 family). National adoptions and referenced technical reports may also form a normative context for applying ISO 11932.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Activity measurement, clearance, release, decommissioning, recycling, reuse, solid waste, sampling, gamma spectrometry, detection limit, decision threshold, quality assurance.