Assessment Requirements

DOE-STD-1158-2002

Materials Control - Movement of fissile materials is controlled; fissile material is labeled

including mass, chemical form, and isotopic composition; storage areas are posted with

applicable criticality safety limits; methods are established to monitor the presence and

effectiveness of credited neutron absorbers; access to fissile material handling areas is

controlled and fissile material handler qualification verified; and, control of spacing, mass,

density and geometry of fissile material is maintained to assure subcriticality under all

normal and credible abnormal conditions.

Planned Response to Nuclear Criticality Accidents - Criticality accident detectors are

capable of detecting the minimum accident of concern; the criticality accident alarm system

(CAAS) is designed in such a way as to minimize false alarms; detector placement criteria

for all permanent and temporary detectors is documented; a configuration management

system is in place to assure the ongoing functionality of the CAAS; the CAAS can alarm all

areas of the facility by either audible or visible means; emergency response procedures for

criticality accidents are in place; personnel are trained in evacuation procedures; evacuation

routes and assembly points are identified; procedures for accounting for personnel are in

place; criticality accident drills are conducted at least annually and are as realistic as

practicable; advance arrangements are in place for the treatment of exposed and

contaminated individuals; radiation monitoring equipment is available to response

personnel; radiation monitoring personnel are trained; and, emergency procedures address

re-entry of facilities and the membership of re-entry teams.

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

Each of the following criteria and associated lines of inquiry should be covered in a facility

assessment activity at least once during a predetermined period. Experience has shown that an

acceptable interval for self-assessing the criticality safety program, including all the material in

this standard as it applies to a facility, is once every three years. This suggested interval may

be adjusted to meet specific site/facility needs. The Assessor should establish appropriate lines

of inquiry and may use the ones suggested below or may generate his/her own for a given

assessment activity. While these lines of inquiry may be used verbatim, tailoring them to site-

specific applications and language is encouraged. Lines of inquiry that do not apply to a given

facility should not be used. Finally, proper use of this self-assessment standard requires

knowledgeable (i.e. in criticality safety and safety management) personnel performing extensive