NORM projects: from practice to education

Abstract

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) are being handled in various types of companies. Currently the European Commission is recasting the basic safety standards (BSS). The new BSS contains a broad list of NORM industries and requires the determinations of the activity concentration of the used NORM. The new BSS also contains an indicative list of types of building materials considered for control measures with regard to their emitted gamma radiation.

In order to prepare the non-nuclear industry for the arrival of the new European legislation the XIOS Hogeschool Limburg has started up three NORM projects supported by EFRO (40 %) and the ministry of the Flemish community (45 %):

(1) In the recently completed NuTeC NORM project (Dec 2008 – Dec 2010) a database of the NORM traffic that passes through the port of Antwerp was constructed. Though measurements in the port of Antwerp and case studies at NORM processing companies a new user-friendly method for the determination of the activity concentration was developed. By means of training on the job and practical workshops workers at several companies were assisted in working with NORM.

(2) By means of the B-NORM project (Dec 2010 - Dec 2011), NuTeC is preparing the Flemish building sector for the arrival of the new European Regulations.

(3) In close collaboration with the European ALARA Network for NORM (EAN-NORM), NuTeC is organizing the 4th EAN-NORM workshop that will take place at Hasselt (Nov 29th – Dec 1st 2011). The 4th EAN-NORM workshop will focus on transportation of NORM, NORM Measurements and strategies and building materials. More information regarding the workshop can be found at: http://www.ean-norm.net/. The organisation of this workshop is a part of the EUR-NORM project (dec 2010 – dec 2011) in which NuTeC will also perform several prospection’s at European companies and organisations.

The projects and experiences acquired throughout the projects are implemented in the education and research of the XIOS and the UHasselt and open up new master and PhD topics. Next to topics directly related to the NORM projects also topics related to the treatment of NORM contaminated waste are being explored.