Subsection 3: Reducing human exposure to gamma radiation from construction materials in buildings

The reference level for human exposure to gamma radiation emitted by construction materials inside buildings, in addition to natural exposure outside the building, is set at 1 mSv per year in effective dose.

I.-Distributors, suppliers and producers of natural materials or industrial residues likely to cause exposure to gamma radiation in excess of the reference level laid down in article R. 1333-38 must provide users of these natural materials or industrial residues with the mass concentrations of natural radionuclides present obtained by radiological characterisation. II – The radiological characterisations provided for in I are carried out by bodies accredited by the French Accreditation…

The natural materials and industrial residues concerned by the obligation of radiological characterisation mentioned in article R. 1333-39 are : 1° Natural materials : a) Alum shales ; b) Building materials or additives of natural magmatic origin, such as : i) Granitoids, such as granite, syenite and orthogneiss ; ii) Porphyry ; iii) Tuff iv) Pozzolan ; v) Lava; 2° Materials containing residues from industries processing naturally radioactive materials, such…

I.-Distributors, suppliers and manufacturers of construction products containing natural materials or industrial residues mentioned in article R. 1333-40 indicate an activity concentration index (I) in the documents providing the characteristics of these products from 1st July 2020. II.-The activity concentration index (I) is calculated by applying the following formula: You can consult the full text with its images from the authenticated electronic extract from the Official Journal at the bottom…

The results of the radiological characterisations of construction products containing natural materials or industrial residues mentioned in article R. 1333-40 and the corresponding activity concentration indices (I) are communicated by the distributors, suppliers and manufacturers concerned, on request, to the relevant government departments or to the Nuclear Safety Authority.

Building constructors, as defined inarticle 1792-1 of the French Civil Code, take into account the activity concentration indices (I) of construction products when designing a building and implement the necessary measures to reduce exposure to ionising radiation emitted by these products inside the building.

An order of the ministers responsible for radiation protection and construction defines the conditions under which the technical guidelines for use impose specific requirements on the use of construction products whose activity concentration index (I) is greater than 1, in the absence of a specific study establishing that there is no risk of exceeding the reference level set in Article R. 1333-38. A methodological guide approved by order of the…