Covering of Contaminated Surfaces - doe-hdbk-1106-97

DOE-HDBK-1106-97

tagged to alert personnel of the contaminated status, and have appropriate administrative

procedures established and exercised to maintain control of these items.

6.0

Covering of Contaminated Surfaces

Radioactivity on equipment should not be covered by paint, plating, or other covering

material unless contamination levels, as determined by a survey and documented, are

below the "Removable" Criteria of Table 1 of DOE Order 5400.5, Ch. 2 (see below). A

reasonable effort must be made to minimize the contamination prior to use of any

covering.

If it is likely that contamination exists under a painted surface, it may be necessary to

remove some of the painted surface to measure contamination levels below. Use a paint

remover to collect paint samples from areas of approximately 200 cm2 . Measure alpha

and/or beta-gamma levels beneath paint. Check with Radiological Control personnel

prior to using any paint remover to eliminate the generation of mixed waste.

Where potentially contaminated surfaces are not accessible for measurement, the

equipment may be released after case-by-case evaluation and documentation based on

both the history of its use and available measurements demonstrate that the unsurveyable

surfaces are likely to be within the release criteria.