Radioactive Substances Act 1993

15 Further exemptions from ss. 13 and 14. U.K.

(1) Sections 13(1) and (3) and 14(1) shall not apply to the disposal or accumulation of any radioactive waste arising from clocks or watches [F1 on or from any premises in the circumstances described in subsection (1A)]

[F2 (a) where the total quantity taken together of each of the radionuclides listed in column 1 of Table A below present in the clocks and watches on any premises does not exceed the amount set out in column 2–

TABLE A

Radioactive material	Relevant value
Tritium	109 becquerels
Promethium 147	107 becquerels
Radium 226	104 becquerels

or

(b) where

(i) the total quantity of the radionuclides listed in column 2 of Table B below present in each such clock or watch of the type listed in column 1 of that table does not exceed the amount set out in column 3–

TABLE B

Type of clock or watch	Radioactive material	Relevant value (becquerels)
(i)Luminised time measurement instruments F3 ‐ (a)worn or carried on the person	Tritium Promethium 147	2.8y 108 5.5y 106
(b)not worn or carried on the person	Tritium Promethium 147	3.7y 108 7.4y 106
(ii)Special luminised time measurement instruments F4	Tritium Promethium 147	9.3y 108 1.9y 107
(iii)Watches containing gaseous tritium light sources F5	Tritium	7.4y 109
(iv)Radium luminised timepieces F6 ‐ (a)wristwatches	Radium 226	3.7y 103
(b)alarm clocks	Radium 226	5.5y 103
(c)special time measurement instruments	Radium 226	5.6y 104

and

(ii) no more than five items falling within Table B which constitute radioactive waste are present on any premises]

but this subsection does not affect the operation of section 13(1) or section 14(1) in relation to the disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste arising from clocks or watches on or from premises which, by virtue of subsection (5) of section 8, are excluded from the operation of subsection (4) of that section.

[F7 (1A) The circumstances referred to in subsection (1) are that—

(a) no radionuclide other than tritium, promethium 147 or radium 226 is present in any clock or watch on the premises (whether or not any radioactive waste arises from it),

(b) no such clock or watch contains more than one of those radionuclides, and

(c) either subsection (1B) or subsection (1C) is satisfied.

(1B) This subsection is satisfied if the total quantity of tritium divided by 10⁹, plus the total quantity of promethium 147 divided by 10⁷, plus the total quantity of radium 226 divided by 10⁴, in all such clocks and watches does not exceed 1 (quantity in each case being measured in becquerels).

(1C) This subsection is satisfied if—

(a) all such clocks and watches fall within a description specified in the first column of the Table below;

(b) radioactive waste arises from no more than five of them; and

(c) none of them gives rise to a quantity of radioactive waste exceeding the figure in the third column of the Table corresponding to the relevant radionuclide listed in the second column.

Table

Description of clock or watch	Radionuclide	Relevant quantity (in becquerels)
(i)Clocks or watches having their dials marked at the time of manufacture with “T 25” (Tritium), “Pm 0.5” (Promethium 147) or “Ra 1.5” (Radium 226)	Tritium Promethium 147 Radium 226	9.3 x 108 1.9 x 107 5.6 x 104
(ii)Clocks bearing radioluminescent deposits and not falling within category (i)	Tritium Promethium 147 Radium 226	3.7 x 108 7.4 x 106 7.4 x 103
(iii)Watches bearing radioluminescent deposits and not falling within category (i)	Tritium Promethium 147 Radium 226	2.8 x 108 5.5 x 106 5.6 x 103
(iv)Watches containing small sealed glass tubes internally coated with a phosphor and filled with tritium gas	Tritium	7.4 x 109]

(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Secretary of State may by order exclude particular descriptions of radioactive waste from any of the provisions of section 13 or 14, either absolutely or subject to limitations or conditions; and accordingly such of those provisions as may be specified in an order under this subsection shall not apply to a disposal or accumulation of radioactive waste if it is radioactive waste of a description so specified, and (where the exclusion is subject to limitations or conditions) the limitations or conditions specified in the order are complied with.

(3) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland, the reference to the Secretary of State shall have effect as a reference to the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 15(1) inserted (E.W.) (14.1.2002) by S.I. 2001/4005, reg. 2(2)

F2 S. 15(1)(a)(b) inserted (13.5.2000) by S.S.I. 2000/100 , art. 2

F3 ISO 3157: 1991(E), “Radioluminescence for time measurement instruments – Specifications”.

F4 ISO 3157: 1991(E), “Radioluminescence for time measurement instruments – Specifications”.

F5 NEA, “Radiation Protection Standards for Gaseous Tritium Light Devices” (1973).

F6 IAEA, “Radiation Protection Standards for Radioluminous Timepieces”:(1967).

F7 S. 15(1A)-(1C) inserted (E.W.) (14.1.2002) by S.I. 2001/4005 , reg. 2(3)