ISO 9271:2023

Overview

ISO 9271:2023 - Decontamination of radioactively contaminated surfaces: Testing of decontamination agents for textiles - specifies a laboratory test method to evaluate the effectiveness of decontamination agents (primarily detergents) for radioactively contaminated textiles. Prepared by ISO/TC 85/SC 2, the standard defines how to contaminate textile specimens with aqueous radionuclide solutions, apply decontamination treatments, measure residual activity, and report results. The method focuses on common nuclear-industry radionuclides (notably 60Co and 137Cs or 134Cs) and can be adapted for other stable chemical forms on request.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Scope and limitations
  • Applies to testing detergents used in aqueous solutions to clean radioactively contaminated textiles.
  • Not intended to test removal of non-radioactive dirt.
  • Not suitable for radionuclides with low-energy gamma, beta or alpha emissions that are strongly attenuated by fabric (e.g., 55Fe) or nuclides that chemically/isotopically interact with detergents (e.g., tritium in various forms).
• Test principle and procedure
  • Controlled contamination of standard textile specimens, followed by standardized decontamination treatment and measurement of residual radioactivity.
  • Key measurable: residual pulse rate (remaining activity) and calculation of ease of decontamination.
• Apparatus and materials
  • Specified equipment includes radiation detectors, beakers, pipettes, PTFE or quartz ampoules, thermostats, drying cabinets, mounting/clamp holders and a cage‑stirrer apparatus for decontamination.
• Contaminant solutions
  • Preparation, composition, storage, and activity characterization for 60Co and 137Cs/134Cs are addressed; Annex C contains formulae for solution preparation.
• Reporting
  • Required test report content and an example format are provided (Annex D).

Applications and Users

ISO 9271:2023 is practical for:

• Nuclear power plants and research reactors - evaluating laundry and decontamination processes.
• Radiological protection labs and commercial testing laboratories - certifying decontamination agents and methods.
• Manufacturers of specialty detergents formulated for radioactive contamination removal.
• Emergency response organizations and decommissioning teams - selecting effective cleaning agents for contaminated clothing, protective suits and facility textiles.
• Regulators and procurement officers specifying performance criteria for decontamination products.

Related Standards

• References and cross‑links include ISO 7503‑1 and ISO 7503‑3 for related testing principles and terms. Users should consult these alongside ISO 9271:2023 for comprehensive radiological decontamination testing guidance.

Keywords: ISO 9271:2023, decontamination, radioactive textiles, decontamination agents, detergents, 60Co, 137Cs, cage-stirrer, radiation detector.