Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 33 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Part XV - Radiation Protection
Chapter 5 - Radiation Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiographic Operations
Subchapter A - Equipment Control
Section XV-550 - Performance Requirements for Radiography Equipment

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XV-550

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Equipment serviced, maintained, or repaired by a licensee or registrant or used in industrial radiographic operations shall meet the following minimum criteria:

1. each radiographic exposure device, source assembly, or sealed source, and all associated equipment shall meet the requirements specified in American National Standard Institute (ANSI) N432-1980 Radiological Safety for the Design and Construction of Apparatus for Gamma Radiography, (published as NBS Handbook 136, issued January 1981). This publication has been approved for incorporation by reference by the director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. This publication may be purchased from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 25 West 43rd Street, New York, New York 10036; telephone: (212) 642-4900. Copies of the document are available for inspection at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Library, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. A copy of the document is also on file at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Engineering analyses may be submitted by an applicant or licensee to demonstrate the applicability of previously performed testing on similar individual radiography equipment components. Upon review, the department may find this an acceptable alternative to actual testing of the component in accordance with the referenced standard;

2. in addition to the requirements specified in Paragraph A.1 of this Section, the following requirements apply to radiographic exposure devices, source changers, source assemblies, associated equipment, and sealed sources:
a. the licensee shall ensure that each radiographic exposure device has attached to it, a durable, legible, clearly visible label bearing the following:
i. chemical symbol and mass number of the radionuclide in the device;

ii. activity and the date on which this activity was last measured;

iii. model number (or product code) and serial number of the sealed source;

iv. manufacturers identity of the sealed source; and

v. the licensee's name, address, and telephone number;

b. radiographic exposure devices intended for use as Type B transport containers shall meet the applicable requirements of LAC 33:XV.Chapter 15; and

c. modification of radiographic exposure devices, source changers, source assemblies, and associated equipment is prohibited, unless the design of any replacement component, including source holder, source assembly, controls, or guide tubes would not compromise the design safety features of the system;

3. in addition to the requirements specified in Paragraphs A.1 and 2 of this Section, the following requirements apply to radiographic exposure devices, source assemblies, and associated equipment that allow the source to be moved out of the device for radiographic operations or to source changers:
a. the coupling between the source assembly and the control cable shall be designed in such a manner that the source assembly will not become disconnected if extended outside the guide tube. The coupling shall be such that it cannot be unintentionally disconnected under normal and reasonably foreseeable abnormal conditions;

b. the device shall automatically secure the source assembly when it is retracted back into the fully shielded position within the device. This securing system may only be released by means of a deliberate operation on the exposure device;

c. the outlet fittings, 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, or other foreign matter;

d. each sealed source or source assembly shall have attached to it or engraved on it, a durable, legible, visible label with the words: "DANGER-RADIOACTIVE." The label shall not interfere with the safe operation of the exposure device or associated equipment;

e. the guide tube must have passed the crushing tests for the control tube as specified in ANSI N432 and shall be able to withstand a crushing test that closely approximates the crushing forces that are likely to be encountered during use, and be able to withstand a kinking resistance test that closely approximates the kinking forces likely to be encountered during use;

f. guide tubes shall be used when moving the source out of the device;

g. an exposure head or similar device designed to prevent the source assembly from passing out of the end of the guide tube shall be attached to the outermost end of the guide tube during industrial radiographic operations;

h. the guide tube exposure head connection shall be able to withstand the tensile test for control units specified in ANSI N432-1980;

i. source changers shall provide a system for ensuring that the source will not be accidentally withdrawn from the changer when connecting or disconnecting the drive cable to or from a source assembly;

j. malfunction of any exposure device or associated equipment shall be reported to the Office of Environmental Compliance by telephone at (225) 765-0160 in accordance with the requirements of LAC 33:XV.341; and

k. notwithstanding Paragraphs A.1, 4, and 5 of this Section, equipment used in industrial radiographic operations need not comply with Section 8.9 2(c) of the Endurance Test in American National Standards Institute N432-1980, if the prototype equipment has been tested using a torque value representative of the torque that an individual using the radiography equipment can realistically exert on the lever or crankshaft of the drive mechanism;

4. all newly manufactured radiographic exposure devices and associated equipment acquired by licensees or registrants after the effective date of these regulations shall comply with the requirements of LAC 33:XV.550; and

5. all radiographic exposure devices and associated equipment in use after January 10, 1996, shall comply with the requirements of LAC 33:XV.550.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2001 et seq. and 2104.B.

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