5 Risk Groups in Preparation for Response and Response Activities to Radiation and Nuclear Incidents

5 Risk Groups in Radiation and Nuclear Incident Preparedness and Response Activities

- Risk Group I:

Risk Group I consists of facilities where incidents that occur within the facility (including incidents with very low probability) have the potential to cause deterministic effects that seriously affect public health outside the facility.

Typical facilities in Risk Group I:

+ Reactors with a capacity of 100 MW (th) or greater (energy reactors, nuclear-powered ships, and research reactors).

+ Spent fuel pools capable of containing burnt fuel rods with total activity levels exceeding 10^17 Bq Cs-137 (equivalent to the capacity of the core of a 3000 MW (th) reactor).

+ Facilities storing radioactive materials that could disperse and cause serious deterministic effects outside the area.

- Risk Group II:

Risk Group II consists of facilities where incidents occurring within the facility have the potential to increase doses to the public outside the facility and require emergency protective actions according to national or international standards. Risk Group II does not include facilities in Risk Group I.

Typical facilities in Risk Group II:

+ Reactors with a capacity from 2 MW (th) to 100 MW (th).

+ Spent fuel pools requiring cooling operations.

+ Facilities that could lose control within a 0.5 km radius from the outer boundary of the facility area.

+ Facilities storing radioactive materials that could disperse and cause doses requiring emergency protective actions outside the area.

- Risk Group III:

Risk Group III consists of facilities where incidents occurring within the facility have the potential to increase doses or contamination requiring emergency protective actions within the facility.

Typical facilities in Risk Group III:

+ Facilities capable of causing an external direct radiation dose rate of 100 mGy/h or greater at 1m if shielding is lost.

+ Facilities that could lose control over an area of 0.5 km or more from the outer boundary of the facility area.

+ Reactors with a capacity of 2 MW (th) or less.

+ Facilities storing radioactive materials that could disperse and cause doses requiring emergency protective actions within the facility's area.

- Risk Group IV:

Risk Group IV includes activities and actions that could cause radiation or nuclear incidents requiring protective actions in any area.

Risk Group IV may include:

+ Radiation work activities licensed for radiation operations;

+ Unauthorized activities such as illegal trade, illegal storage of radioactive sources, sabotage, terrorism;

+ Uncontrolled radioactive sources;

+ Detection of increased radiation levels from an unknown source or contaminated goods;

+ Determination of clinical symptoms caused by radiation exposure;

+ Cross-border incidents not categorized in Risk Group V arising from a radiation or nuclear incident in another country.

- Risk Group V:

Risk Group V consists of areas within the zones and areas prepared for incident response (PAZ, UPZ, EPD, ICPD) of a country for a facility in Risk Group I or II of another country.

Circular 12/2023/TT-BKHCN takes effect from August 18, 2023, and replaces Circular 25/2014/TT-BKHCN.

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