Nuclear Security Series
The IAEA has introduced a new series of guidance
publications to help States establish a coherent nuclear
security infrastructure.The IAEA Nuclear Security Series provides recommendations and guidance
for States and for IAEA activities.
The guidance publications are linked to the implementation of obligations contained in international legal instruments and international acceptance is attained through an open process of consultation among IAEA Member States.
Features of the Nuclear Security Series
International experts assist the IAEA Secretariat in drafting publications in the series. Related IAEA safety standards and safeguards accountancy requirements are taken into account in the technical content of the publications.
A high level of international consensus is ensured by a review process involving consultations with Member State experts. The resulting drafts are subject to comment by all IAEA Member States.
The publications provide a framework and serve as best practice for Member States in addressing nuclear security concerns and for the IAEA in assigning priorities in its assistance to Member States.
Publications
The IAEA Nuclear Security Series was launched in 2006 with the publication of three Technical Guides:
- 'Technical and Functional Specifications for
Border Monitoring Equipment' (available on request) provides Member
States and equipment manufacturers with guidance
on design, testing, qualifying and purchasing of
radiation monitoring equipment for use at borders.
The system parameters can serve as state-of-the-art
conceptual specifications for the deployment of
equipment as well as for procedures for testing and
confirming the performance parameters for border
radiation monitoring equipment.
- ' Nuclear Forensics Support' describes the tools
and procedures for nuclear forensic investigations.
The guidelines incorporate a decade or more of
experience in dealing with illicit trafficking events
accumulated by law enforcement agencies and
nuclear forensics laboratories.
- 'Guidelines for Monitoring Radioactive Material in International Mail Transported by Public Postal Operators' describes the techniques and
equipment available to detect radioactive material
being carried in mail processed by public postal
operators. These guidelines were developed in
cooperation with the Universal Postal Union.
- ' Engineering Safety Aspects of the Protection of Nuclear Power Plants against Sabotage' provides guidelines for evaluating the engineering safety aspects of the protection of nuclear power plants against sabotage, including standoff attacks. The guidance takes into account the existing robustness of structures, systems and components, and emphasizes those aspects of sabotage protection that work synergistically with the protection against extreme external occurrences of accidental origin, such as earthquakes, tornadoes and human induced events.
A further 15 documents are in various stages of development and will be eventually published as part of the Nuclear Security Series.
For further information please contact NuclearSecurity@iaea.org
