A concept for the classification of nuclear areas

An important safety and protection issue that is common both to current operation and emergency conditions relative to a wide range of source risks involved in the operation of low activity units as well as of nuclear power plants is the classification of the nuclear areas. Registrants and licensees shall designate as a controlled area any area in which specific protective measures are required for controlling normal exposures or preventing the spread of contamination during the normal working conditions. Registrants and licensees shall designate as a supervised area any area not already designated as a controlled area but where occupational exposure conditions need to be kept under review even though specific protection measures and safety provisions are not normally needed. The paper presents a new and comprehensive approach, which is in compliance to latest international findings as well as to authors' experience based on an integrated conception of the notions of dose, probability, detriment and risk. (authors)