To assure the safety of nuclear installations in the UK, the ONR works on a regulatory control system based on a robust licensing process. A corporate body is granted a licence to use a site for specified activities.
The nuclear site licence granted by ONR is a legal document issued for the full life cycle of the facility. It contains site-specific information, such as the licensee's address and the site's location, and defines the number and type of installations permitted. Such installations include nuclear power stations, research reactors, nuclear fuel manufacturing and reprocessing, and the storage of radioactive matter in bulk.
A set of 36 Standard Conditions, covering design, construction, operation and decommissioning, is also attached to each licence. These conditions require licensees to implement adequate arrangements to ensure compliance.
Interpretation
Marking of the site boundary
Control of property transactions
Restrictions on nuclear matter on the site
Consignment of nuclear matter
Documents, records, authorities and certificates
Incidents on the site
Warning notices
Instructions to persons on the site
Training
Emergency arrangements
Duly authorised and other suitably qualified and experienced persons
Nuclear safety committee
Safety documentation
Periodic review
Site plans, designs and specifications
Management systems
Radiological protection
Construction or installation of new plant
Modification to design of plant under construction
Commissioning
Modification or experiment on existing plant
Operating rules
Operating instructions
Operational records
Control and supervision of operations
Safety mechanisms, devices and circuits
Examination, inspection, maintenance and testing
Duty to carry out tests, inspections and examinations
Periodic shutdown
Shutdown of specified operations
Accumulation of radioactive waste
Disposal of radioactive waste
Leakage and escape of radioactive material and radioactive waste
Decommissioning
Organisational capability
