CSA N288.3:26

Preface This is the first edition of CSA N288.3, Performance testing of nuclear air-cleaning systems at nuclear facilities . It supersedes the previous edition published in 2013 under the designation CSA N288.3.4. It is part of the CSA N288 series of standards and guidelines on environmental management of nuclear facilities. The following are the major changes to this edition: a) harmonization and streamlining of content to interface with CSA N288.0; and b) updated references and guidance to reflect current practice. The CSA N-series of standards provides an interlinked set of requirements for the management of nuclear facilities and activities. CSA N286 provides overall direction to develop and implement sound management practices and controls, while the other CSA Group nuclear standards provide specific technical requirements and guidance that support the management system. This Standard works in harmony with CSA N286 and does not duplicate the generic requirements of CSA N286; however, it can provide more specific direction for those requirements. Users of this Standard are reminded that additional and site-specific requirements might be specified by federal, provincial or municipal authorities. This Standard should not be considered as a replacement for the requirements contained in the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its Regulations, or in other legislation, standards, or guides. This Standard addresses the design, implementation, and management of a nuclear air-cleaning system testing program that meets legal and business requirements, and incorporates current best practices and technologies used internationally. This Standard was prepared by the Subcommittee on Performance Testing of Air-Cleaning Systems at Nuclear Facilities, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Environmental Management for Nuclear Facilities and the Strategic Steering Committee on Nuclear Standards, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. Scope 1.1 Application This Standard addresses the design and execution of nuclear air-cleaning system testing programs. Notes: 1) The operating organization is responsible for determining the applicability and suitability of this Standard in consultation with the AHJ. 2) Nuclear facilities that typically use this Standard consist of certain Class I nuclear facilities. 3) Parts of this Standard could also be relevant to the design and execution of a nuclear air-cleaning system testing program for a) Class II nuclear facilities; b) institutions operating under the authority of a nuclear substances and radiation devices licence; c) facilities that use or store naturally occurring radioactive materials; and d) waste nuclear substance licensees. 1.2 Facility lifecycle This Standard addresses nuclear air-cleaning system testing performed during commissioning, operation, and decommissioning of the facility. 1.3 Emissions covered under this Standard This Standard provides information about testing of nuclear air-cleaning systems that remove radioactive particulate matter and iodine species from emissions streams. 1.4 Operating conditions This Standard provides guidance for the design and execution of a testing program for nuclear air-cleaning systems used for a) normal operation; b) emergency operation; c) operation following upset, maintenance, engineering, or procedural changes with the potential to affect system performance; and d) operation following engineering changes that might affect system performance. Note: Any release resulting from a deviation from routine operational practice that is expected to occur once or several times during the operating lifetime of a nuclear facility or licensed activity (i.e., reasonably foreseeable upset events, also known as anticipated operational occurrences, including leaks or spills) is considered part of normal operation. 1.5 Qualifications of staff This Standard provides guidance in the training and qualifications of staff performing the following tasks: a) testing; b) designing or reviewing a testing program for a nuclear air-cleaning system; and c) training staff to perform testing on nuclear air-cleaning systems and administer a testing program. 1.6 Exclusions 1.6.1 Environmental and emissions monitoring Equipment in a nuclear air-cleaning system that is installed specifically for the collection and quantification of airborne substances (e.g., in emissions and environmental monitoring programs) or for the mitigation of non-radioactive hazardous substances is excluded from testing programs conforming to this Standard. For the design and execution of environmental monitoring programs and effluent and emissions monitoring programs, refer to CSA N288.4 and CSA N288.5, respectively. 1.6.2 Testing of process off-gas treatment systems This Standard does not apply to nuclear air-cleaning systems that are designed to abate noble gases, tritium, or carbon-14 releases. 1.7 Terminology In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.