IEC 63048-1:2026

• Abstract:

  IEC 63048-1:2026 is applicable to MRCSs for ground surveillance of a nuclear facility or in a radiological environment. This document describes the mission, operating conditions, reliability requirements, functional requirements, operational requirements, and test requirements of MRCS for ground surveillance of nuclear facilities.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Sep-2026
• ICS: 25.040.01 - Industrial automation systems in general
• ICS: 25.040.30 - Industrial robots. Manipulators
• ICS: 27.120 - Nuclear energy engineering
• Technical Committee: TC 45 - Nuclear instrumentation
• Drafting Committee: WG 18 - TC 45/WG 18
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 16-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 25-Sep-2026

IEC 63048-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Mobile remotely controlled systems (MRCSs) for nuclear and radiological
applications -
Part 1: Particular requirements for ground surveillance

ICS 27.120; 25.040.30; 25.040.01 ISBN 978-2-8327-1455-3

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CONTENTS
FOREWORD. 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 5
3.1 Terms and definitions . 5
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 6
4 General description . 6
4.1 Mission for surveillance . 6
4.2 Operation conditions for surveillance . 6
4.2.1 Radiation conditions for surveillance . 6
4.2.2 Mobility conditions for surveillance . 7
4.2.3 Thermal conditions for surveillance . 7
4.2.4 Communication conditions for surveillance . 7
4.2.5 Other conditions for surveillance . 8
4.3 Risk analysis and safety measures for surveillance . 8
5 Particular requirements . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Reliability requirements . 9
5.2.1 General . 9
5.2.2 Radiation tolerance . 9
5.2.3 Thermal tolerance . 10
5.2.4 Explosion protection . 10
5.2.5 Waterproof function . 10
5.2.6 Fail safe functionality . 11
5.3 Functional requirement . 11
5.3.1 General . 11
5.3.2 Functional requirements for surveillance . 11
5.3.3 Functional requirements for mobility . 13
5.3.4 Functional requirements for communication . 14
5.4 Operational requirements . 14
5.5 Test requirements . 14
6 Verification and validation . 15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Required verification and validation . 15
Annex A (normative) Surveillance conditions of radiation and temperature in nuclear
facilities . 17
A.1 Radiation conditions in nuclear facilities . 17
A.2 Temperature conditions in nuclear facilities . 18
Bibliography . 19

Table 1 – Verification and validation methods of surveillance MRCS requirements and
countermeasures . 16

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Mobile remotely controlled systems (MRCSs)
for nuclear and radiological applications -
Part 1: Particular requirements for ground surveillance

FOREWORD
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IEC 63048-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 45: Nuclear instrumentation. It is
an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
45/1055/FDIS 45/1065/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts of the IEC 63048 series of standards, published under the general title Mobile
remotely controlled systems (MRCSs) for nuclear and radiological applications, can be found
on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn, or
– revised.
INTRODUCTION
IEC 63048 provides the general requirements for mobile remotely controlled systems (MRCSs)
intended for various missions at nuclear facilities. Depending on the given missions, different
types of MRCSs can be used, and the requirements of the MRCSs are applied in different level.
A nuclear power plant as a representative nuclear facility, operates under various conditions,
such as normal operation, transient conditions, accident conditions and decommissioning;
although different missions are required in each operating mode, surveillance missions are
applicable to all operating modes.
Nuclear facilities are strictly regulated to prevent leakage of radioactive materials. Surveillance
is an important mission for all nuclear facilities.
All types of MRCSs (i.e. ground, aerial, under- or surface-water MRCSs, etc.) are useful for
surveillance of nuclear facilities; among them, ground MRCSs are widely used.
This document defines the requirements for ground surveillance.

1 Scope
This part of IEC 63048 is applicable to MRCSs for ground surveillance of a nuclear facility or in
a radiological environment. This document describes the mission, operating conditions,
reliability requirements, functional requirements, operational requirements, and test
requirements of MRCS for ground surveillance of nuclear facilities.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60079-0, Explosive atmospheres - Part 0: Equipment - General requirements
IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 63048:2020, Mobile remotely controlled systems for nuclear and radiological applications -
General requirements
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
– IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
– ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
mission
objective description of the fundamental task performed by a system
[SOURCE: IEC 63048:2020, 3.3]
3.1.2
mobile remotely controlled system
MRCS
robotics in nuclear instrumentation that are mobile, remotely controlled by an operator, and
consisting of sub-systems, modules or assemblies
EXAMPLE Subsystems, modules or assemblies are, for example, mechanical and electrical/electronical controls,
communications (between the operator and the robotic, and some robotic subsystems, modules or assemblies),
lighting and possibly audio subsystems, modules or assemblies, sampling and monitoring subsystems, modules or
assemblies, used for photographing the environment with video or still photos, sampling or monitoring the contacted
air or surfaces for radioactive materials, noxious gases and particulates such as asbestos, and performing other
designed activities, all controlled by the operator.
[SOURCE: IEC 63048:2020, 3.4]
3.1.3
surveillance
continual checking, critically observing or determining the status in order to identify change
from the risk (3.1.4) level required or expected
[SOURCE: ISO Guide 73:2009 [7], 3.8.2.1, modified – "Monitoring" has been changed to
"surveillance"; "Supervising" has been deleted, and "performance level" has been changed to
"risk". In addition, Note 1 to entry has been deleted.]
3.1.4
risk
potential that a given threat will exploit vulnerabilities of an asset or group of assets and thereby
cause harm to the organization
Note 1 to entry: Risk is measured in terms of combination of the severity of impact from the environment, probability
of the exposure time to the radiation and the controllability for MRCS.
[SOURCE: IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 17:2011, modified – The second sentence in the
definition has been removed, and Note 1 to entry has been added.]
3.2 Abbreviated terms
HMI Human-machine interface
IMU Inertial measurement unit
MRCS Mobile remotely controlled system
4 General description
4.1 Mission for surveillance
The missions for ground surveillance of a nuclear facility should include:
– survey radiation distribution;
– survey structural integrity of building and structures;
– survey environmental conditions;
– survey structural integrity of components or equipment or containers
A nuclear facility is distinct from other industrial facilities due to the presence of radioactive
materials. Typical nuclear facilities include:
– nuclear power plants;
– research reactors;
– irradiation facilities;
– nuclear fuel fabrication facilities;
– radioactive waste storage.
4.2 Operation conditions for surveillance
4.2.1 Radiation conditions for surveillance
The radiation level of the target facility shall be taken into account for the surveillance mission
(see Annex A). The radiation conditions of the MRCS for surveillance shall be as follows:
– High radiation conditions: Access of workers is prohibited due to high radiation, and MRCS
is essential for the surveillance mission. MRCS is exposed to high radiation most of the time
for the surveillance mission. Such conditions occur, for example, during maintenance inside
the reactor vessel, surveillance for abnormal releases of radioactive material, and
surveillance in a damaged reactor or reactor building under accident conditions.
– Intermediate radiation conditions: Workers' access is partially prohibited due to radiation,
and MRCS is required for long hours of surveillance mission. MRCS can be exposed to high
radiation levels during surveillance missions. Such conditions occur, for example, during
surveillance to detecting a missing radioactive source, surveillance in unmonitored areas,
and environmental surveillance for abnormal releases of radioactive material.
– Low radiation conditions: Access of workers is allowed, but MRCS is recommended for long
hours of surveillance mission or repeated surveillance missions. MRCSs are not exposed to
high radiation during each surveillance mission, but the total dose accumulated in some
periods is notably higher than the dose limit to radiation workers. Such conditions occur, for
example, during repeated surveillance in waste storage, regular monitoring in high radiation
zones, and regular surveillance in the nuclear facility.
4.2.2 Mobility conditions for surveillance
The mobility conditions of the MRCS for surveillance shall be as follows:
– High mobility constraints: The surveillance course in nuclear facilities is difficult to walk even
for human workers. MRCSs are exposed to high mobility constraints most of the time on the
surveillance course (e.g. the main facility in the containment building of a nuclear power
plant which can have steep steps, obstacles, narrow passages or sumps).
– Intermediate mobility constraints: The human worker can face some mobility constraints and
the MRCS can also face some obstacles such as steps.
– Low mobility constraints: MRCSs are not exposed to mobility constraints (e.g. the
surveillance course is composed of flat ground).
4.2.3 Thermal conditions for surveillance
The temperature of the target facility shall be taken into account for the surveillance mission
(see Annex A). The thermal conditions of the MRCS for surveillance shall be as follows:
– High heat conditions: Human worker presence is prohibited due to high heat. Most parts of
the surveillance course are exposed to a high temperature environment. The thermal
condition of the surveillance mission includes the abnormal condition of the nuclear facility.
– Intermediate heat conditions: A human worker is allowed for a limited time. Some parts of
the surveillance course are exposed to a temperature higher than the normal room
temperature. However, the thermal condition is bounded in the normal operation range of
the nuclear facility.
– Low heat conditions: Human worker presence is allowed. The surveillance course is at a
normal room temperature.
4.2.4 Communication conditions for surveillance
The communication conditions of the MRCS for surveillance shall be as follows:
– High constraint communication conditions: High level of electromagnetic interference exists
in the target area. Most parts of the surveillance course are divided or enclosed by thick
concrete walls or metal barriers. The MRCS is required to have reliable communication
methods for high level constraints of electromagnetic interference.
– Intermediate constraint communication conditions: Intermediate level of electromagnetic
interference exists in the target area. Some parts of the surveillance course are divided or
enclosed by concrete walls or metal barriers. The MRCS is required to have reliable
communication methods for intermediate level constraints of electromagnetic interference.
– Low constraint communication conditions: A low level of electromagnetic interference exists
in the target area. Most parts of the surveillance course consist of connected or open
spaces. The MRCS is required to have reliable communication methods for low level
constraints of electromagnetic interference.
4.2.5 Other conditions for surveillance
As mentioned in IEC 63048, an MRCS intended for surveillance at nuclear facilities should be
designed to account for environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, pressure,
vapour, and ionising radiation.
4.3 Risk analysis and safety measures for surveillance
To prevent or mitigate risks in the surveillance mission in nuclear facilities, necessary safety
measures shall be prepared for the MRCS.
These risks can occur due to various factors, including but not limited to the following ones:
– radiation condition of the MRCS for surveillance, as mentioned in 4.2.1;
– mobility condition of the MRCS for surveillance, as mentioned in 4.2.2;
– thermal condition of the MRCS for surveillance, as mentioned in 4.2.3;
– communication condition of the MRCS for surveillance, as mentioned in 4.2.4; and
– other conditions of the MRCS for surveillance, as mentioned in 4.2.5.
The safety measures for the MRCS for surveillance are considered in the system design and
development phases to mitigate the risks.
Appropriate safety measures shall be prepared based on the results of risk assessment.
5 Particular requirements
5.1 General
The requirements of the MRCS for surveillance shall be considered for the missions in 4.1 and
the conditions in 4.2.
Surveillance missions for nuclear facilities include particular or stricter missions, compared with
other industrial facilities.
– Surveillance for radiation:
• radiation levels inside or outside of nuclear facility;
• abnormality of radiation status;
• hot spot or location of radioactive abnormality.
– Surveillance for structure:
• structural integrity of facility;
• structural integrity of equipment, component or container;
• leakage of liquid or gas.
– Surveillance for environment:
• surveillance of abnormality of environment or air;
• surveillance of abnormality of heat or temperature;
• surveillance for fire or flood.
The MRCS shall be designed and manufactured to meet the requirements for the surveillance
missions.
The requirements defined in 5.2 to 5.5 are not necessarily related to all types of MRCSs, and
each of the requirements can selectively apply to the corresponding type of MRCS. This means
that one may add phrases, such as "if applicable" or "if necessary" to each of the requirements
defined in Clause 5.
These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following:
– reliability requirements;
– functional requirements;
– operational requirements; and
– test requirements.
5.2 Reliability requirements
5.2.1 General
The MRCSs intended for surveillance shall satisfy the safety requirements of IEC 63048. To
satisfy the safety requirement for surveillance application, the MRCS shall meet, but not be
limited to, the following reliability requirements:
– radiation tolerance;
– thermal tolerance;
– explosion protection;
– waterproof function; and
– fail safe functionality.
5.2.2 Radiation tolerance
MRCSs intended for surveillance shall comply with the safety requirements specified in
IEC 63048:2020, 6.2. To meet these requirements, the MRCS shall have reliable radiation
tolerance capabilities.
MRCSs shall be capable of operating under the radiation conditions specified in 4.2.1, which
can vary depending on the area where the MRCS is applied.
The following reliability requirements shall be satisfied, if applicable:
– High radiation tolerance: the surveillance course is exposed to high level of radioactivity,
and the MRCS shall withstand and operate reliably in high radiation condition. The general
electronic components of the MRCS can be damaged in the short period of time by radiation
exposure. The MRCS is required to have high level of radiation tolerance. To perform the
mission, the electronic components of the MRCS should use high level grade radiation-
resistant components. The total ionizing dose of the MRCS shall be guaranteed to at least
1 kGy.
– Intermediate radiation tolerance: the surveillance course
...