Boletim Webnuclear - Agosto 2026
Año 21 - Nº 241 - Agosto 2026
Sitios
Congresos
Revistas
Publicaciones
Technical Basis for the Emergency Planning Zone for Small Modular Reactors
IAEA-TECDOC-2134 ¦ English ¦ 132 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
This IAEA TECDOC is the first IAEA publication to document the results of a coordinated research project (CRP) on emergency planning zones (EPZs) for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The publication provides approaches, methodologies and criteria for establishing the technical basis for emergency preparedness and response (EPR) arrangements, with a particular focus on determining the size of EPZs for SMR deployments, based on international safety standards. This TECDOC reports the formulation of criteria for the events and technical aspects to be considered when defining EPR arrangements for SMRs. It discusses the implementation of defence in depth in SMR design, as well as the impacts of lower power output, smaller source terms, greater safety margins, engineered safety systems, and smaller and slower releases of fission products, together with the resulting reduced potential for radiation exposure of populations in the vicinity of the plant. The conclusions on EPZ sizes formulated in the CRP reflect the views of the participating institutes and are based primarily on projected radiological consequences.
Implications of ICRU Report 95: Operational Quantities for External Radiation Exposure
IAEA-TECDOC-2132 ¦ English ¦ 64 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
Operational quantities are essential for assessing external exposure to ionising radiation and supporting the optimisation of individual protection. ICRU Report 95, developed jointly with the ICRP, proposes a new framework that aligns operational quantities with the phantoms used for protection quantities, aiming to improve accuracy and consistency in radiation protection. However, Member States and industry stakeholders have noted gaps in information on the practical, regulatory and financial implications of this shift. To support informed decision-making, the IAEA has developed this TECDOC, offering clear technical guidance and practical insights on evaluating the impact of the redefined quantities and identifying possible mitigation measures. It highlights considerations for monitoring systems, calibration, standardisation, regulatory processes and training. Developed through an IAEA Technical Meeting and multiple Consultancy Meetings, the TECDOC brings together diverse stakeholder perspectives to help Member States objectively assess costs and benefits when considering adoption of the proposed new approach.
Preservation of Key Experimental Datasets for Nuclear Safety
NEA/OECD No. 7744 ¦ English ¦ 60 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
High-quality experimental data are essential for the efficient management of knowledge and maintaining the scientific basis for the next generation. This report provides an overview of data preservation in key areas of nuclear safety, such as neutronics, thermal hydraulics, severe accidents, fuel performance, ageing management, and fire hazards. It also identifies the most critical data for future nuclear safety assessments. Based on the work of the NEA Senior Expert Group on the Preservation of Key Experimental Datasets (SEGPD), the report highlights vulnerabilities, best practices, and opportunities for ensuring long-term access to experimental knowledge. It provides practical recommendations for improving the completeness, quality and usability of data, and emphasises the role of the NEA Data Bank as a secure repository for preserving the data. This publication is designed to be a key reference for technical experts, research organisations, regulators, and anyone interested in maintaining a high-quality database for nuclear safety.
Developing a National Level Inventory of NORM Residues and Wastes
IAEA-TECDOC-2136 ¦ English ¦ 86 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
Industries outside the nuclear sector often work with materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides, which can pose radiation risks to members of the public and workers if not properly managed. While regulations exist, many IAEA Member States have called for practical and actionable guidance to address gaps in policy, strategy, infrastructure and oversight. In response, the IAEA developed the Holistic Approach to NORM Management, of which this publication is part, and is focused on practical guidance for developing national inventories of NORM residues and wastes across different industrial sectors. The inventory supports countries in identifying radiation risks, informing policy, and building the infrastructure needed for safe, sustainable NORM management–even where data is limited.
Framework for Modelling Energy Systems (FRAMES): Method and Model Description
IAEA-TECDOC-2135 ¦ English ¦ 84 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
The IAEA’s Framework for Modelling Energy Systems (FRAMES) consists of an analytical model and a tool designed for energy system modelling. It supports Member States in evaluating how nuclear energy can contribute to reliable, low carbon and cost optimized energy systems. The new TECDOC provides a detailed description of the framework and the associated FRAMES Model and its use in modelling and comparing energy system options, integrating nuclear with renewables, storage and other technologies, and informing long term energy planning.
SFCOMPO - Evaluation of Fukushima – Daini- 1 Samples - Assemblies 2F1ZN2 and 2F1ZN3 (Type 9×9-9)
NEA/WKP(2026)1 ¦ English ¦ 98 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
This Working Paper contributes to the data evaluation work for the SFCOMPO database - the world’s largest open database of destructive assay data for spent nuclear fuel. The database includes measurement data for over 750 fuel samples selected from fuel irradiated in 44 reactors of 8 types. The database provides descriptions of the measured fuel samples’ characteristics and operation histories and includes datasets of measured nuclide concentrations for over 60 nuclides, key actinides and fission products, which span needs and interests of a variety of nuclear science and engineering applications, including criticality safety, reactor physics, nuclide inventory, nuclear data, decay heat, and radiation shielding. The SFCOMPO database is maintained and developed by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and managed by the SFCOMPO Technical Review Group (TRG) by mandate from the NEA Nuclear Science Committee’s Working Party of Nuclear Criticality Safety. One of the primary missions of the SFCOMPO TRG is to perform peer-review assessment of the datasets in the database and develop high-quality benchmarks and benchmark models based on these data. Destructive assay measurement data are widely recognised as one of the most reliable bases for validating the computational tools and associated nuclear data applied for predicting nuclide inventories in irradiated nuclear fuel.
Proposal by the Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework for Long-Term Trade in Food and Trust in the Food Supply Chain after a Nuclear or Radiological Accident
NEA/ CRPPH/R(2026)1 ¦ English ¦ 17 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
The NEA Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) Expert Group on a Post-Accident Food Safety Framework (EGFSF) recommends establishing a mechanism to independently validate food monitoring and trade controls following a nuclear or radiological accident. Based on scientific review, this approach aims to support long-term trade, rebuild consumer trust in the food supply chain, and integrate into existing international guidance. Lessons from past accidents such as Chernobyl and Fukushima highlight that insufficient harmonisation and lack of independent evaluation can lead to confusion, public health concerns, and trade disputes. To address these challenges, the EGFSF proposes a structured scientific review mechanism involving standardised sampling and testing, expert panel evaluations, and transparent communication of results and decisions. The adoption of the EGFSF's recommendations through an international legal framework could improve the management of food and trade in food following a nuclear or radiological accident. Such an approach would enhance confidence in food safety decisions, promote consistency for stakeholders, and strengthen international trade, ultimately contributing to a safer and more reliable post-accident food supply chain.
Requirements Engineering in the Life Cycle of Instrumentation and Control Systems in Nuclear Power Plants
IAEA-TECDOC-2137 ¦ English ¦ 192 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
This publication highlights the importance of effective requirements engineering and management for modern nuclear instrumentation and control systems. As digitalization and increasingly complex architectures evolve, precise and coherent requirements are essential to avoid misunderstandings that can compromise defence in depth, contribute to common cause failures, or lead to costly delays and performance issues. The publication provides Member States with practical guidance on requirements engineering and management philosophies, methodologies and implementation considerations, consistent with IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-39, SSR-2/1 (Rev.1) and relevant Nuclear Security Series guidance. Designed to be regulatory agnostic, it presents generalized examples, good practices and lessons learned, without addressing the content of safety or security requirements already covered by existing standards.
Good Practices in Implementing Plant and Equipment Reliability Programmes in Operating Nuclear Power Plants
IAEA-TECDOC-2140 ¦ English ¦ 148 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
Reliable plant and equipment performance is foundational to safe, economical and predictable nuclear power plant operation. Ensuring high reliability across equipment – whether active or passive – is also essential to demonstrating conformance with design-basis requirements and to maintaining effective ageing management. Reflecting the industry’s recognition that reliability has to encompass the full spectrum of plant health, this publication adopts the broader concept of a plant and equipment reliability programme (PERP). It provides an integrated framework for strengthening PERPs, drawing on international operating experience and highlighting the essential human, organizational, and technical factors for success. Key lessons emphasize the decisive role of senior leadership in establishing a stable, ambitious vision that elevates plant and equipment reliability as the priority after nuclear safety; strong cross-functional collaboration; and the foundational importance of critical component classification, comprehensive performance monitoring, and rigorous causal analysis for all extents of conditions. The publication is intended primarily for operating organizations and teams managing equipment reliability, engineering improvements, asset performance, and maintenance.
A Framework for the Education of Multidisciplinary Paediatric Cancer Care Teams: Radiation Oncologists, Medical Physicists and Radiation Therapists
IAEA-TCS-91 ¦ English ¦ 48 pages ¦ Date published: 2026
Improving outcomes in childhood cancer begins with stronger education and training. This publication offers a globally relevant framework to enhance the preparation of radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapists involved in paediatric cancer care. Designed to support countries at all resource levels, particularly those with limited capacity, it promotes safer, more effective, and higher-quality radiotherapy services for children. By strengthening multidisciplinary competencies and supporting more consistent standards of care, this publication contributes to better treatment outcomes worldwide. It represents an important step toward reducing disparities in childhood cancer survival and advancing equitable access to quality cancer care for every child.