WAC 246-243-040   Equipment performance requirements.  Equipment used in industrial radiography operations must meet the following minimum criteria:

     (1)(a) Each radiographic exposure device, source assembly or sealed source, and all associated equipment must meet the requirements specified in American National Standards Institute, N432-1980 "Radiological Safety for the Design and Construction of Apparatus for Gamma Radiography," (published as NBS Handbook 136, issued January 1981). Copies of the document are available for inspection at the Department of Health, Division of Radiation Protection, Olympia, Washington.

     (b) Engineering analysis may be submitted by an applicant or licensee to demonstrate the applicability of previously performed testing on similar individual radiography equipment components. Upon review, the department may find this an acceptable alternative to actual testing of the component pursuant to the above referenced standard.

     (c) Notwithstanding (a) of this subsection, equipment used in industrial radiographic operations need not comply with § 8.9.2(c) of the Endurance Test in American National Standards Institute N432-1980, if the prototype equipment has been tested using a torque value representative of the torque that an individual using the radiography equipment can realistically exert on the lever or crankshaft of the drive mechanism.

     (2) In addition to the requirements specified in subsection (1) of this section, the following requirements apply to radiographic exposure devices, source changers, source assemblies and sealed sources.

     (a) The licensee shall ensure that each radiographic exposure device has attached to it a durable, legible, clearly visible label bearing the:

     (i) Chemical symbol and mass number of the radionuclide in the device;

     (ii) Activity and the date on which this activity was last measured;

     (iii) Model (or product code) and serial number of the sealed source;

     (iv) Manufacturer's identity of the sealed source; and

     (v) Licensee's name, address, and telephone number.

     (b) Radiographic exposure devices intended for use as Type B transport containers must meet the applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 71.

     (c) Modification of radiographic exposure devices, source changers, and source assemblies and associated equipment is prohibited, unless the design of any replacement component, including source holder, source assembly, controls or guide tubes would not compromise the design safety features of the system.

     (3) In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the following requirements apply to radiographic exposure devices, source assemblies, and associated equipment that allow the source to be moved out of the device for radiographic operations or to source changers.

     (a) The coupling between the source assembly and the control cable must be designed in such a manner that the source assembly will not become disconnected if cranked outside the guide tube. The coupling must be such that it can not be unintentionally disconnected under normal and reasonably foreseeable abnormal conditions.

     (b) The device must automatically secure the source assembly when it is cranked back into the fully shielded position within the device. The securing system may only be released by means of a deliberate operation on the exposure device.

     (c) The outlet fittings, lock box, and drive cable fitting on each radiographic exposure device must be equipped with safety plugs or covers which must be installed during storage and transportation to protect the source assembly from water, mud, sand, or other foreign matter.

     (d)(i) Each sealed source or source assembly must have attached to it or engraved on it, a durable, legible, visible label with the words: "DANGER -- RADIOACTIVE."

     (ii) The label may not interfere with the safe operation of the exposure device or associated equipment.

     (e) The guide tube must be able to withstand a crushing test that closely approximates the crushing forces that are likely to be encountered during use, and be able to withstand a kinking resistance test that closely approximates the kinking forces likely to be encountered during use.

     (f) Guide tubes must be used when moving the source out of the device.

     (g) An exposure head or similar device designed to prevent the source assembly from passing out of the end of the guide tube must be attached to the outermost end of the guide tube during radiographic operations.

     (h) The guide tube exposure head connection must be able to withstand the tensile test for control units specified in ANSI N432-1980.

     (i) Source changers must provide a system for ensuring that the source will not be accidentally withdrawn from the changer when connecting or disconnecting the drive cable to or from a source assembly.

     (4) All radiographic exposure devices and associated equipment in use after January 1, 1998, must comply with the requirements of this section.

     (5) The maximum exposure rate limits for storage containers and source changers with the sealed source in the shielded position are:

     (a) 2 millisieverts (200 millirem) per hour at any exterior surface; and

     (b) 0.1 millisieverts (10 millirem) per hour at one meter from any exterior surface.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050. 99-05-012, § 246-243-040, filed 2/5/99, effective 3/8/99; 94-01-073, § 246-243-040, filed 12/9/93, effective 1/9/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-243-040, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.98.050. 81-01-011 (Order 1570), § 402-36-030, filed 12/8/80; Order 1084, § 402-36-030, filed 1/14/76; Order 1, § 402-36-030, filed 1/8/69; Rules (part), filed 10/26/66.]