Radioactivity - Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET)
Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET)
Overseas nuclear incidents
For overseas nuclear accidents whose fallout is likely to affect the UK, Defra, with its RIMNET System is the lead Government department.
Domestic nuclear incidents
For accidents at UK civil nuclear facilities, the Department of Trade and Industry is the lead Government Department.
For accidents in the UK involving military facilities, the Ministry of Defence is the lead Government Department.
Background to RIMNET
RIMNET, the Radioactive Incident Monitoring Network, is the UK radiation monitoring and nuclear emergency response system, set up as part of the National Response Plan following the Chernobyl accident.
An initial system, RIMNET Phase 1, was installed in 1988 to provide an interim solution while the main Phase 2 system was developed.
The Phase 2 system operated until January 2005 when it was replaced by RIMNET 3.
The RIMNET system is designed to independently detect radioactivity resulting from any overseas accident affecting the UK through 92 monitoring sites located around the country.
The network supplies routine hourly readings and raises an alert if any abnormal increases are noted. Following detection it will support the on-going collection and analysis of radiological monitoring data relating to the accident and provide for distribution of information concerning its effects to the media, official agencies and the public.
RIMNET employs radiation monitoring and data collection techniques supported by high performance computing and communications technology, to handle the complex and demanding task of responding to a major overseas nuclear accident. It does so in a manner that is both friendly and intuitive to the user, and also guarantees a high level of system availability and resilience.
The RIMNET team is within the Radioactive Substances Division of Defra.
Page last modified: 10 February 2006