The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on December 22, 2025, issued Safety Guide on Radiation Protection Aspects in Design of Nuclear Power Plants.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) aims to ensure that the use of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy in India does not pose undue risk to people or the environment. Its safety codes for nuclear power plant (NPP) design prescribe minimum requirements to control radiation exposure through sound design, quality materials, reliable equipment, and effective quality assurance. This safety guide outlines radiation protection provisions to be incorporated in NPP design to safeguard workers, the public, and the environment during all plant states, including normal operation, accident conditions, design extension conditions, and decommissioning, in line with ICRP recommendations, IAEA requirements, and AERB codes.
The objective of this guide is to provide guidance for ensuring radiation protection in design of new NPPs, design modifications in existing NPPs and safety review and assessment of operating NPPs. This regulatory document will help in implementation of adequate design measures for radiation protection in accordance with the Safety Code on Design of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor based Nuclear Power Plants (AERB/NPP-PHWR/SC/D (Rev 1), 2009), Safety Code on Design of Light Water Reactor based Nuclear Power Plants (AERB/NPP-LWR/SC/D, 2015), Safety Code on Design of Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor (AERB/NPP/FBR/SC/D, Draft) and Safety Code on Radiation Protection for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities, (AERB/NF/SC/RP, 2012). This guide is meant for use by NPP designers, licensee/ plant operating personnel, regulatory body and technical support organizations.
This guide outlines radiation protection principles and design requirements for nuclear power plants (NPPs), including dose limitation and optimization, general design basis considerations for all plant states, and specific design measures such as shielding, layout of systems, radiological zoning, ventilation, and radiation source assessment. It also addresses provisions for radiation monitoring, organizational and human resource aspects, and shielding-related elements of engineered safety features. The guide focuses on radiation protection in radioactive waste handling, treatment, and storage, and may be applied, with suitable modifications, to other nuclear fuel cycle facilities.
For more details, please refer to the document provided below.
[AERB SAFETY GUIDE NO. AERB/NPP/SG/RP-1]
