Difference between revisions of "International Nuclear Event Scale"

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[[Image:ChernobylPlant.jpg|Impression of the 1986 exploded Chernobyl NPP unit 4|thumb|right]]
 
[[Image:ChernobylPlant.jpg|Impression of the 1986 exploded Chernobyl NPP unit 4|thumb|right]]
After the Chernobyl accident, the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) has enhanced reporting on events at nuclear power plants<ref name="stuk_ines">http://www.stuk.fi/ydinturvallisuus/ydinvoimalaitokset/vakavuusasteikko/en_GB/asteikko/ as at December 10, 2010</ref>. It was implemented in 1990<ref name="smh_worldscale" />. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) describes INES as a tool for "promptly communicating to the public in consistent terms" what a nuclear episode means<ref name="smh_worldscale" />. It has three factors: radioactivity releases to the public; barriers against radiation at a nuclear site; and civil-defence measures<ref name="smh_worldscale">http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/world-scale-for-rating-nuclear-accidents-20110412-1dc3m.html as at April 12, 2011</ref>.
+
After the [[Chernobyl Disaster in the Soviet Union|Chernobyl accident]], the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) has enhanced reporting on events at nuclear power plants<ref name="stuk_ines">http://www.stuk.fi/ydinturvallisuus/ydinvoimalaitokset/vakavuusasteikko/en_GB/asteikko/ as at December 10, 2010</ref>. It was implemented in 1990<ref name="smh_worldscale" />. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) describes INES as a tool for "promptly communicating to the public in consistent terms" what a nuclear episode means<ref name="smh_worldscale" />. It has three factors: radioactivity releases to the public; barriers against [[Radiation|radiation]] at a nuclear site; and civil-defence measures<ref name="smh_worldscale">http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/world-scale-for-rating-nuclear-accidents-20110412-1dc3m.html as at April 12, 2011</ref>.
  
 
In the INES the events are roughly divided into deviations, incidents and accidents<ref name="stuk_ines"/>. The events are classified on the Scale at seven levels<ref name="stuk_ines"/>. Each increase in level on the scale indicates a roughly 10-fold increase in severity<ref name="smh_worldscale" />.
 
In the INES the events are roughly divided into deviations, incidents and accidents<ref name="stuk_ines"/>. The events are classified on the Scale at seven levels<ref name="stuk_ines"/>. Each increase in level on the scale indicates a roughly 10-fold increase in severity<ref name="smh_worldscale" />.
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== Examples of INES accidents ==
 
== Examples of INES accidents ==
 
'''INES 7''':
 
'''INES 7''':
* 1986 Chernobyl ''(Pripyat)'' (UA)<ref name="smh_worldscale" /> - meltdown and explosion
+
* 1986 [[Chernobyl Disaster in the Soviet Union|Chernobyl]] ''(Pripyat)'' (UA)<ref name="smh_worldscale" /> - meltdown and explosion
* 2011 Fukushima (J)<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Nuclear_Event_Scale&oldid=423691959 as at April 13, 2011</ref> - several meltdowns and explosions
+
* 2011 [[Nuclear Disaster in Japan|Fukushima]] (J)<ref name="wikipedia_INES">http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Nuclear_Event_Scale&oldid=423691959 as at April 13, 2011</ref> - several meltdowns and explosions
  
 
'''INES 6''':
 
'''INES 6''':
 
* 1957 [[Kyshtym Disaster|Mayak]] ''(Kyshtym)'' (RUS) - explosion at a waste tank<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
 
* 1957 [[Kyshtym Disaster|Mayak]] ''(Kyshtym)'' (RUS) - explosion at a waste tank<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
 +
* 1959 Simi Valley (USA) - meltdown ''(classified to INES 5-6)''<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
  
 
'''INES 5''':
 
'''INES 5''':
* 1957 Windscale (UK) - fire nuclear plant<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
+
* 1952 Chalk River (CDN) - meltdown<ref name="wikipedia_de_list">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_meldepflichtiger_Ereignisse_in_deutschen_kerntechnischen_Anlagen as at February 26, 2013</ref>
* 1979 Three Mile Island ''(Harrisburg)'' (USA) - meltdown<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
+
* 1957 Windscale/Sellafield (UK) - fire nuclear plant<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
 +
* 1969 Lucens (CH) - meltdown ''(classified to INES 4-5)''<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1969 Rocky Flats (USA) - fire ''(classified to INES 4-5)''<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1974 Leningrad (Soviet Union) - several accidents with radiation release/partial meltdown ''(classified to INES 4-5)''<ref name="atomunfall4">http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1970-1979.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1977 Belojarsk (Soviet Union) - meltdown<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1979 [[Three Mile Island accident|Three Mile Island]] ''(Harrisburg)'' (USA) - meltdown<ref name="smh_worldscale" />
 +
* 1982 Chernobyl unit 1 ''(Pripyat)'' (UA) - meltdown<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant&oldid=588749513 as at January 7, 2014</ref><ref name="ines7.info">http://www.ines7.info/ines-7/ as of May 4, 2016</ref>
 +
* 1985 Vladivostok (Soviet Union) - explosion in an atomic submarine<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1987 Goiânia (BR) - radiological incident/contamination accident<ref>http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goi%C3%A2nia-Unfall&oldid=125210766 as at January 7, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1999 Tokaimura (J) - explosion in a reprocessing plant ''(classified by authorities to INES 4<ref>http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf37.html as at February 26, 2013</ref>, by some scientist to INES 5<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />)''
  
 
'''INES 4''':
 
'''INES 4''':
* 1999 Tokaimura (J) - explosion in a reprocessing plant<ref>http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf37.html as at February 26, 2013</ref>
+
* 1945 Los Alamos (USA) - radiation accident<ref name="atomunfall">http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1945-1949.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1946 Los Alamos (USA) - criticality accident<ref name="atomunfall" />
 +
* 1955 Idaho Falls (USA) - meltdown<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1955-1979 Sellafield (UK) - five incidents<ref name="wikipedia_INES" />
 +
* 1958 Los Alamos (USA) - criticality accident<ref name="atomunfall2">http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1950-1959.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1959 Knoxville (USA) - explosion ''(classified to INES 3-4)''<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1961 Idaho Falls (USA) - explosion<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1964 Rhode Island/Charlestown (USA) - radiation accident<ref name="atomunfall3">http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1960-1969.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1966 Monroe (USA) - meltdown<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1966 Enrico Fermi (USA) - partial meltdown<ref name="ines7.info" /><ref>http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/29/u-s-nuclear-plant-had-partial-meltdown-years-before-three-mile-island/ as of May 4, 2016</ref><ref>http://mragheb.com/NPRE%20457%20CSE%20462%20Safety%20Analysis%20of%20Nuclear%20Reactor%20Systems/Fermi%20I%20Fuel%20Meltdown%20Incident.pdf as of May 4, 2016</ref>
 +
* 1966 Melekess (Soviet Union) - radiation accident<ref name="atomunfall3" />
 +
* 1969/1980 Saint-Laurent (F) - meltdown<ref name="wikipedia_de_list" />
 +
* 1973 Windscale/Sellafield (UK) - radiation accident<ref name="atomunfall4" />
 +
* 1975 Greifswald/Lubmin (GDR) -  fire leading to station blackout & loss of most feedwater pumps<ref name="ines7.info" />
 +
* 1977 Jaslovské Bohunice (SK) - overheating and damage in reactor core<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KS_150&oldid=505733444 as of November 27, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1978 Belojarsk (Soviet Union) - collapse of the building and radiation accident<ref name="atomunfall4" />
 +
* 1983 Buenos Aires RA-2 facility (RA) - accidental criticality<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_civilian_nuclear_accidents&oldid=635202869 as of November 27, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1986 Kerr-McGee/Gore (USA) - radiation accident<ref>http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1980-1989.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
 +
* 1993 Tomsk-7 - radioactive gas release after tank explosion<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_and_incidents&oldid=635503778 as of November 27, 2014</ref>
 +
* 2006 Fleurus (B) - radiation accident<ref>http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-seit-1990.shtml as of November 28, 2014</ref>
  
  
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== Further information ==
 
== Further information ==
 +
* [http://flexrisk.boku.ac.at flexRISK - Flexible tools for assessment of nuclear risk in Europe]
 
* [http://www-news.iaea.org/EventList.aspx NEWS - Nuclear Events Web-based System]: ''IAEA website listing INES accidents worldwide''
 
* [http://www-news.iaea.org/EventList.aspx NEWS - Nuclear Events Web-based System]: ''IAEA website listing INES accidents worldwide''
 
* http://gnssn.iaea.org/regnet/Pages/INES.aspx
 
* http://gnssn.iaea.org/regnet/Pages/INES.aspx
 
* http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Factsheets/English/ines.pdf
 
* http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Factsheets/English/ines.pdf
* Irresponsible: [http://wikitravel.org/en/Chernobyl guided tours to the nuclear exclusion zone of the catastrophe] - caution! This article downplays the risks of radiation while scientific sounding data is mentioned without telling that any additional radiation dose is to be avoided. They don't speak about the alpha and beta radiation regular ''Geiger counters'' can't detect. Don't trust travel agencies promoting adventure trips to atomic disaster zones - there safety measures and advice will probably again underestimate the actual threats.
+
* Irresponsible:
 +
** [http://wikitravel.org/en/Chernobyl guided tours to the nuclear exclusion zone of the catastrophe] - caution! This article downplays the risks of radiation while scientific sounding data is mentioned without telling that any additional radiation dose is to be avoided. They don't speak about the alpha and beta radiation regular ''[[Geiger counter]]s'' can't detect. Don't trust travel agencies promoting adventure trips to atomic disaster zones - there safety measures and advice will probably again underestimate the actual threats.
 +
** [http://independentwho.org background information on the impact of IAEA on WHO in assessing the consequences on Chernobyl and Fukushima] <small><small>English/French/German/Japanese/Russian</small></small>
 +
* [http://www.ines7.info INES 7 - Nukleare Katastrophen] <small><small>German</small></small>
  
  

Latest revision as of 14:32, 28 September 2019

Impression of the 1986 exploded Chernobyl NPP unit 4

After the Chernobyl accident, the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) has enhanced reporting on events at nuclear power plants[1]. It was implemented in 1990[2]. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) describes INES as a tool for "promptly communicating to the public in consistent terms" what a nuclear episode means[2]. It has three factors: radioactivity releases to the public; barriers against radiation at a nuclear site; and civil-defence measures[2].

In the INES the events are roughly divided into deviations, incidents and accidents[1]. The events are classified on the Scale at seven levels[1]. Each increase in level on the scale indicates a roughly 10-fold increase in severity[2].

The lower levels (1-3) are termed incidents[1]. The upper levels (4-7) are termed accidents[1]. The events which have no safety significance are classified as level 0/below scale[1]. They are termed deviations[2][1]. The lower levels consists of anomalies, incidents and serious incidents[1]. The upper levels are comprised of accidents without significant off-site risk, accidents with off-site risk, serious accidents and major accidents[1].

Description of INES levels

  • INES 0: Events known as "deviations" that have no safety significance[2]
  • INES 1: Anomaly[2]
Minor problem with safety components at a nuclear facility, but significant safety margin remaining
  • INES 2: Incident[2]
Radiation levels in an operating area of a nuclear facility of more than 50 millisieverts (mSv) per hour. Exposure of a member of the public to radiation in excess of 10 mSv, exposure of a worker in excess of statutory annual limits.
  • INES 3: Serious Incident[2]
Severe contamination in an area of a facility, with non-lethal injuries such as radiation burns. Low probability of significant public exposure.
  • INES 4: Accident with local consequences[2]
Partial meltdown or damage to fuel, release of significant quantities of radioactive material within an installation. No counter-measures likely to be needed other than local food controls.
  • INES 5: Accident with wider consequences[2]
Severe damage to reactor core, large quantities of radioactive material released within a site. Limited release of material to the wider environment, requiring implementation of some planned countermeasures.
  • INES 6: Serious accident[2]
Significant release of radioactive material likely to require implementation of planned countermeasures.
  • INES 7: Major accident[2]
Major release of radioactive material with widespread health and environmental effects, requiring implementation of planned and extended countermeasures.


Examples of INES accidents

INES 7:

INES 6:

  • 1957 Mayak (Kyshtym) (RUS) - explosion at a waste tank[2]
  • 1959 Simi Valley (USA) - meltdown (classified to INES 5-6)[4]

INES 5:

  • 1952 Chalk River (CDN) - meltdown[4]
  • 1957 Windscale/Sellafield (UK) - fire nuclear plant[2]
  • 1969 Lucens (CH) - meltdown (classified to INES 4-5)[4]
  • 1969 Rocky Flats (USA) - fire (classified to INES 4-5)[4]
  • 1974 Leningrad (Soviet Union) - several accidents with radiation release/partial meltdown (classified to INES 4-5)[5]
  • 1977 Belojarsk (Soviet Union) - meltdown[4]
  • 1979 Three Mile Island (Harrisburg) (USA) - meltdown[2]
  • 1982 Chernobyl unit 1 (Pripyat) (UA) - meltdown[6][7]
  • 1985 Vladivostok (Soviet Union) - explosion in an atomic submarine[4]
  • 1987 Goiânia (BR) - radiological incident/contamination accident[8]
  • 1999 Tokaimura (J) - explosion in a reprocessing plant (classified by authorities to INES 4[9], by some scientist to INES 5[4])

INES 4:

  • 1945 Los Alamos (USA) - radiation accident[10]
  • 1946 Los Alamos (USA) - criticality accident[10]
  • 1955 Idaho Falls (USA) - meltdown[4]
  • 1955-1979 Sellafield (UK) - five incidents[3]
  • 1958 Los Alamos (USA) - criticality accident[11]
  • 1959 Knoxville (USA) - explosion (classified to INES 3-4)[4]
  • 1961 Idaho Falls (USA) - explosion[4]
  • 1964 Rhode Island/Charlestown (USA) - radiation accident[12]
  • 1966 Monroe (USA) - meltdown[4]
  • 1966 Enrico Fermi (USA) - partial meltdown[7][13][14]
  • 1966 Melekess (Soviet Union) - radiation accident[12]
  • 1969/1980 Saint-Laurent (F) - meltdown[4]
  • 1973 Windscale/Sellafield (UK) - radiation accident[5]
  • 1975 Greifswald/Lubmin (GDR) - fire leading to station blackout & loss of most feedwater pumps[7]
  • 1977 Jaslovské Bohunice (SK) - overheating and damage in reactor core[15]
  • 1978 Belojarsk (Soviet Union) - collapse of the building and radiation accident[5]
  • 1983 Buenos Aires RA-2 facility (RA) - accidental criticality[16]
  • 1986 Kerr-McGee/Gore (USA) - radiation accident[17]
  • 1993 Tomsk-7 - radioactive gas release after tank explosion[18]
  • 2006 Fleurus (B) - radiation accident[19]


Other concepts

In Germany accidents up to INES level 4 are called GAU (German for größter anzunehmender Unfall) refering to the US-American concept of the maximum credible accident a nuclear plant needed to be prepared for. Accidents of higher level are called Super-GAU as their impacts are even bigger than the biggest accidents the plant concepts necessarily have to deal with.[20].


Atomic catastrophe information network

The IAEA maintains an information exchange network between the countries participating in the use of the Scale. Reports on the events belonging to the level 2 or above it are submitted to the IAEA through the NEWS (Nuclear Event Web-based System). The IAEA should have information on the level of the event in its disposal within 24 hours.[1]

The event level is defined in the country where the event takes place.[1]


Further information


  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 http://www.stuk.fi/ydinturvallisuus/ydinvoimalaitokset/vakavuusasteikko/en_GB/asteikko/ as at December 10, 2010
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/world-scale-for-rating-nuclear-accidents-20110412-1dc3m.html as at April 12, 2011
  3. 3.0 3.1 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Nuclear_Event_Scale&oldid=423691959 as at April 13, 2011
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_meldepflichtiger_Ereignisse_in_deutschen_kerntechnischen_Anlagen as at February 26, 2013
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1970-1979.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant&oldid=588749513 as at January 7, 2014
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 http://www.ines7.info/ines-7/ as of May 4, 2016
  8. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goi%C3%A2nia-Unfall&oldid=125210766 as at January 7, 2014
  9. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf37.html as at February 26, 2013
  10. 10.0 10.1 http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1945-1949.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  11. http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1950-1959.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  12. 12.0 12.1 http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1960-1969.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  13. http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/29/u-s-nuclear-plant-had-partial-meltdown-years-before-three-mile-island/ as of May 4, 2016
  14. http://mragheb.com/NPRE%20457%20CSE%20462%20Safety%20Analysis%20of%20Nuclear%20Reactor%20Systems/Fermi%20I%20Fuel%20Meltdown%20Incident.pdf as of May 4, 2016
  15. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KS_150&oldid=505733444 as of November 27, 2014
  16. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_civilian_nuclear_accidents&oldid=635202869 as of November 27, 2014
  17. http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-1980-1989.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  18. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_and_incidents&oldid=635503778 as of November 27, 2014
  19. http://www.atomunfall.de/atomunfaelle-seit-1990.shtml as of November 28, 2014
  20. http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Auslegungsst%C3%B6rfall&oldid=86847110 as at March 24, 2011