The BfS was established in November 1989; the headquarters is located in Salzgitter, with branch offices in Berlin, Bonn, Freiburg, Gorleben, Oberschleißheim and Rendsburg.

[2] Against the background of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986 and the Transnuklear scandal in 1987, the BfS was founded with the aim of re-bundling competencies and responsibilities in the field of radiation protection.

[3] The following organizational units were merged into the BfS:[4] With reunification, parts of the State Office for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection of the former GDR were added after a short time.

On the mountain Schauinsland the BfS operates an international measurement station for gamma dose rate probe calibration and long term tests.

The BfS provides technical and scientific support to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) in the areas mentioned.