Protection against natural radionuclides in building materials, release of radioactive substances from workplaces and the possibility of their use for building materials

In the Czech Republic, manufacturers and importers of building materials have obligations relating to protection against natural radionuclides in building materials. Manufacturers and importers of building materials are required to ensure systematic measurement and evaluation of the content of natural radionuclides in building material and to keep the prescribed data including the results of measurements of the content of natural radionuclides in the manufactured building material. These data must be communicated to the State Office for Nuclear Safety. The criterion for evaluating the measurement results is the value of the mass activity index. If the value of the activity index 1 is not exceeded, the building material can be supplied to the Czech market without restrictions. If the value of the weight index is greater than 1, the effective dose of a representative person from external gamma irradiation should be calculated when using a residential or residential building constructed from this building material. If this dose exceeds the reference level of 1 mSv/year, it is possible to supply this building material only with the permission of the State Office for Nuclear Safety. (author)