Regulation Resources - Exemption Orders

Radioactive Substances (Electronic Valves) Exemption Order

This order may conditionally exempt persons from the requirement to be registered for keeping and using radioactive material, and to be authorised for the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste. We recommend you consult a radiation protection adviser as to the applicability of this order for your specific circumstances. We would also point out that compliance with this order requires meeting specific conditions. Furthermore, using this order does not exempt you from the requirements of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999.

Radioactive Substances (Exhibitions) Exemption Order

This exemption order exempts persons conditionally from registration under RSA93 for keeping and use of radioactive materials for the purpose of demonstration at an exhibition. There are exclusions (e.g. can not be applied to schools or retailers). If in doubt as to the applicability of this order, we suggest you consult a radiation protection adviser.

Radioactive Substances (Gaseous Tritium Light Devices) Exemption Order

This order is concerned with exemptions and exclusions from the requirements of registrations and authorisations with respect to articles which contain tritium gas. It is generally used for illuminants (e.g. safety signs) and other similar articles which incorporate tritium gas in individual containers within the article. Whilst this order has not been revoked, we suggest you talk to a RPA if you believe you are covered by it. In the late 80's research indicated that many unregistered articles were not covered by this order because the assumed 'elemental' tritium was in fact in the form of titrated compounds. Contact us if you require assistance.

Radioactive Substances (Geological Specimens) Exemption Order

This order provides exemption from registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for specimens of rock or mineral containing natural uranium and / or thorium. It also provides conditional exemption from needing an authorisation to dispose of such specimens (or materials contaminated by them) as radioactive waste. You should be aware that there are limits applied to the total holdings exempted for registration, some entities have had to obtain registration since their holdings exceed this limits (e.g. some museums).

Radioactive Substances (Lead) Exemption Order

This order allows unconditional exemption from registration for users of material which consists of (or contains) "natural lead" (defined in the order). It also provides unconditional exemption from requiring an authorisation for the accumulation or disposal of lead materials as 'radioactive waste'. As always, we advise that you read the order carefully to decide its applicability in your particular case - contact us if you are not sure.

Radioactive Substances (Luminous Articles) Exemption Order

This order provides exemption and exclusion from registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in respect of luminous articles (e.g. instruments, signs, indicators, clocks and watches). The order also provides for conditional exemption from the need to be authorised under the Act for the accumulation or disposal of radioactive waste arising out of the articles (or their use). There are some specific differences in compliance requirements for the two classes of article covered under the order - e.g. the radioactive material in a Class A article must be covered by glass or other protective coating except when cleaning, testing, maintaining or inspecting.

Radioactive Substances (Phosphatic Substances, Rare Earths etc.) Exemption Order

This order provides unconditional exemption from registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for keeping and use of radioactive materials comprising of phosphatic substances, rare earth and articles within specified limits. The order also provides unconditional exemption under the same Act for authorisations for accumulation or disposal of radioactive waste.

Radioactive Substances (Precipitated Phosphate) Exemption Order

This order provides exemption from registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 with respect to entities which use or keep precipitated phosphate. This order has limited use outside agriculture (or manufacturing, where it is produced). It applies where precipitated phosphate (a by product of sodium phosphate) is used for applying to land (i.e. agriculture) or the production of mixtures for application (e.g. mixing with other materials for subsequent application on land). The order also allows for storage.

Radioactive Substances (Prepared Uranium & Thorium Compounds) Exemption Order

This order conditionally allows exemption from registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for keeping and using prepared uranium and thorium compounds - specifically for use in laboratory work and similar (e.g. microscopy). It also provides exemption (in some cases conditionally), from the need for an authorisation under the same Act, for the accumulation and disposal of such compounds (or articles contaminated by those compounds) as radioactive waste. You should use this order with care if you wish to dispose of prepared uranium and thorium since they will also be classed as special (hazardous) waste. We are happy to provide advice if required.

Radioactive Substances (Schools etc.) Exemption Order

This order provides conditional exemption for certain schools and colleges of further education from registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for keeping and use of open and closed radioactive sources. It also provides some additional exclusion from being authorised for the accumulation and disposal of radioactive materials. Like many of the orders careful interpretation is required. For example, open source material can be held within specified limits but must not contain Sr-90 or alpha emitters. Furthermore, many establishments, who are not under local educational control (e.g. private schools or colleges), are not covered under this order (but may be under other orders listed on this page).

Radioactive Substances (Smoke Detectors) Exemption Order

This order exempts persons (conditionally) from requiring registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 to hold radioactive material (i.e. closed Am-241 sources of limited activity in smoke detectors). It also conditionally exempts authorisations under the same Act for accumulation and disposal of the sources. The order will apply to spoke detectors containing Am-241 where the total activity in aggregate (within each detector) is <40KBq, or <4MBq for all other radionuclides (but where the detector is 'fixed' to the premises). For unfixed Am-241 detectors there is a maximum limit of 500 allowed on the premises at any one time (this was changed from 100 by an amendment in 1991). The order also permits up to 10 detectors at a time to be used in mobile equipment (negating the need for a mobile registration). The order allows for disposal to a contractor or refuse, but if refuse is the chosen method then strict limits apply on activity per volume of refuse.

Radioactive Substances (Storage in Transit) Exemption Order

This order provides exclusion from the need to have registrations under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 in respect of storage, during transit, of radioactive material. The exclusion is conditional in some cases and needs to be considered in conjunction with other legislation, in particular the Radioactive Material Road Transport Regulations 2002 - particularly for current definitions of 'in transit'.

Radioactive Substances (Substances of Low Activity) Exemption Order

This order provides exemption from registration for holding and use of low activity radioactive materials, and authorisation for accumulation and disposal or radioactive wastes (all under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993). The activity criteria for radioactive wastes subject to this order are solid wastes (but not closed sources) where the activity concentration is < 0.4 Bq/g, organic liquid comprising of C-14 or H-4 where the activity concentration is < 4Bq/ml (this value was amended by a 1992 order from the incorrectly stated 0.4 Bq/ml as appears in this order), and gases with a half-life not exceed 100 seconds. Like all orders some careful inspection and interpretation is advised. For example, solid waste must be waste which is not a closed source but also is substantially insoluble in water.

Radioactive Substances (Testing Instruments) (England & Wales) Exemption Order 2006

This order provides exclusion from the requirements of registration (for keeping and use) and authorisation (for accumulation & disposal) of radioactive closed sources used in testing instruments. The order applies to specific types of sources (e.g. sealed, electro-deposited and tritium foil sources) and for specific circumstances e.g. on-site or mobile use. This order updates the 1985 order, referring to RSA93 and allowing Ni-63 sources to be used as mobile sources (not allowed under the 1985 order). The order is not applicable to premises that manufacture, store, hire or exhibit sources. If you need advice on the use of this order then please contact us.

Radioactive Substances (Uranium and Thorium) Exemption Order

This order exempts absolutely (or conditionally) the requirement for a registration under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for the keeping and use of radioactive material (i.e. natural uranium or thorium as defined in the order). Examples of allowable material include thoriated tungsten, thoriated hardened metal alloys, incandescent mantles, refractory material and uraniated glass. The order also allows for exemption from the requirements for an authorisation under the same Act for the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste, arising directly or indirectly from the keeping and use of the specified radioactive materials. The order may be used with in specified limits which, if exceeded, would then require a registration. For example, the maximum total holding of thorium and uranium (metal equivalent) is 2 kg. You should also consider the special / hazardous waste characteristics of this material which will preclude many disposals otherwise allowable under the exemption.

Radioactive Substances (Waste Closed Sources) Exemption Order

This order provides exclusion from the need to have an authorisation under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for accumulation and disposal of 'waste closed sources'. There are particular exclusions related to the definition of sources covered and to the accumulation period of the sources once they are declared as waste (i.e. 12 weeks). There will be circumstances when an authorisation will still be the preferred mode for accumulation and disposal - talk to us if you need advice on which option is best for you.

The Radioactive Substances (Emergency Exemption) (England and Wales) Order 2006 [Alexander Litvinenko Po-210]

This temporary exemption order has been put in place following the Po-210 (Polonium 210) poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. Under the order radioactive waste which relates to the death of Alexander Litvinenko is excluding from the provisions of sections 13 and 14 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 (relating to the accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste).