Regulatory Documents
The Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) establishes the regulatory framework for nuclear matters in Canada. The CNSC's regulatory documents provide greater detail on requirements set out in the NSCA.
Regulatory documents generally present both requirements and guidance in a single document and distinguish between both through the use of mandatory (e.g., shall, must) and non-mandatory (e.g., should, may) language.
The CNSC has recently reorganized its regulatory documents in order to develop a sustainable structure that better reflects the CNSC's current approach to regulating the nuclear industry. The new structure presents all existing documents and document projects in a clear and logical manner, according to according to regulated facilities and activities, safety and control areas, and other areas of regulatory interest.
2.2 Human performance management
2.8 Conventional health and safety
2.10 Emergency management and fire protection
1.0 Regulated facilities and activities
The documents in this category are organized according to the type of regulated facility or activity. They provide guidance to applicants about the information required for licence applications, and to licensees about the requirements for conducting the licensed activity. They also point to relevant expectations in the appropriate safety and control areas.
This category includes:
- Class IA facilities (nuclear power plants and other reactor facilities)
- Class IB facilities (for example, nuclear fuel processing facilities and waste facilities)
- Class II facilities (for example, cancer therapy facilities and particle accelerators)
- uranium mines and mills
- certification of prescribed equipment
- nuclear substances and radiation devices
- certification of packages
1.1 Reactor Facilities
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Site Evaluation for New Nuclear Power Plants (RD-346) |
RD-346 published November 2008 |
Licence Application Guide: Licence to Construct a Nuclear Power Plant (RD/GD-369) |
1.2 Class IB facilities
Documents in this category apply to class IB nuclear facilities. Class IB facilities include high-power particle accelerators, facilities that process, reprocess or separate uranium, thorium or plutonium, and facilities that manufacture a product from uranium, thorium or plutonium.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Geological Considerations in Siting a Repository for Underground Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste (R-72 PDF) |
R-72 Published October 1987
|
1.3 Uranium Mines and Mills
Documents in this category apply to facilities involved in the mining, ore processing and milling of uranium.
Requirements are covered in the Uranium Mines and Mills Regulations.
There are no regulatory documents planned for this section at this time.
1.4 Class II nuclear facilities
Documents in this category apply to Class II nuclear facilities. These facilities are used in medicine, cancer therapy and research.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Licence Application Guide - Class II Non-radiotherapy Accelerator Facilities (RD/GD-289 version 2) |
|
Licence Application Guide – Radiotherapy (RD/GD-120) |
RD/GD-120 published November 2010 |
1.5 Certification of prescribed equipment
Documents in this category apply to prescribed equipment such as particle accelerators, industrial irradiators and cancer therapy machines.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Licence Application Guide : Servicing Class II Prescribed Equipment (RD/GD-207) |
RD/GD-207 published June 2011 |
Licence Application Guide : Certification of Radiation Devices or Class II Prescribed Equipment (RD/GD-254) |
RD/GD-254 published December 2010 |
1.6 Nuclear substances and radiation devices
Documents in this category apply to the use of nuclear substances and devices listed in the Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices Regulations. Nuclear substances must be licensed when the quantities involved are greater than the exemption thresholds. Radiation devices are devices that contain nuclear substances.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Licence Application Guide: Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices (RD/GD-371) |
2.0 Safety and Control Areas
Safety and control areas are the technical topics used by the CNSC to assess, review, verify and report on regulatory requirements and performance across all regulated facilities and activities. The documents in this category provide requirements and guidance.
2.1 Management system
The framework that establishes the processes and programs required to ensure the organization achieves its safety objectives and continuously monitors its performance against these objectives and fostering a healthy safety culture.
Currently, CSA Standard N286-12 Management System Requirements for Nuclear Facilities provides requirements related to this area.
There are no regulatory documents planned for this section at this time.
2.2 Human performance management
The activities that enable effective human performance through the development and implementation of processes that ensures that licensee staff is sufficient in number in all relevant job areas and have the necessary knowledge, skills, procedures and tools in place to safely carry out their duties.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Policy on Human Factors (P-119) |
P-119 published October 2000 |
REGDOC-2.2.2, Personnel Training |
|
REGDOC-2.2.3, Personnel Certification: Radiation Safety Officers |
|
Nuclear Security Officer Medical, Physical, and Psychological Fitness (RD-363) |
RD-363 published November 2008 |
Ensuring Presence of Sufficient Qualified Staff at Class I Nuclear Facilities – Minimum Staff Complement (G-323) |
G-323 published August 2007 |
Radiation Safety Training Programs for Workers Involved in Licensed Activities with Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices, and with Class II Nuclear Facilities and Prescribed Equipment (G-313) |
G-313 published July 2006 |
Certification of Persons Working at Nuclear Power Plants (RD-204) |
RD-204 published February 2008 |
Certification of Exposure Device Operators (G-229) |
G-229 published March 2004 |
2.3 Operating performance
A safe and secure operation of the regulated facility with adequate regard for health, safety, security, environmental protection and international obligations. This includes an overall review of the conduct of the licensed activities and the activities that enable effective performance.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Severe Accident Management Programs for Nuclear Reactors (G-306) |
G-306 published May 2006 |
Life Extension of Nuclear Power Plants (RD-360) |
RD-360 published February 2008 |
2.4 Safety analysis
Safety analysis is a systematic evaluation of the potential hazards associated with the conduct of a proposed activity or facility and considers the effectiveness of preventative measures and strategies in reducing the effects of such hazards.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Trip Parameter Acceptance Criteria for the Safety Analysis of CANDU Nuclear Power Plants (G-144) |
G-144 published May 2006 |
Computer Programs Used in Design and Safety Analyses of Nuclear Power Plants and Research Reactors (G-149) |
G-149 published October 2000 |
Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for Nuclear Power Plants (S-294) |
S-294 published April 2005 |
Deterministic Safety Analysis for Small Reactor Facilities (RD-308) |
RD-308 published June 2011 |
Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants (RD-310) |
RD-310 published February 2008 |
Guidance on Deterministic Safety Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants (GD-310) |
|
Nuclear Criticality Safety (RD-327) |
RD-327 published December 2010 |
Guidance for Nuclear Criticality Safety (GD-327) |
GD-327 published December 2010 |
2.5 Physical design
Relates to the activities that impact on the ability of systems, components and structures to meet and maintain their design basis given new information arising over time and taking changes in the external environment into account.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Human Factors Engineering Program Plans (G-276) |
G-276 published June 2003 |
Human Factors Verification and Validation Plans (G-278) |
G-278 published June 2003 |
Design Guide for Nuclear Substance Laboratories and Nuclear Medicine Rooms (GD-52) (GD-52 HTML) (GD-52 PDF) |
GD-52 published May 2010 |
Design of New Nuclear Power Plants (RD-337) |
RD-337 published November 2008 |
Guidance for Design of New Nuclear Power Plants (GD-337) |
|
Design of Small Reactor Facilities (RD-367) |
RD-367 published June 2011 |
Design, Testing and Performance of Exposure Devices (RD/GD-352) |
|
A Guide to Ventilation Requirements for Uranium Mines and Mills (G-221) |
G-221 published June 2003 |
Requirements for Containment Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants (R-7) (R-7 PDF) |
R-7 published February 1991 |
Requirements for Emergency Core Cooling Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants (R-9) (R-9 PDF) |
R-9 published February 1991 |
Requirements for Shutdown Systems for CANDU Nuclear Power Plants (R-8) (R-8 PDF) |
R-8 published February 1991 |
The Use of Two Shutdown Systems in Reactors (R-10) (R-10 PDF) |
R-10 published January 1977 |
Overpressure Protection Requirements for Primary Heat Transport Systems in CANDU Power Reactors Fitted with Two Shutdown Systems (R-77) (R-77 PDF) |
R-77 published October 1987 |
2.6 Fitness for service
The activities that impact on the physical condition of systems, components and structures to ensure that they remain effective over time. This includes programs that ensure all equipment is available to perform its intended design function when called upon to do so.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Reliability Programs for Nuclear Power Plants (RD/GD-98) |
|
Maintenance Programs for Nuclear Power Plants (RD/GD-210) |
|
Aging Management for Nuclear Power Plants (RD-334) |
RD/GD-334 published June 2011 |
2.7 Radiation protection
The implementation of a radiation protection program in accordance with the Radiation Protection Regulations. This program must ensure that contamination and radiation doses received are monitored and controlled.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Radiation Protection Requisites for the Exemption of Certain Radioactive Materials from Further Licensing upon Transferral for Disposal (R-85) (R-85 PDF) |
R-85 published August 1989 |
Measuring Airborne Radon Progeny at Uranium Mines and Mills (G-4) (G-4 PDF) |
G-4 published June 2003 |
Preparing Codes of Practice to Control Radiation Doses at Uranium Mines and Mills (G-218) |
G-218 published November 2003 |
Thyroid Screening for Radioiodine (RD-58) |
RD-58 published July 2008 |
Ascertaining and Recording Radiation Doses to Individuals (G-91) (G-91 PDF) |
G-91 published June 2003 |
Radiation Safety in Educational, Medical and Research Institutions (G-121) |
G-121 published May 2000 |
Keeping Radiation Exposures and Doses “As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)” (G-129 rev.1) |
G-129 rev.1 published October 2004 |
Radiobioassay Protocols for Responding to Abnormal Intakes of Radionuclides (G-147) |
G-147 published June 2003 |
Designing and Implementing a Bioassay program (GD-150) |
GD-150 published May 2010 |
Developing and Using Action Levels (G-228) |
G-228 published March 2001 |
Technical and Quality Assurance Requirements for Dosimetry Services (S-106 rev.1) |
S-106 rev.1 published May 2006 |
Making Changes to Dose-Related Information Filed With the National Dose Registry (S-260) |
S-260 published October 2004 |
Radiation Protection Programs for the Transport of Nuclear Substances (GD-314) |
2.8 Conventional health and safety
The implementation of a program to manage workplace safety hazards and to protect personnel and equipment.
Currently, CSA Standard CSA Z1000-06 Occupational Health and Safety, portions of CSA Standard N286-12 Management System Requirements for Nuclear Facilities, and labour codes provide conventional health and safety expectations.
2.9 Environmental protection
Programs that identify, control and monitor all releases of radioactive and hazardous substances and effects on the environment from facilities or as the result of licensed activities.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Protection of the Environment (P-223) |
P-223 published February 2001 |
Environmental Protection Policies, Programs and Procedures at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills (S-296) |
S-296 published March 2006 |
Developing Environmental Protection Policies, Programs and Procedures at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills (G-296) |
G-296 published March 2006 |
2.10 Emergency management and fire protection
The emergency plans and emergency preparedness programs that exist for emergencies and for non-routine conditions. This also includes any results of exercise participation.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Emergency Planning at Class I Nuclear Facilities and Uranium Mines and Mills (G-225) |
G-225 published August 2001 |
Nuclear Emergency Management (P-325) |
P-325 published May 2006 |
Testing the Implementation of Emergency Measures (RD-353) |
RD-353 published November 2008 |
2.11 Waste management
The internal waste-related programs that form part of the facility's operations up to the point where the waste is removed from the facility to a separate waste management facility. Also covers the planning for decommissioning.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Management of Uranium Mine Waste Rock and Mill Tailings (RD/GD-370) |
|
Decommissioning Planning for Licensed Activities (G-219) |
G-219 published June 2000 |
Assessing the Long term Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (G-320) |
G-320 published December 2006 |
Managing Radioactive Waste (P-290) |
P-290 published July 2004 |
2.12 Security
The programs required to implement and support the security requirements stipulated in the regulations, in the licence, in orders, or in expectations for the facility or activity.
Certain documents in this section contain prescribed information as defined by subsection 21(1) of the General Nuclear Safety and Control Regulations. Information in the document will be made available only to stakeholders with appropriate security clearance on a valid need-to-know.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Criteria for Physical Protection Systems and Devices at High-Security Sites (RD-321) Document contains prescribed information |
RD-321 published December 2010 |
Criteria for Explosive Substance Detection, X-ray Imaging, and Metal Detection Devices at High-Security Sites (RD-361) Document contains prescribed information |
RD-361 published December 2010 |
REGDOC-2.12.2, Site Access Security Clearance |
|
REGDOC-2.12.3, Security of Nuclear Substances: Sealed Sources |
REGDOC-2.12.3 published May 2013 |
Entry to Protected and Inner Areas (G-205) |
G-205 published November 2003 |
Transportation Security Programs for Category I, II or III Nuclear Material (G-208) |
G-208 published March 2003 |
Security Programs for Category I or II Nuclear Material or Certain Nuclear Facilities (G-274) |
G-274 published March 2003 |
2.13 Safeguards and non-proliferation
The programs required for the successful implementation of the obligations arising from the Canada/International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement as well as all other measures arising from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Accounting and Reporting of Nuclear Material (RD-336) |
RD-336 published June 2010 |
Guidance for Accounting and Reporting of Nuclear Material (GD-336) |
GD-336 published June 2010 |
2.14 Packaging and transport
Programs that manage the safe packaging and transport of nuclear substances and radiation devices to and from a licensed facility.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Joint Canada-United States Guide for Approval of Type B(U) and Fissile Material Transportation Packages (RD-364) |
RD-364 published March 2009 |
3.0 Other Regulatory Areas
Documents in this category include requirements, guidance and general information, and address the full scope of our regulatory activities.
3.1 Reporting requirements
Documents in this series set out the CNSC's requirements for event and compliance monitoring reporting by licensees.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Reporting Requirements for Operating Nuclear Power Plants (S-99) (S-99 PDF) |
Published March 2003 |
Guide to the Reporting Requirements for Operating Nuclear Power Plants (GD-99.1) |
|
The Preparation of Reports of a Significant Event at a Uranium Processing or Uranium Handling Facility (R-89) (R-89 PDF) |
R-89 published August 1988 |
Preparation of an Annual Compliance Report for a Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant (R-27) (R-27 PDF) |
R-27 published October 1984 |
Preparation of a Quarterly Health Physics Compliance Report for a Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant (R-26) (R-26 PDF) |
R-26 published September 1985 |
Preparation of a Quarterly Report on the Operation of a Uranium Refinery or Uranium Chemical Conversion Facility (R-25) (R-25 PDF) |
R-25 published July 1984 |
3.2 Public and Aboriginal engagement
Documents in this series include requirements, guidance and general information on public information and disclosure programs that applicable licensees must develop and implement to inform their communities and interested stakeholders. This category also provides information on the CNSC's duty to consult with and, if required, accommodate the interests of the Aboriginal Peoples when making regulatory decisions that may impact Aboriginal rights.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Public Information and Disclosure (RD/GD-99.3) |
|
Licensee Public Information Programs (G-217) |
G-217 published January 2004 |
3.3 Financial guarantees
Documents in this series provide information on financial guarantees used to ensure a licensee will have sufficient funds to decommission a licensed location and dispose of any associated nuclear substances.
Title |
Status |
|---|---|
Financial Guarantees for the Decommissioning of Licensed Activities (G-206) |
G-206 published June 2000 |
3.4 Commission proceedings
Documents in this series provide information on the Commission, which makes independent, fair and transparent decisions on the licensing of nuclear-related activities, establishes legally-binding regulations, and sets regulatory policy direction on matters relating to health, safety, security and environmental issues affecting the Canadian nuclear sector.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Guide for Applicants and Intervenors: Writing CNSC Commission Member Documents (GD-379) |
3.5 Information dissemination
Documents in this series provide information on how the CNSC provides stakeholders and interested members of the public with timely and objective science-based information about CNSC processes and nuclear technologies.
Includes CNSC regular reports on industry performance as well as information on specific technical areas.
| Title | Status |
|---|---|
Pre-licensing Review of a Vendor's Reactor Design (GD-385) |
|
Making, Reviewing and Receiving Orders under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (G-273) |
G-273 published May 2003 |
Regulatory Fundamentals (P-299) |
P-299 published April 2005 |
Compliance (P-211) |
P-211 published May 2001 |
Considering Cost-Benefit Information (P-242) |
P-242 published October 2000 |
For more information
- Government-Wide Forward Regulatory Plans
- The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
- The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan
- The Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council
To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians Web sites.