IAEA TECDOC- Technical Basis for the Emergency Planning Zone Small Modular Reactors

This IAEA TECDOC is the first IAEA publication to document the results of a coordinated research project (CRP) on emergency planning zones (EPZs) for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The publication provides approaches, methodologies and criteria for establishing the technical basis for emergency preparedness and response (EPR) arrangements, with a particular focus on determining the size of EPZs for SMR deployments, based on international safety standards. This TECDOC reports the formulation of criteria for the events and technical aspects to be considered when defining EPR arrangements for SMRs. It discusses the implementation of defence in depth in SMR design, as well as the impacts of lower power output, smaller source terms, greater safety margins, engineered safety systems, and smaller and slower releases of fission products, together with the resulting reduced potential for radiation exposure of populations in the vicinity of the plant. The conclusions on EPZ sizes formulated in the CRP reflect the views of the participating institutes and are based primarily on projected radiological consequences.