HEPA Filters specifications in two standards, ASME AG-1 & DOE for using in Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)

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Abstract

HEPA filters serve as important safety device to protect personnel as well as the public and environment from the radiation effects exist in the air, so they are vital devices in the event accidents. DOE provides directions through the use of two technical standards, 3020 and 3025, including QA requirements for the procurement, packaging, shipping and storage of HEPA filters and also provides direction to the QA requirements for HEPA filter inspection and testing, which their media is Fiber-glass and designed according to the FC and FK sections of ASME AG-1 code.  
The DOE Technical Standards specifically state that inspection and testing are to be performed at an independent FTF prior to filter installation at DOE nuclear facilities and this is in addition to the inspection and testing performed by the filter manufacturers.
By applying a four step QA inspection and testing program in DOE FTF, the rate of annually deficiencies in visual inspections is 3-5 percent and for flow inspections is about 2 percent and these values sustained during 40 years of applying this program which shows this program is efficient. Also a good relation between AG-1 and DOE is performed, caused the requirements of AG-1 be revised according to this program. In this paper firstly HEPA filter structure and its different types is described, then DOE program of  QA inspections and testing of filters is discussed, and finally deficiencies of ventilation system of TRR in comparison to this program is mentioned in results.    

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