Radiation protection instrumentation - Passive integrating dosimetry systems for environmental and personal monitoring - Part 1: General characteristics and performance requirements
"This European Standard applies to all kinds of passive dosimetry systems that are used for measuring -the personal dose equivalent Hp(10) (for whole body dosimetry)@ -the personal dose equivalent Hp(0@07) (for both whole body and extremity dosimetry)@or -the ambient dose equivalent H*(10) (for environmental dosimetry). It applies to dosimetry systems that measure external photon or beta radiation in the dose range between 0@01 mSv and 10 Sv and in the energy ranges given in the following Table. All the energy values are mean energies with respect to the prevailing dose quantity. The dosimetry systems usually use electronic devices for the data evaluation and thus are often computer controlled. NOTE 1 In this standard@ ""dose"" means personal or ambient dose equivalent@ unless otherwise stated. NOTE 2 For Hp(10) and H*(10) no beta radiation is considered. Reasons: 1) Hp(10) and H*(10) are a conservative estimate for the effective dose which is not a suitable quantity for beta radiation. 2) No conversion coefficients are available in ICRU 56@ ICRU 57 or ISO 6980. NOTE 3 The maximum energy ranges are the energy limits within which type tests according to this standard are possible. In addition@ this standard can be applied for testing neutron dosimetry systems concerning the design (Clause 8)@ the instruction manual (Clause 9)@ the software (Clause 10)@ environmental influences (Clause 13)@ electromagnetic influences (Clause 14)@ mechanical influences (Clause 15)@ and the documentation (Clause 16). The test utilizing radiation (Clauses 13 to 15) shall be done with neutron reference radiation qualities according to the ISO 8529 series. In some countries the presence of beta dose has to be indicated by dosemeters worn on the trunk. Such an indication of the presence of beta dose is not a measurement. For that reason@ a specific subclause (11.8) deals with the indication of the presence of beta dose. This standard is intended to be applied to dosimetry systems that are capable of evaluating doses in the required quantity and unit (Sv) from readout signals in any quantity and unit. The only correction that may be applied to the evaluated dose (indicated value) is the one resulting from natural background radiation using extra dosemeters. NOTE 4 The correction due to natural background may be made before or after the dose calculation. Usually@ a dosimetry system is not able to measure all quantities given above. Thus@ the systems shall only be tested with regards to those quantities and types of radiation it is intended to be used for. Annex D gives further guidelines to define specific usage categories. Full compliance with this standard is given if the requirements for the mandatory ranges given in Tables 3 to 5 are fulfilled. If the customer or manufacturer requires extended ranges then the test should also be performed as specified in this standard@ i.e. the requirements given in Tables 3 to 5 apply@ too. The range of any influence quantity stated by the manufacturer is called rated range. Thus@ dosimetry systems can be classified by stating a set of ranges (for example@ for dose@ for energy@ for temperature) within which the requirements stated in this standard are met (Capabilities of the system@ see Clause 7). In addition@ usage categories are given in Annex D with respect to different measuring capabilities. For the dosimetry systems described above@ this standard specifies general characteristics@ general test procedures and performance requirements@ radiation characteristics as well as environmental@ electrical@ mechanical@ software and safety characteristics. A dosimetry system may be tested with regards to different quantities at different times. In case the dosimetry system was changed since the previous test@ a new test with regards to quantities tests formerly may be necessary. The absolute calibration of the dosimetry system is not checked during a type test according to this standard as only system properties are of interest. The absolute calibration is checked during a routine test."