ASTM_C_1592_-_C_1592M_-_09.pdf

Designation:C1592/C1592M09Standard Guide forMaking Quality Nondestructive Assay Measurements1This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1592/C1592M;the number immediately following the designation indicates theyear of original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of lastreapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This guide is a compendium of Quality MeasurementPractices for performing measurements of radioactive materialusing nondestructive assay(NDA)instruments.The primarypurpose of the guide is to assist users in arriving at qualityNDA results,that is,results that satisfy the end users needs.This is accomplished by providing an acceptable and uniformbasis for the collection,analysis,comparison,and applicationof data.The recommendations are not compulsory or prereq-uisites to achieving quality NDA measurements,but areconsidered contributory in most areas.1.2 This guide applies to the use of NDA instrumentationfor the measurement of nuclear materials by the observation ofspontaneous or stimulated nuclear radiations,includingphotons,neutrons,or the flow of heat.Recommendedcalibration,operating,and assurance methods represent guid-ing principles based on current NDA technology.The diversityof industry-wide nuclear materials measurement applicationsand instrumentation precludes discussion of specific measure-ment situations.As a result,compliance with practices recom-mended in this guide must be based on a thorough understand-ing of contributing variables and performance requirements ofthe specific measurement application.1.3 Selection of the best instrument for a given measure-ment application and advice on the use of this instrument mustbe provided by a qualified NDA professional following guid-ance provided in Guide C1490.This guide is to be used as areference,and to supplement the critical thinking,professionalskill,expert judgment,and experimental test and verificationneeded to ensure that the instrumentation and methods havebeen properly implemented.1.4 The intended audience for this guide includes but is notlimited to Management,Auditor Support,NDA QualifiedInstrument Operators,NDA Technical Specialists,and NDAProfessionals.1.5 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2C1030 Test Method for Determination of Plutonium IsotopicComposition by Gamma-Ray SpectrometryC1133 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of SpecialNuclear Material in Low-Density Scrap and Waste bySegmented Passive Gamma-Ray ScanningC1207 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutoniumin Scrap and Waste by Passive Neutron CoincidenceCountingC1215 Guide for Preparing and Interpreting Precision andBias Statements in Test Method Standards Used in theNuclear IndustryC1221 Test Method for Nondestructive Analysis of SpecialNuclear Materials in Homogeneous Solutions by Gamma-Ray SpectrometryC1254 Test Method for Determination of Uranium in Min-eral Acids by X-Ray FluorescenceC1268 Test Method for Quantitative Determination of241Am in Plutonium by Gamma-Ray SpectrometryC1316 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of NuclearMaterial in Scrap and Waste by Passive-Active NeutronCounting Using252Cf ShufflerC1455 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of SpecialNuclear Material Holdup Using Gamma-Ray Spectro-scopic MethodsC1458 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutonium,Tritium and241Am by Calorimetric AssayC1490 Guide for the Selection,Training and Qualification ofNondestructive Assay(NDA)PersonnelC1493 Test Method for Non-Destructive Assay of NuclearMaterial in Waste by Passive and Active Neutron Count-ing Using a Differential Die-Away System1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear FuelCycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.10 on Non DestructiveAssay.Current edition approved June 1,2009.Published July 2009.Originally approvedin 2004.Last previous edition approved in 2004 as C1592 04.DOI:10.1520/C1592_C1592M-09.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 C1500 Test Method for Nondestructive Assay of Plutoniumby Passive Neutron Multiplicity CountingC1514 Test Method for Measurement of235U Fraction UsingEnrichment Meter PrincipleC1673 Terminology of C26.10 Nondestructive Assay Meth-ods3.Terminology3.1 Definitions presented here are confined to those termsnot d