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the professionals working on a facility (maintenance
technicians, installers or removers) to file annual
activity reports electronically. IRSN, which is tasked
with centralising and processing the reports, considers
that the information available to date does not permit a
significant assessment of the state of the pool. Reminders
are currently being issued to raise the awareness of those
involved and enable a first assessment to be drawn up
rapidly.
ASN maintains close relations with Qualdion, an
association created in 2011which certifies the companies
that comply with the regulations relative to radiation
protection and fire safety. The list of Qualdion-certified
companies is available on the association’s website page:
ASNparticipates with the association in communication
campaigns targeting the holders of ionic detectors and
professionals (Expoprotection trade fair, Mayors’ trade
fair, etc.).
Surge suppressors
Surge suppressors (sometimes called lightning arresters),
not to be confused with lightning conductors, are small
objects with a very low level of radioactivity used to
protect telephone lines against voltage surges in the
event of lightning strike. These are sealed devices, often
made of glass or ceramic, enclosing a small volume of
air containing radionuclides to pre-ionise the air and
facilitate sparkover. The use of surge suppressors has
been gradually abandoned since the end of the 1970s,
but the number remaining to be removed, collected and
disposed of is still very high (several million units).When
installed, these devices represent no risk of exposure for
individuals. There can be a very low risk of exposure and/
or contamination if these objects are handled without
the necessary precautions or if they are damaged. ASN
issued a reminder of this to Orange (formerly France
Télécom), which has begun an experimental process of
inventorying, removing, sorting and disposing of surge
suppressors in the Auvergne region and has proposed a
national removal anddisposal plan. This planwas presented
to ASN and led in September 2015 to the delivery of a
license governing the removal of all surge suppressors
containing radionuclides present on theOrange network
in France and their storage on identified sites. The search
for a disposal route is in progress in collaboration with
Andra, the French national agency for radioactive waste
management. This removal plan will be implemented
progressively over an eight-year time frame.
Lightning conductors
Radioactive lightning conductorsweremanufactured and
installed in France between 1932 and 1986. The ban on
the sale of radioactive lightning conductors was declared
in 1987. ThisOrder didnotmake the removal of installed
radioactive lightningconductors compulsory.Consequently,
there is no obligation to remove the radioactive lightning
conductors installed in France at present, apart from
in certain ICPEs (Order of 15th January 2008 setting
the removal deadline at 1st January 2012) and certain
installations under Ministry of Defence responsibility
(Order of 1st October 2007 setting the removal deadline
at 1st January 2014).
ASNneverthelesswants all radioactive lightning conductors
to be removed given the risks they can represent, in
particular dependingmainly on their physical condition.
For several years ASN has been informing professionals
to ensure that these objects are removed in compliance
with radiation protection requirements for workers
and the public. ASN has stepped up its action in this
respect by reminding the professionals concerned of their
obligations, particularly that of having an ASN license
for the activity of removing and storing the lightning
conductors pursuant to Articles L. 1333-1, L. 1333-4,
and R. 1333-17 of the Public HealthCode. ASNhas been
carrying out field checks on the companies involved in
the recovery of these objects. These actions were further
increased in 2015 with unannounced inspections on
removal worksites.
After severalmeasurement campaignsby IRSN, andworking
with companies to assess the necessarymeans of protection
when removing radioactive lightning conductors, ASNhas
coordinated the drafting of a guide for professionals. This
guide, which is currently being finalised by ASN, Andra
and IRSN, should be published in 2016.
Andra estimated that therewere40,000 radioactive lightning
conductors installed in France. Nearly 10,000 have been
removed and recovered by Andra. The current rate of
removal is about 450 per year.
Additional informationon radioactive lightning conductors
isavailableon andthewebsiteoftheassociation
Inaparad
4.4 Reinforcement of the regulation
of electrical devices generating
ionising radiation
With regard to the design of facilities, ASN resolution
2013-DC-0349 of 4th June 2013 setting the minimum
technical design rules for facilities in which X-rays are
used has taken into account the revision of standard
NF-C 15-160. This resolution concerns industrial
and scientific (research) facilities such as industrial
radiography using X-rays in a bunker, veterinary radiology
and medical facilities such as conventional radiology,
interventional radiology, dental radiology and scanners
(see chapters 3 and 9). It came into effect on 1st January
2014 and replaced the Order of 30th August 1991
determining the required installation conditions for
X-ray generators. Its application becomes mandatory for
facilities put into service as of 1st January 2016, while
facilities put into service prior to this and meeting the
337 CHAPTER 10: INDUSTRIAL, RESEARCH AND VETERINARY USES AND SOURCE SECURITY
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015