Part 8. Design and Control

DOE-STD-1098-99

Radiological Control

Conduct of Radiological Work

June 2004

Part 8 Design and Control

381 Radiological Design Criteria

The following design objectives are applicable during the design of new facilities and modification of existing facilities.

Additional design criteria are provided in DOE Order 420.1.

For areas of continuous occupancy (2000 hours per year), the design objective shall be to maintain the average

exposure level ALARA and below 0.5 millirem per hour. If occupancy is not continuous, the design objective shall

be to maintain doses ALARA and below 20% of the occupational dose limits provided in Table 2-1 [see

835.1002(b)]. DOE recommends that design criteria be established to limit individual worker doses below 0.25

millirem per hour (500 millirem TEDE per year).

For control of airborne radioactivity, the design objective shall be to avoid releases to the work place atmosphere

under normal conditions and, under any conditions, to control inhalation by workers to levels that are ALARA.

Confinement and ventilation shall normally be used [see 835.1002(c)].

For materials used in facility construction and modification, the design objective shall be to select materials that

facilitate operations, maintenance, decontamination, and decommissioning [see 835.1002(d)]. Components should

be selected to minimize the build up of radioactivity. Control of surface contamination should be achieved by

containment of radioactive material.

In justifying facility design and physical controls, optimization methods shall be used [see 835.1002(a)].

Support facilities should b e provided for donning and removal of protective clothing and for personnel monitoring,

when required.

A neutron quality factor of 20 for conditions of unknown spectra (or doubling of the neutron quality factor

associated with known neutron energies) should be used for design purposes only. Design analyses based on

these neutron quality factors are intended to estimate the additional construction cost resulting from neutron

quality factor increases. The results of these analyses should be used to ascertain the economic feasibility of

incorporating such modifications in the final design. This quality factor is not to be used for determination of

individual dose equivalents.

Existing facility designs that have office space and lunchrooms or eating areas within radiological areas, radioactive

material areas, and radiological buffer areas require priority attention. Generally:

Locating lunch rooms or eating areas, restrooms, drinking fountains, showers and similar facilities and devices

is strongly discouraged within these areas

Locating office spaces within these areas is strongly discouraged; to the extent that such space is essential to

support radiological work, steps should be taken to preclude unnecessary occupancy.

Facilities currently under construction should be evaluated and the above criteria applied where practicable.

3-27