# Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017

**Full title:** The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017
**Citation:** SI 2017/1075
**Official source:** [legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1075](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1075)
**Status:** In force
**Docket reference:** Ch06 Section 6.5

## Purpose

IRR 2017 is the principal UK regulation for protection of workers and the public against ionising radiation arising from work activities. It replaced IRR 1999 and implements Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom (the Basic Safety Standards Directive, or BSS Directive).

## Key Provisions Relevant to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

### Dose Limits (Regulation 12, Schedule 3)

| Category | Annual Dose Limit |
|---------|-------------------|
| Workers (whole body effective dose) | 20 mSv |
| Workers (lens of eye) | 20 mSv (reduced from 150 mSv under IRR 1999) |
| Workers (extremities / skin) | 500 mSv |
| Members of the public | 1 mSv |
| Trainees aged 18+ | 20 mSv |
| Pregnant workers (foetal dose, remainder of pregnancy) | 1 mSv |

### Controlled and Supervised Areas (Regulations 17-18)

- **Controlled area:** Any area where a person is likely to receive an effective dose exceeding 6 mSv/year, or where specific procedures are needed to restrict exposure. Entry requires written procedures, personal dosimetry, and training.
- **Supervised area:** Any area where a person might receive more than 1 mSv/year but conditions do not require controlled area designation.

### Radiation Protection Adviser (Regulation 14)

- Employers must consult a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) on compliance with IRR 2017. RPAs must hold a certificate of competence.

### Dosimetry and Medical Surveillance (Regulations 21-25)

- Classified persons working in controlled areas must wear approved dosimeters and have dose records maintained by an Approved Dosimetry Service (ADS).
- Medical surveillance is required for classified persons.

### Risk Assessment and Prior Authorisation (Regulations 8-9)

- Employers must carry out a prior risk assessment before commencing work with ionising radiation.
- Certain higher-risk practices require prior authorisation from ONR or HSE.

### Optimisation and ALARP

- Regulation 8(2) requires that all exposures be kept as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) — the practical expression of the optimisation principle.

## Changes from IRR 1999

- Reduced eye lens dose limit (150 to 20 mSv/year)
- New graded approach to emergency exposures
- Updated framework for prior authorisation of practices
- Clarified role of RPAs and Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPSs)

## NFC Course Relevance

- IRR 2017 applies to every NFC facility — from uranium conversion and enrichment to fuel fabrication, reactor operation, reprocessing, and waste management.
- The dose limit framework and ALARP principle are foundational to radiation protection teaching.
- Controlled/supervised area designations are directly relevant to facility design and operations.

## Cross-References

- [HSWA_1974.md](HSWA_1974.md) — Enabling Act under which IRR 2017 is made
- [REPPIR_2019.md](REPPIR_2019.md) — Complementary emergency preparedness regulations
- [NIA_1965.md](NIA_1965.md) — Licence conditions also address radiation protection