A major issue: reconciling research and safety. The CEA's viewpoint

Cea operates research reactors and hot laboratories for studying material and fuel behaviour under irradiation, performing non destructive examinations, training operators or producing medical isotopes. Such reactors must be sufficiently accessible so that experimental devices can be installed in or around the reactor core and benefit from an adequate neutron flux. Research reactors must be flexible. Specific materials may be required to reduce neutron absorption. Many changes can occur during their life-cycle. This paper describes the internal authorizations system developed in Cea with the agreement of ASN (French National Safety Authority). Thus, operations which do not compromise the fundamental safety of the research reactor may be authorized by Cea. The safety files of such operations are submitted to Cea experts reporting to an internal safety commission. In this respect, Cea has developed a guide to define safety rules and construction codes for experimental devices. It describes also the development of a design and manufacturing code for specific materials used in research reactors and experimental devices. (authors)