Nuclear installations must be designed, constructed and operated in such a manner as to ensure that the lowest possible quantity of radioactive waste in terms of activity and volume arises from their operation and decommissioning. For this purpose the following requirements apply in particular:
- for the construction of nuclear installations, materials must be chosen that ensure that the formation of activation products is minimal;
- for the operation of nuclear installations, the use of consumables in the controlled zone must be kept to a minimum;
- materials that have been contaminated with radioactive substances must be decontaminated wherever possible and appropriate.