Quality assurance and safety in use of 252Cf sources

The 252Cf sealed sources manufactured by the French Atomic Energy Commission comply with the international standard ISO 2919. Even more severe testing programs are required when the sources are used in certain industrial applications. This is the case of the 252Cf sources utilized for the primary start up of nuclear reactors. Their manufacture is submitted to quality assurance programs contained within the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission document 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants. The prototype testing and quality control programs performed at each manufacturing stage guarantee a high level of confidence in using the sources safely