NP 038-16 PDF

Full title and description

NP‑038‑16 — Federal rules and regulations in the field of atomic energy use: "General provisions of safety assurance for radioactive (radiation) sources". The document establishes classification, principles and mandatory safety requirements for design, manufacture, siting, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of radioactive sources (sealed and unsealed), and was approved by Order No. 405 of the Federal Service for Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision (Rostekhnadzor).

Abstract

NP‑038‑16 defines aims, basic principles, safety criteria and defense‑in‑depth measures for radioactive sources used in industry, medicine, science and other sectors. It classifies sources by type, mobility and radiation‑hazard category; sets requirements for safety documentation (including safety analysis reports), quality assurance, physical barriers, administrative and technical measures, and emergency preparedness; and specifies applicability and exclusions. The standard replaces earlier NP‑038 editions and incorporates national law references and IAEA recommendations.

General information

• Status: Active federal rules and regulations (implemented; subject to amendments).
• Publication date: Introduced into force 5 November 2016 (approved by Order dated 28 September 2016 No. 405).
• Publisher: Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service — Rostekhnadzor).
• ICS / categories: Nuclear and radiation safety; regulatory framework for atomic energy use; radiation protection and radioactive source management (cataloged under Russian "NP" federal rules).
• Edition / version: NP‑038‑16 (2016). Issued in replacement of NP‑038‑11; later amended (notably by Order No. 293 dated 10 July 2018).
• Number of pages: Published text editions show page counts reported between ~20 and ~42 pages in commercial and repository listings; the official full text as distributed in regulatory collections runs to multiple dozen pages (common distributions list 42 pages).

Scope

NP‑038‑16 applies to complexes, installations, equipment and items containing radioactive substances (sealed and unsealed radionuclide sources) that are subject to state accounting and control and used across siting, design, manufacture, commissioning, operation and decommissioning stages. It excludes radioactive sources used for military nuclear weapons activities and certain military nuclear installations, and provides provisions that are selectively applicable depending on source category, mobility and class of work.

Key topics and requirements

• Classification of radioactive sources by type (sealed/unsealed), mobility (stationary/mobile) and radiation‑hazard category (Categories 1–5).
• Safety aims and criteria: protection of workers, public and environment; limits on exposures and releases; requirement to meet applicable radiation safety limits.
• Defense‑in‑depth concept applied to radioactive sources with five protection/management levels (from siting/design prevention through emergency preparedness and response).
• Design and technical documentation requirements, including specification of reliability parameters and safety analysis (SAR) obligations for higher‑category sources.
• Quality assurance, personnel selection and training, safety culture, and documentation/recordkeeping obligations.
• Requirements for administrative and technical measures, physical barriers, diagnostics, maintenance, and criteria for stopping operation if barriers are inoperable.
• Applicability rules for siting, construction and decommissioning phases and the need to account for operating experience and state of the art.

Typical use and users

Primary users are regulatory authorities, licensees and operating organizations of radioactive sources, designers and manufacturers of radiation equipment, radiological safety specialists, health‑physics professionals, facility managers (medical, industrial, research), and organizations performing decommissioning, transport and waste management. The document is used to develop safety cases, safety analysis reports, operating procedures, quality assurance programs and emergency plans in the Russian regulatory context.

Related standards

NP‑038‑16 is part of the Russian suite of federal rules and regulations on atomic energy use. It replaces NP‑038‑11 and is referenced alongside related NP documents such as NP‑014‑16, NP‑053‑16, NP‑067‑16 and other RB/Safety Guide documents used for implementation guidance and physical protection recommendations.

Keywords

radioactive source; radiation source; sealed radionuclide source (SRS); unsealed radionuclide source (URS); radiation safety; nuclear regulation; safety analysis report (SAR); defense‑in‑depth; Rostekhnadzor; NP‑038‑16.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: NP‑038‑16 is a Russian federal rules-and-regulations document that sets the general provisions for assurance of safety for radioactive (radiation) sources used in civil activities; it is an official regulatory instrument approved by Rostekhnadzor.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers classification of sources, safety aims and criteria, defense‑in‑depth measures, design and operation requirements, quality assurance, documentation (including SAR obligations), emergency preparedness, and the scope of applicability across siting, design, operation and decommissioning.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Regulators, operating organizations and licensees of radioactive sources, designers and manufacturers, radiation safety specialists, facility managers in medicine/industry/research, and consultants working on compliance and decommissioning use NP‑038‑16.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: NP‑038‑16 entered into force on 5 November 2016 (approved by Order No. 405 dated 28 September 2016) and replaced NP‑038‑11. It has been subject to subsequent amendments (for example, an amendment introduced by Order No. 293 dated 10 July 2018). Users should check the regulator's official register or consolidated texts for any later amendments or replacements.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — NP‑038‑16 is one document in the set of Russian "NP" federal rules and regulations governing atomic energy use; it is cross‑referenced with other NP and RB documents that provide specific rules or guidance for accounting, physical protection, transport, investigation of violations and related topics.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Radioactive source; radiation safety; sealed radionuclide source; unsealed radionuclide source; safety analysis report; defense‑in‑depth; Rostekhnadzor; NP‑038‑16.