15A NCAC 11 .1624
Posting Requirements (and exemptions):

What regulations are applicable?	What are the most common violations regarding posting?
Where can I order signs?	Why is "over-posting" such a bad thing?

This regulation is one of the most difficult to "get right."  Most licensees "over-post" their storage and use areas.   This section will demonstrate how to comply with the agency's posting requirements.

What regulations are applicable?

There are multiple regulations and definitions which must be considered when a licensee is making a determination of how to post an area or room.  Those definitions and regulations are outlined below:

.0104 DEFINITIONS
	(8)	"Airborne radioactive material" means any radioactive materials dispersed in the air in the form of dusts, fumes, particulates, mists, vapors, or gases.
	(9)	"Airborne radioactive material area" means a room, enclosure, or area in which airborne radioactive materials, composed wholly or partly of licensed radioactive material exists in concentrations:
		(a)	in excess of the derived air concentrations (DACs) specified in Appendix B to 10 CFR §§ 20.1001 - 20.2401, or
		(b)	to such a degree that an individual present in the area without respiratory protective equipment could exceed, during the hours and individual is present in a   week, an intake of 0.6 percent to the annual limit on intake (ALI) or 12 DAC-hours.
	(52)	"High radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels from sources external to the body could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 0.1 rem (1 mSv) in one hour at 30 centimeters from the radiation source or any surface that the radiation penetrates.
	(92)	"Radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) in one hour at 30 centimeters from the radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.
	(135)	"Very high radiation area" means an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels from sources external to the body could result in an individual receiving an absorbed dose in excess of 500 rads (5 grays) in one hour at one meter from a radiation source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.  At very high doses received at high dose rates, units of absorbed dose (e.g. rads and grays) are appropriate, rather than units of dose equivalent (e.g. rems and sieverts).
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.1624 POSTING REQUIREMENTS
	(a)	The licensee or registrant shall post each radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words:
		CAUTION RADIATION AREA
	(b)	The licensee or registrant shall post each high radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words:
		CAUTION HIGH RADIATION AREA or the words:
		DANGER HIGH RADIATION AREA
	(c)	The licensee or registrant shall post each very  high radiation area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words:
		GRAVE DANGER VERY HIGH RADIATION AREA
	(d)	The licensee or registrant shall post each airborne radioactivity area with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words:
		CAUTION AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY AREA or the words:
		DANGER AIRBORNE RADIOACTIVITY AREA
	(e)	The licensee shall post each area or room in which there is used or stored an amount of licensed radioactive material exceeding 10 times the quantity of such material specified in Appendix C to 10 CFR §§ 20.1001 - 20.2401 with a conspicuous sign or signs bearing the radiation symbol and the words:
		CAUTION RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL(S) or the words:
		DANGER RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL(S)
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.1625 EXCEPTIONS TO POSTING REQUIREMENTS
	(a)	A licensee is not required to post caution signs in areas or rooms containing radioactive materials for periods of less than eight hours, if each of the following conditions is met:
		(1)		The materials are constantly attended during these periods by an individual who takes the precautions necessary to prevent the exposure of individuals to radiation or radioactive materials in excess of the limits established in the rules in this Section; and,
		(2)		The area or room is subject to the licensee's control.
	(b)	Rooms or other areas in hospitals that are occupied by patients are not required to be posted with caution signs pursuant to Rule .1624 of this Section provided that:
		(1)		The patient is being treated with sealed sources or has been treated with unsealed radioactive material in quantities less than 30 millicuries (110 MBq), or the measured dose rate at one meter from the patient is less than 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) per hour; and,
		(2)		There are personnel in attendance who will take the necessary precautions to prevent the exposure of individuals to radiation or radioactive material in excess of the limits established in this Section and to operate within the ALARA provisions of the licensee's radiation protection program.
	(c)	A room or area is not required to be posted with a caution sign because of the presence of a sealed source provided the radiation level at 30 centimeters from the surface of the source container or housing does not exceed 0.005 rem (0.05 mSv) per hour.
	(d)	Rooms or other areas in medical facilities that are occupied by patients while being treated with radiation from an accelerator are not required to be posted with a caution sign pursuant to Rule .1624(c) of this Section provided that:.
		(1)		access to the room or area is posted in accordance with Rule .1624(b) of this Section; and,
		(2)		there are personnel in attendance who shall provide assurance that:
			(A)		continuous audio and visual observation of the patient is maintained during treatment
			(B)		all provisions of Subparagraph (b)(2) of this Rule are met; and
			(C)		the accelerator is secured in the "beam off" status at the end of each patient's treatment.
	(e)	Rooms or other areas in medical facilities that are occupied by patients while being treated with radiation from a teletherapy source are not required to be posted with a caution sign pursuant to Rule .1624(c) of this Section provided that:
		(1)	access to the room or area is posted in accordance with Rule .1624(b) of this section; and,
		(2)	there are personnel in attendance who shall take the necessary precautions to prevent the inadvertent exposures of workers, other patients, and members of the public to radiation in excess of the limits established in the rules of this Section.
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What are the most common violations in regards to posting?

Usually, licensee's have posted an area which requires the "Caution - Radioactive Materials" posting with the "Caution - Radiation Area" posting.  This is most often due to not reading the definition of a Radiation area (see above).

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Where can I order signs?

Most scientific supply companies maintain all types of warning signs for both industrial hygiene and radiation safety.  Some distributors will include signs with their devices.  The agency does NOT provide these signs for you.

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Why is "over-posting" such a bad thing?   It keeps unauthorized personnel out!

Over-posting of an area could give an individual the indication that there is something within that area or room which may not be authorized under the license, or that additional programmatic elements must be present for those "over-posted" areas.  For instance, if an area is posted as a "Danger - High Radiation Area" then the provisions of 15A NCAC 11 .1615 must be put into place (e.g. "scram" buttons, visible and audible warning devices, etc.).

Additionally, if there was an emergency at your facility, emergency responders may not enter those "over-posted" areas because of the posting.

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