Controlled Area - doe-std-1128-98

DOE-STD-1128-98

C.4.4

Controlled Area

All support facilities that have a potential for periodic low-level contamination

should be located in the controlled area. These facilities include change rooms and

decontamination rooms for personnel; health physics laboratories; facilities for the

receipt, temporary storage, and shipment of radioactive and potentially

contaminated materials; maintenance rooms for regulated equipment; mechanical

equipment rooms; and other laboratory facilities.

Air locks between controlled and uncontrolled areas should be used to provide

confinement of the controlled area if an inadvertent release of radioactive materials

or a fire occurs. Air locks should also be provided in controlled areas where there is

a potential for radioactive contamination to be spread from an area of high

contamination to one of lower contamination.

Where possible, each controlled area should have a single access and exit point for

personnel during normal operation. Access points should be accessible through

change rooms. Other access and exit points should be available as required for

emergencies and in compliance with the NFPA Life Safety Code (most current

version) (NFPA, 1985).

Space for step-off pads and radiation monitoring and survey equipment should be

provided at the exit from controlled areas that are potentially contaminated and

between high- and low-level contamination areas. The space provided should be

sized to accommodate the expected work force.

C.4.4.1

Change Rooms

Change rooms should be available for both men and women, with

lockers to support the anticipated number of workers and support

personnel. Change rooms should include facilities for storing and

dispensing clean protective clothing, a well-defined ventilated area near

the exit from the controlled area for the temporary storage of potentially

contaminated clothing, and adequate shower facilities. The clean side of

the change room should be easily separable from the potentially

contaminated side of the room.

Space for step-off pads and radiation-monitoring survey equipment

should be provided for personnel and equipment leaving the controlled

portion of the change room.

Liquid wastes from potentially contaminated showers should be routed to

the liquid radioactive waste system or to a holding tank that may be

sampled before the waste is released.

The ventilation system should be designed to prevent the spread of

contamination from the controlled to the uncontrolled portion of the

room.

C-20