Evaluation of a draft standard on performance specifications for health physics instrumentation. Initial results for radiological tests

Conference · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5956744

Swinth, K L; Kenoyer, J L; Mileham, A P; Kathren, R L; Selby, J M

The draft ANSI standard N42.17D2 on performance specifications for health physics instrumentation is currently being evaluated by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory. The primary objective of the project is the evaluation of the applicability and practicality of the proposed standard through testing of a cross-section of currently available commercial instruments to determine how well they conform to the standard. The standard is being tested against instruments such as ionization chambers, G.M. detectors, alpha survey meters, and neutron dose equivalent survey meters. This paper presents results of the preliminary radiological performance tests on ionization chambers and G.M. detectors. This includes both the data generated during the tests and a discussion of procedures developed to perform the testing. Results are reported for response time, accuracy, precision, radiation overloads, and angular dependence. In addition, results are reported for parameters that affect instrument performance including battery lifetime, geotropism and stability. Initial test indicates that some of the instruments will not meet the criteria specified in ANSI N42.17D2. Results cover approximately 40 instruments that have been obtained by direct purchase, by loan from instrument vendors or by loan from others including DOE licensees.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5956744
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-11058; CONF-830695-4; ON: DE83016186
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ACCURACY
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
GEIGER-MUELLER COUNTERS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
LIFETIME
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ORIENTATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RADIATION DETECTORS
STABILITY
STANDARDS
TESTING