3.1 The purpose of this guide is to establish criteria for the design of gloveboxes as primary confinement systems to ensure the safety of the workers and the protection of the environment when storing, handling, processing, and disposing of both combustible and non-combustible forms of plutonium. The use of this guide will provide the user with guidance to design a successfully performing glovebox system.

1.1 This guide defines criteria for the design of glovebox systems to be used for the handling of plutonium in any chemical or physical form or isotopic composition or when mixed with other elements or compounds. Not included in the criteria are systems auxiliary to the glovebox systems such as utilities, ventilation, alarm, and waste disposal. Also not addressed are hot cells or open-face hoods. The scope of this guide excludes specific license requirements relating to provisions for criticality prevention, hazards control, safeguards, packaging, and material handling. Observance of this guide does not relieve the user of the obligation to conform to all federal, state, and local regulations for design and construction of glovebox systems.

1.2 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establilsh appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.