ASTM D5928-23
(Practice)Standard Practice for Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
Standard Practice for Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Most facilities disposing or using waste materials are prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive materials. This practice provides the user a rapid method for screening waste material for the presence or absence of radioactivity at user-established levels that consider background radiation and the intended use of the screening method. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify generator-supplied information in regard to radiation and to meet worker health and safety needs.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
1.2 This practice is intended to be a gross screening method for determining the presence or absence of radioactive materials in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical techniques, but to provide a method for rapidly screening samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both, for facilities prohibited from handling radioactive waste.
1.3 This practice may or may not be suitable for applications such as site assessments and remediation activities, depending on the data quality objectives or intended use.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D5928 − 23
Standard Practice for
1
Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5928; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This practice covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ
3.1 For terminology related to radioactive materials, see
radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined
Terminology C859.
criteria, or both, in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
1.2 This practice is intended to be a gross screening method 4. Summary of Practice
for determining the presence or absence of radioactive mate-
4.1 A sample is held within a user-specified distance of the
rials in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not
detector window of a radiation survey meter, and the visible or
intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical
audible reaction of the meter, or both, is noted. Guidance on a
techniques, but to provide a method for rapidly screening
suitable distance is generally available in the manufacturer’s
samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or
instrument manual. The user defines an application/project-
user-defined criteria, or both, for facilities prohibited from
specific “negative” and “positive” result criteria. A “negative”
handling radioactive waste.
test result indicates radiation levels are below the user-
1.3 This practice may or may not be suitable for applica-
established criteria; a “positive” test result indicates the radia-
tions such as site assessments and remediation activities,
tion levels are above the user-established criteria.
depending on the data quality objectives or intended use.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
5. Significance and Use
standard.
5.1 Most facilities disposing or using waste materials are
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive ma-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
terials. This practice provides the user a rapid method for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
screening waste material for the presence or absence of
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
radioactivity at user-established levels that consider back-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ground radiation and the intended use of the screening method.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
It is important to these facilities to be able to verify generator-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
supplied information in regard to radiation and to meet worker
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
health and safety needs.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
6. Interferences
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
6.1 Needle deflections or audible clicks of the survey meter,
2. Referenced Documents
or both, occur due to naturally occurring omnidirectional
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: background radiation. This level of ambient background radia-
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials tion should be periodically assessed. See Section 10.
6.2 Possible sources of interference include pacemakers,
X-ray generating equipment, radium-based luminescent dials,
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
polonium-based static eliminators, and smoke detectors con-
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on
taining a radioactive isotope-sensing mechanism. Such inter-
Screening Methods.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published November 2023. Originally
ferences can usually be traced to their source using the portable
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D5928 – 18a. DOI:
instrument specified in this practice.
10.1520/D5928-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
6.3 A large amount of potassium in the waste sample may
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
produce a positive result due to the natural presence of the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. radioactive isotope, potassium-40.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocke
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5928 − 18a D5928 − 23
Standard Practice for
1
Screening of Waste for Radioactivity
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5928; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the screening for α–, β–, and γ radiation above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both,
in liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials.
1.2 This practice is intended to be a gross screening method for determining the presence or absence of radioactive materials in
liquid, sludge, or solid waste materials. It is not intended to replace more sophisticated quantitative analytical techniques, but to
provide a method for rapidly screening samples for radioactivity above ambient background levels or user-defined criteria, or both,
for facilities prohibited from handling radioactive waste.
1.3 This practice may or may not be suitable for applications such as site assessments and remediation activities.activities,
depending on the data quality objectives or intended use.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
3. Terminology
3.1 For terminology related to radioactive materials, see Terminology C859.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 A sample is held within 6 mm a user-specified distance of the detector window of a radiation survey meter, and the visible
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.05 on Screening Methods.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2018Nov. 1, 2023. Published September 2018November 2023. Originally approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as
D5928 – 18.D5928 – 18a. DOI: 10.1520/D5928-18A.10.1520/D5928-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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D5928 − 23
or audible reaction of the meter, or both, is noted. Guidance on a suitable distance is generally available in the manufacturer’s
instrument manual. The user defines an application/project-specific “negative” and “positive” result criteria. A “negative” test
result indicates radiation levels are below the user-established criteria; a “positive” test result indicates the radiation levels are
above the user-established criteria.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Most facilities disposing or utilizingusing waste materials are prohibited from handling wastes that contain radioactive
materials. This practice provides the user a rapid method for screening waste material samples in the field or laboratory for the
presence or absence of radioactivity at user-established criteria. levels that consider background radiation and the intended use of
the screening method. It is important to these facilities to be able to verify generator-supplied information that radioactive or mixed
wastes have not been included in shipments of waste materials.in regard to radiation and to meet worker health and safety needs.
6. Interferences
6.1 Needle deflections or audible clicks of the survey meter, or both, occur due to naturally occurring omni-
directionalomnidirectional background radiation. This level of ambient background radiation should be periodically assessed. See
Section 10.
6.2 Possible sources of interference include pacemak
...
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