Smoke Detectors

WASHINGTON (CN) - There is very little nuclear waste now used in common ionizing chamber smoke detectors, and radiation is unlikely to be released from its capsule regardless of how much it gets bounced around, claims the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, who just made it generally cheaper and easier to get the detectors through regulatory approval.

With this, and the fact that the design does not change, the NRC has yanked the requirement to submit dose assessments for license applicants who want to distribute devices that use 1 mu Ci or less of the radioactive material "americium-241" in the form of a foil.

Because the NRC now no longer has to review an applicant's data and certify that doses of radiation from the stages of the life cycle of the product do not exceed certain values, the fee for licensure is likely to be lower. Click herefor details and other new regulations.

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