Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 52, December 26, 2024
(a) Each radiographic exposure device and all
associated equipment shall have been certified by the NRC as compliant with the
requirements specified in"radiological safety for design and construction of
apparatus for gamma radiography," published by the American national standards
institute as NBS handbook 136, issued January 1981, ANSI N432-1980 standards.
As an alternative, any licensee or applicant may submit an engineering analysis
demonstrating that testing previously performed on similar individual
radiography components is adequate to support a finding that the previous
testing is an acceptable substitute for that described in the N432-1980
standards.
(b) In addition to the
requirements specified in subsection (a), each licensee shall ensure that each
radiographic exposure device and all associated equipment meet the following
requirements:
(1) Each user of a radiographic
exposure device shall attach to the device a durable, legible, clearly visible
label bearing the following information:
(A)
The chemical symbol and mass number of the radionuclide in the
device;
(B) the radioactive
activity level and the date on which this activity was last measured;
(C) the model number and serial number of the
sealed source;
(D) the manufacturer
of the sealed source; and
(E) the
licensee's name, address, and telephone number.
(2) Each radiographic exposure device
intended for use as a type B transport container shall have been certified by
the NRC as compliant with the applicable requirements of
10 C.F.R.
71.51.
(3) The licensee shall not modify any
radiographic exposure device or associated equipment in a manner that
compromises the design safety features of the system.
(c) In addition to the requirements specified
in subsections (a) and (b), the licensee shall ensure that each radiographic
exposure device and the associated equipment that allows the source to be moved
out of the device for routine operation meet the following requirements:
(1) The coupling between the source assembly
and the control cable shall be designed so that the source assembly cannot
become disconnected if cranked outside the guide tube. The coupling shall be
designed to prevent an unintentional disconnection under normal conditions and
reasonably foreseeable abnormal conditions.
(2) The radiographic exposure device shall
automatically secure the source assembly when the source assembly is cranked
back into the fully shielded position in the radiographic exposure device. A
deliberate operation on the radiographic exposure device shall be required to
release the source assembly.
(3)
The outlet fitting, lock box, and drive cable fittings on each radiographic
exposure device shall be equipped with safety plugs or covers, which shall be
installed during storage and transportation to protect the source assembly from
water, mud, sand, and other foreign matter.
(4) Each sealed source or source assembly
shall have attached to it or engraved on it a durable, legible, visible label
with these words: DANGER RADIOACTIVE." The label shall not interfere with the
safe operation of the radiographic exposure device or the associated
equipment.
(5) Each sealed source
that is not fastened to, or contained in, a radiographic exposure device shall
have a durable tag permanently attached to the sealed source. The tag shall
measure at least one square inch and shall bear the radiation symbol described
in K.A.R. 28-35-219a and, at a minimum, the following instructions:
Danger"Radioactive Material"Do Not Handle"Notify Civil Authorities If
Found."
(6) The guide tube shall
have passed the crushing tests for the control tube as specified in ANSI
N432-1980 standards and a kinking resistance test that closely approximates the
kinking forces likely to be encountered during use.
(7) Guide tubes shall be used when moving the
source out of the radiographic exposure device.
(8) An exposure head or similar device shall
be used to prevent the source assembly from passing out of the end of the guide
tube during radiographic operations.
(9) The guide tube exposure head connection
shall be able to withstand the tensile test for control units specified in ANSI
N432-1980 standards.
(10) Each
source changer shall provide a system for ensuring that the source cannot
accidentally be withdrawn from the changer when connecting or disconnecting the
drive cable to or from a source assembly.
(d) Each licensee shall ensure that all newly
manufactured radiographic exposure devices and the associated equipment
acquired after January 10, 1995 meet the requirements of this
regulation.
(e) Each licensee shall
ensure that all radiographic exposure devices and the associated equipment used
by the licensee after January 10, 1995 meet the requirements of this
regulation.
(f) Any licensee may
use equipment in industrial radiographic operations that does not comply with
section 8.9.2(c) of the endurance test in ANSI N432-1980 standards, if
prototype equipment has been tested using a torque that an individual using the
radiography equipment can realistically exert on the lever or crankshaft of the
drive mechanism.
