ASTM C1236-99(2005)

Standard Guide for In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Automatic Vehicle SNM Monitors (Withdrawn 2014)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
SNM monitors are an effective and unobtrusive means to search for concealed SNM, and facility security plans use them to prevent SNM theft or unauthorized removal from SNM access areas. Functional testing of monitors on a daily basis with radioactive sources can assure that they are in good working order. The significant use of a less frequent, in-plant evaluation of an SNM monitor is to verify that the monitor achieves an expected probability of detection for an SNM or alternative test source.
Note 1—An SNM test source used for in-plant evaluation is normally shielded only by protective encapsulation and the parts of a vehicle that may lie between the source and the monitor’detectors. However, the evaluation procedure could just as well be used to verify an expected level of detection for SNM inside of containers or shields.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is one of a series on special nuclear material (SNM) monitors and their performance evaluation. Others in the series provide information on SNM monitoring, monitor calibration, and methods of evaluation (see ), but Guide C 993, in particular, provides much of the basis for this guide. The purpose for a guide to in-plant performance evaluation is to provide a comparatively rapid way to verify whether SNM monitors perform as expected for detecting SNM or an alternative test source.
1.2 Guide C 993 points out that in-plant evaluation is one part of a program to keep SNM monitors in proper operating condition and that in-plant evaluation can be used as a routine operational evaluation or can be used to verify performance after a monitor is calibrated.
1.3 This guide is based on ASTM standards that describe applying and evaluating SNM monitors.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
This guide is one of a series on special nuclear material (SNM) monitors and their performance evaluation. Others in the series provide information on SNM monitoring, monitor calibration, and methods of evaluation, but Guide C993, in particular, provides much of the basis for this guide. The purpose for a guide to in-plant performance evaluation is to provide a comparatively rapid way to  verify whether SNM monitors perform as expected for detecting SNM or an alternative test source.
Formerly under the jurisdiction of C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle, this practice was withdrawn in January 2014 in accordance with section 10.6.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 31-May-2005
• Withdrawal Date: 15-Jan-2014
• ICS: 17.240 - Radiation measurements
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1236-99 - Standard Guide for In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Automatic Vehicle SNM Monitors
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2005

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C1236 − 99 (Reapproved2005)
Standard Guide for
In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Automatic Vehicle SNM
Monitors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1236; 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 3.1.1.1 Discussion—These monitors are described in 5.3.2
of Guide C1112.
1.1 This guide is one of a series on special nuclear material
3.1.2 vehicle portal monitor—an automatic vehicle SNM
(SNM) monitors and their performance evaluation. Others in
monitor that monitors moving vehicles as they pass through
the series provide information on SNM monitoring, monitor
radiation detectors during their approach to an entry/exit
calibration, and methods of evaluation (see 1.3), but Guide
station.
C993, in particular, provides much of the basis for this guide.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—These monitors are described in 5.3.1
The purpose for a guide to in-plant performance evaluation is
of Guide C1112.
to provide a comparatively rapid way to verify whether SNM
monitors perform as expected for detecting SNM or an
3.2 Terminology for confidence coefficient, confidence
alternative test source.
interval, detection probability, evaluations, nuisance alarm,
SNM,SNMmonitor,andtestsourcesisdefinedordescribedin
1.2 Guide C993 points out that in-plant evaluation is one
Section 3 of Guide C993.
part of a program to keep SNM monitors in proper operating
condition and that in-plant evaluation can be used as a routine
operational evaluation or can be used to verify performance 4. Summary of Guide
after a monitor is calibrated.
4.1 The monitor to be evaluated is a vehicle SNM portal
1.3 This guide is based on ASTM standards that describe monitor (see 3.1.1) or a vehicle SNM monitoring station (see
3.1.2).
applying and evaluating SNM monitors.
4.2 As a first step, the monitor’s indicated background
2. Referenced Documents
measurement value is recorded for possible future use in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
troubleshooting.
C993 Guide for In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Auto-
4.3 If the monitor is being evaluated in routine operation,
matic Pedestrian SNM Monitors
the number of nuisance alarms since the last evaluation is
C1112 Guide for Application of Radiation Monitors to the
examined for evidence of possible misoperation.
Control and Physical Security of Special Nuclear Material
4.4 The detection probability for a test source is evaluated
C1189 Guide to Procedures for Calibrating Automatic Pe-
by repeatedly transporting a test source through the monitor.
destrian SNM Monitors
4.5 The results of the evaluation are analyzed and recorded.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
5. Significance and Use
3.1.1 vehicle monitoring station—a type of vehicle SNM
5.1 SNM monitors are an effective and unobtrusive means
monitor that monitors vehicles while they are stopped, await-
to search for concealed SNM, and facility security plans use
ing clearance at an entry/exit station.
themtopreventSNMtheftorunauthorizedremovalfromSNM
access areas. Functional testing of monitors on a daily basis
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel with radioactive sources can assure that they are in good
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.12 on Safeguard
working order. The significant use of a less frequent, in-plant
Applications.
evaluation of an SNM monitor is to verify that the monitor
Current edition approved June 1, 2005. Published October 2005. Originally
achieves an expected probability of detection for an SNM or
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as C1236 - 99. DOI:
10.1520/C1236-99R05.
alternative test source.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
NOTE 1—An SNM test source used for in-plant evaluation is normally
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on shielded only by protective encapsulation and the parts of a vehicle that
the ASTM website. may lie between the source and the monitor’s detectors. However, the
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C1236 − 99 (2005)
evaluation procedure could just as well be used to verify an expected level
does not cause alarms. A possible choice for assurance during
of detection for SNM inside of containers or shields.
an evaluation is the following:
8.2.2.1 The individual who will drive the vehicle during the
6. Apparatus
evaluation can first drive it into or through the monitor, as
6.1 Gamma-Ray Survey Meter (Nonmandatory
appropriate, without a source. The chosen manner of passage
Information)—Historical records of gamma-ray background
and the chosen number of passages should be used, and the
intensity may provide useful information for troubleshooting
results (alarm or not for each passage) should be recorded.Any
future monitoring problems. An evaluation offers a good
alarms that occur disqualify the vehicle from further use; select
opportunity to record both the monitor’s indicated background
another vehicle and restart the evaluation.
count and the gamma-ray background intensity. If desired,
8.2.3 Next,theindividualshoulddrivethevehicletransport-
gamma-ray intensity can be measured with a survey meter and
ingthesourceintoorthroughthemonitor,asappropriate.After
recorded during the evaluation. The gamma-ray survey meter
each passage, record the results (detection or miss), and move
should have a NaI(Tl) or plastic scintillator capable of mea-
the vehicle well away from the monitor before making the next
suring environmental gamma radiation in the range from 60
passage. Allow the monitor’s background measurement to
keV to 3 MeV at background intensities that normally range
update after each passage, or after each 20 % of passages when
between 5 and 25 µR/h (1.3 and 6.5 nC/kg h or 0.36 and 1.8
10 or more passages are used.
pA/kg).
8.2.4 When the total number of passages with the source is
complete, tally the results and analyze them by using Table 1.
7. Test Materials
Record the analysis result, acceptance, or rejection.
8.2.5 The acceptance criteria in Table 1 provides at least
7.1 The required material is a test source that may be
95 % confidence that the probability of detection for the test
standard SNM, process SNM, or an alternative test source as
source used in the evaluation is greater than 0.50. Therefore,
described in Section 7 of Guide C993.
the hypothesis that the monitor is operating as expected is
8. Procedure accepted. Rejection criteria does not provide 95 % confidence
that the probability of detection is greater than 0.50, so the
8.1 Procedure for Nuisance Alarm Evaluation:
hypothesisisrejected.Inthatcase,themonitorcanberepaired,
8.1.1 Examine records of nuisance alarms when evaluating
recalibrated, and evaluated again. See 8.2.5 through 8.2.7 of
a monitor in routine service.
Guide C993 for a discussion of the criteria.
8.1.2 The record of alarms should be one generated at the
8.2.6 Other criteria (for more passages, different detection
m
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