Radiation codes adopted by the EPA
National Directory for Radiation Protection
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) publishes codes and standards to support radiation protection throughout Australia.
Australian jurisdictions agreed to develop the National Directory for Radiation Protection (National Directory) to promote national uniformity in radiation safety.
Schedule 3 of the National Directory lists codes and standards that states and territories have agreed to adopt in their regulatory frameworks.
National Directory documents adopted by the EPA
The Protection from Harmful Radiation Act 1990 provides for the EPA to adopt codes and standards listed in the National Directory.
In 2022, the EPA adopted the new and updated codes and standards listed in the second edition of the National Directory.
The National Directory documents adopted by the EPA are listed below.
Compliance with obligations set out in adopted National Directory documents
Once adopted, codes and standards are given legal effect as conditions of licences and exemptions, and directly by legislative requirements.
- Radiation management licensees must comply with the obligations on a responsible person set out in adopted National Directory documents, subject to the exceptions.
- Radiation management licensees must prepare radiation management plans that comply with the requirements for the preparation of radiation management plans outlined in relevant adopted National Directory documents.
| Adopted National Directory documents | ||
|---|---|---|
| National Directory reference (Schedule 3) | Title | |
| 1 | RPS C-1 | Code for Radiation Protection in Planned Exposure Situations (2020) (Rev 1) |
| 2 | RPS C-2 | Code for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (2019) (Rev 1) |
| 3 | RPS C-3 | Code for Disposal Facilities for Solid Radioactive Waste (2018) |
| 4 | RPS C-4 | Code of Radiation Protection Requirements for Industrial Radiography (2018) |
| 5 | RPS C-5 | Code for Radiation Protection in Medical Exposure (2019) |
| 6 | RPS C-6 | Code for Disposal of Radioactive Waste by the User (2018) |
| 7 | RPS S-1 | Standard for Limiting Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields – 100 kHz to 300 GHz (2021) (Rev. 1) |
| 8 | RPS 5 | Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Portable Density/Moisture Gauges containing Radioactive Sources (2004) |
| 9 | RPS 8 | Code of Practice for the Exposure of Humans to Ionizing Radiation for Research Purposes (2005) |
| 10 | RPS 9 | Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing (2005) |
| 11 | RPS 10 | Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Dentistry (2005) * |
| 12 | RPS 11 | Code of Practice for the Security of Radioactive Sources (2019) |
| 13 | RPS 12 | Radiation Protection Standard for Occupational Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation (2006) |
| 14 | RPS 13 | Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Safe Use of Fixed Radiation Gauges (2007) |
| 15 | RPS 17 | Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine (2009) |
| 16 | RPS 19 | Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Application of Ionizing Radiation by Chiropractors (2009) |
* Note: ARPANSA published a new edition of the Dental Code in 2025, however, the Code for Radiation Protection in Dental Exposure (2025) is yet to be included in the National Directory for Radiation Protection.
Radiation management licensees should have regard to the contemporary standards in the 2025 Dental Code in carrying on radiation practices and preparing radiation management plans.