{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-smoke-detectors-exemption-order-1980/note",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-smoke-detectors-exemption-order-1980/note.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1980/953",
  "legislation_title": "The Radioactive Substances (Smoke Detectors) Exemption Order 1980",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/radioactive-substances-smoke-detectors-exemption-order-1980",
  "path": "note",
  "kind": "note",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Explanatory note",
  "text": "This Order, which has been made by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales, exempts persons conditionally from registration under sections 1 and 3 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 in respect of the keeping and use of “radioactive material” within the meaning of section 18(1) of that Act consisting of smoke detectors incorporating closed sources possessing limited radioactivity.\nIt also excludes conditionally from sections 6(1), 6(2) and 7(1) of that Act (which relate to the accumulation and subsequent disposal of radioactive waste) certain descriptions of “radioactive waste” within the meaning of section 18(4) of that Act arising directly or indirectly from the keeping or use of smoke detectors exempted by the order.\nThe order revokes and re-enacts with certain amendments the Radioactive Substances (Fire Detectors) Exemption Order 1967. The special provisions in that order with regard to krypton 85 are not reproduced. The new order introduces provisions for exempting persons from registration under sections 1 and 3 of the Act in respect of the keeping and use of smoke detectors which contain americium 241 and have a specified activity limit. It also provides that certain solid waste containing americium 241 shall be exempted from the provisions of sections 6(1) and 6(2) of the Act, if that waste arises directly or indirectly from the keeping and use of smoke detectors.\nMeasurements of radioactivity which formerly were specified in curies are now set out in becquerels, following adoption of the International System of Units (SI Units), ie 40 kilobecquerels = 1.08 microcuries: 4 megabecquerels = 108 microcuries.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1980/953/note",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T18:58:19.849325+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}