ASTM C1592/C1592M-21
(Guide)Standard Guide for Making Quality Nondestructive Assay Measurements
Standard Guide for Making Quality Nondestructive Assay Measurements
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 NDA measurement practices aimed at achieving quality results are described in this guide. The application of the material provided in this guide should be determined on a case by case basis. Not all elements are required for all applications.
4.2 Nondestructive assay measurements are typically performed when the items measured or goals of the measurement program favor or require NDA over destructive analysis. NDA is typically favored when collecting a representative sample of the item is difficult or impractical (for example, scrap and waste items), personnel exposure would be significant, spread of contamination from sampling would occur, generation of secondary waste must be minimized, the weight and/or tare weight of the item cannot easily be determined (for example, in place process equipment), rapid turn-around of the measurement results is needed, or the NDA measurement is significantly less expensive than the equivalent destructive analysis.
4.3 The principles provided in this guide should be used to determine which type of measurement is best suited to the measurement application. This determination involves consideration of the characteristics of the items to be measured, as well as the goals of the measurement program.
4.4 This guide applies to the suite of NDA instruments and measurement methods, many of which are described in detail in Refs (1) and (2) .7 A partial listing of measurement methods and applicable use references is provided in 5.5.1. It is incumbent upon the user to seek additional guidance within ASTM method-specific standards, as this guide does not take precedence. Additional information on specific methods is best found in technical meeting transactions, journals, commercial application notes, and NRC/DOE publications.
4.5 This guide may be applied to many situations spanning the range of nuclear materials from product through waste. Typical applications include: the measurement and characterization of transuranic wastes,...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is a compendium of Quality Measurement Practices for performing measurements of radioactive material using nondestructive assay (NDA) instruments. The primary purpose of the guide is to assist users in arriving at quality NDA results, that is, results that satisfy the end user’s needs. This is accomplished by providing an acceptable and uniform basis for the collection, analysis, comparison, and application of data. The recommendations are guidelines to achieving quality NDA measurements in most areas.
1.2 This guide applies to the use of NDA instrumentation for the measurement of nuclear materials by the observation of spontaneous or stimulated nuclear or atomic radiations, including photons, neutrons, or heat. Recommended calibration, operating, and assurance methods represent guiding principles based on current NDA technology. The diversity of industry-wide nuclear materials measurement applications and instrumentation precludes discussion of specific measurement situations. As a result, compliance with practices recommended in this guide must be based on a thorough understanding of contributing variables and performance requirements of the specific measurement application.
1.3 Selection of the best instrument for a given measurement application and advice on the use of this instrument must be provided by a qualified NDA professional following guidance provided in Guide C1490. This guide is to be used as a reference, and to supplement the critical thinking, professional skill, expert judgment, and experimental test and verification needed to ensure that the instrumentation and methods have been properly implemented.
1.4 The intended audience for this guide includes but is not limited to Management, Auditor Support, NDA Qualified Instrument Operators, NDA Technical Specialists, and NDA Professionals.
1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as...
General Information
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: C1592/C1592M − 21
Standard Guide for
1
Making Quality Nondestructive Assay Measurements
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1592/C1592M; 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 each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to
ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be
1.1 This guide is a compendium of Quality Measurement
used independently of the other, and values from the two
Practices for performing measurements of radioactive material
systems shall not be combined.
using nondestructive assay (NDA) instruments. The primary
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
purpose of the guide is to assist users in arriving at quality
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
NDA results, that is, results that satisfy the end user’s needs.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
This is accomplished by providing an acceptable and uniform
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
basis for the collection, analysis, comparison, and application
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of data. The recommendations are guidelines to achieving
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
quality NDA measurements in most areas.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2 This guide applies to the use of NDA instrumentation
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
for the measurement of nuclear materials by the observation of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
spontaneous or stimulated nuclear or atomic radiations, includ-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ing photons, neutrons, or heat. Recommended calibration,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
operating, and assurance methods represent guiding principles
based on current NDA technology. The diversity of industry-
2. Referenced Documents
wide nuclear materials measurement applications and instru-
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mentation precludes discussion of specific measurement situ-
C986 Guide for Developing Training Programs in the
ations.As a result, compliance with practices recommended in
3
Nuclear Fuel Cycle (Withdrawn 2001)
this guide must be based on a thorough understanding of
C1009 Guide for Establishing and Maintaining a Quality
contributing variables and performance requirements of the
AssuranceProgramforAnalyticalLaboratoriesWithinthe
specific measurement application.
Nuclear Industry
1.3 Selection of the best instrument for a given measure-
C1030 TestMethodforDeterminationofPlutoniumIsotopic
ment application and advice on the use of this instrument must
Composition by Gamma-Ray Spectrometry
be provided by a qualified NDA professional following guid-
C1068 Guide for Qualification of Measurement Methods by
ance provided in Guide C1490. This guide is to be used as a
a Laboratory Within the Nuclear Industry
reference, and to supplement the critical thinking, professional
C1128 Guide for Preparation of Working Reference Materi-
skill, expert judgment, and experimental test and verification
als for Use in Analysis of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Materials
needed to ensure that the instrumentation and methods have
C1133/C1133M Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of
been properly implemented.
SpecialNuclearMaterialinLow-DensityScrapandWaste
by Segmented Passive Gamma-Ray Scanning
1.4 The intended audience for this guide includes but is not
C1156 Guide for Establishing Calibration for a Measure-
limited to Management, Auditor Support, NDA Qualified
ment Method Used to Analyze Nuclear Fuel Cycle Mate-
Instrument Operators, NDA Technical Specialists, and NDA
rials
Professionals.
C1207 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutonium
1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
in Scrap and Waste by Passive Neutron Coincidence
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Counting
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel
2
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.10 on Non Destructive For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Assay. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved June 1, 2021. Published November 2021. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Docum
...
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