Operation
The operating authorization of the IRA-UPV, and therefore of the different units, is subject to compliance with the limits and conditions contained in the Technical Specifications (TS) of the IRA-1276, with reference CSN/IEV/MO-15/IRA-1276/15, partially modified by the Express Authorization CSN/AEX/MA-4/IRA-1276/15 of 27 of July 2015, which are in the possession of SRAD and the person in charge of each of the units. In addition, it must comply with the corresponding technical specifications of operation set forth in IS-28.
Each radioactive unit has an Interlocutor, who is normally the supervisor responsible for the radioactive unit, who sits on the UPV Radiation Service Board together with the Director of the SRAD.
The UPV Radiation Service Council meets at least once a year.
Each unit is characterized by: space, personnel, equipment, sources, monitors and control measures.
Regarding the spaces, their use is subject to limits and operating conditions that are included in the TE of the IRA-1276. The safety measures and signage are detailed in the technical report corresponding to the application for registration of the unit and its integration into the IRA-UPV.
Professionally exposed personnel have an activity license, either as supervisors or as operators of the facility, and are provided with personal dosimetry and undergo medical surveillance. Depending on the type of specific activity carried out in the facility, teaching and/or research, other personnel in training have access to the facility in the presence of licensed personnel with prior training in protection against the use of ionizing radiation.
Ionizing radiation generating equipment is fully registered and its use is limited to the conditions included in the IRA-UPV TE. Quality control and periodic revisions are carried out according to the type of equipment.
Encapsulated and non-encapsulated sources, origin of ionizing radiation, are also perfectly censored and their use is limited to the conditions included in the IRA-UPV TE. There is a regulatory protocol for the acquisition, transport, reception and storage of sources, which shall not exceed the limits authorized for the category of the IRA-UPV facility or, failing that, the exemption limits. In addition, certain encapsulated sources are subjected to periodic checks to verify their tightness. On the other hand, the non-encapsulated sources are a potential source of radioactive wastes which are managed on the basis of the conditions imposed in the TE of the IRA-UPV, and which in the last case are removed by ENRESA as authorized manager. The encapsulated sources out of use are also removed by ENRESA.
The use of equipment and sources of ionizing radiation is carried out in the presence of radiation and/or contamination monitors assigned to each radioactive unit, according to the specific type of equipment/source of ionizing radiation. These monitors must be calibrated and verified with the periodicity imposed in the conditions included in the TE of the IRA-UPV. The type and frequency of calibration and verification is not homogeneous and also depends on the type of equipment/source of radiation present in the unit.
Each facility is subject to administrative control which, together with the safety measures described above, is aimed at the radiological protection of the professionals and other members of the staff exposed to ionizing radiation generated in the facility. The administrative control includes the operating log, where the operations and incidents in the use of the facility are noted, the annual report submitted to the Generalitat Valenciana and the Nuclear Safety Council, and the Annual Inspection carried out by the Generalitat Valenciana within the framework of its competences.