ISO 16647:2018

Overview - What ISO 16647:2018 covers

ISO 16647:2018 provides requirements and guidance for the design and operation of airborne confinement systems used during activities at nuclear worksites and nuclear installations under decommissioning. The standard focuses on protecting workers, the public and the environment from radioactive contamination in the form of aerosols and gases. It addresses the temporary, evolving (dynamic) nature of worksite operations and applies to maintenance, upgrades and decommissioning tasks often carried out in areas not originally designed for radiological operations.

Key technical topics and requirements

ISO 16647:2018 organizes technical requirements and recommendations across the lifecycle of confinement systems. Key topics include:

• Functions of confinement - objectives for preventing spread of radioactive substances and ensuring radioprotection.
• Principles for confinement - general design principles, risk assessment procedures and classification of confinement areas.
• Static vs. dynamic confinement - differences between fixed physical barriers (static containment) and airflow-based solutions (dynamic confinement) used to control cross‑flow and leaks.
• Confinement system components - design of containment enclosures, ventilated airtight bags, filters (including HEPA filters per ISO 29463-1), prefilters, spark arrestors and last filtration stage (LFS).
• Air clean-up and gas cleaning - strategies for aerosol filtration, iodine trapping and safe release to atmosphere.
• Integration with existing ventilation networks - recommendations for connection to plant ventilation and discharge stacks.
• Operational issues - commissioning, monitoring, pre-commissioning inspection, ongoing surveillance, maintenance and disassembly of confinement.
• Environmental and non-radiological risks - protection against weather, fire and other hazards; material selection guidance.
• Referenced standards - normative references such as ISO 16170 (HEPA testing) and cross-references to radiological guidance (e.g., ICRP DAC concepts).

Practical applications and users

ISO 16647 is intended for professionals involved in:

• Nuclear decommissioning projects and site remediation
• Worksite and maintenance planning in operating nuclear facilities
• Radiological protection and safety engineering
• Ventilation and HVAC contractors specializing in nuclear sites
• Regulatory bodies and auditors assessing confinement strategies

Typical uses include designing temporary worksite enclosures, selecting filtration and air‑cleaning systems, defining monitoring and commissioning procedures, and integrating temporary confinements with existing plant ventilation.

Related standards and keywords

Related standards and documents referenced include ISO 16170 (in‑situ filter test methods) and HEPA filter classes per ISO 29463‑1. Relevant SEO keywords: ISO 16647:2018, confinement systems, nuclear worksite, decommissioning, radioprotection, dynamic confinement, static containment, HEPA filter, air clean‑up, ventilated airtight bag, air‑change rate, monitoring, commissioning.