Council Directive 2013/59/EuratomShow full title

ANNEX VIII Definition and use of the activity concentration index for the gamma radiation emitted by building materials as referred to in Article 75

For the purposes of Article 75(2), for identified types of building materials, the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides Ra-226, Th-232 (or its decay product Ra-228) and K-40 shall be determined.

The activity concentration index I is given by the following formula:

where C_Ra226, C_Th232 and C_K40 are the activity concentrations in Bq/kg of the corresponding radionuclides in the building material.

The index relates to the gamma radiation dose, in excess of typical outdoor exposure, in a building constructed from a specified building material. The index applies to the building material, not to its constituents except when those constituents are building materials themselves and are separately assessed as such. For application of the index to such constituents, in particular residues from industries processing naturally-occurring radioactive material recycled into building materials, an appropriate partitioning factor needs to be applied. The activity concentration index value of 1 can be used as a conservative screening tool for identifying materials that may cause the reference level laid down in Article 75(1) to be exceeded. The calculation of dose needs to take into account other factors such as density, thickness of the material as well as factors relating to the type of building and the intended use of the material (bulk or superficial).