Overview - EN ISO 29661:2017 / ISO 29661:2012 (Amd 1:2015)
EN ISO 29661:2017 (identical to ISO 29661:2012 including Amendment 1:2015) establishes the definitions and fundamental concepts for reference radiation fields used in radiation protection. The standard focuses on the calibration and characterization of dosemeters and doserate meters for external radiation (beta, neutron and photon). It defines the measurement and operational quantities used for individual (personal) monitoring and area monitoring, gives recommendations for establishing those quantities in reference radiation fields, and provides guidance on calibration practice and determination of instrument response.
Key topics and requirements
- Terms and definitions: Harmonized vocabulary for calibration, calibration coefficient, calibration factor, reference conditions, and response.
- Measurement quantities: Specification of operational quantities for area monitoring (e.g., ambient and directional dose equivalents) and for personal monitoring (whole body, extremity, skin and eye lens dose equivalents).
- Calibration in reference radiation fields: Guidance for calibrating dosemeters and doserate meters under defined reference conditions (including position of reference point and use of phantoms for personal dosemeters).
- Response characterization: Procedures to determine dosemeter response as a function of radiation quality (photon, beta, neutron) and angle of incidence.
- Calibration coefficient and correction: Definition and use of calibration coefficients and calibration factors to convert instrument indications to conventional quantities.
- Uncertainty and certification: Requirements for expressing measurement uncertainty and content of calibration certificates.
- Normative annexes: Reference conditions, standard test conditions and a description of calibration coefficient concepts.
Practical applications and users
- Calibration laboratories: Implement reference-field procedures to provide traceable calibrations for instruments used in radiation protection.
- Manufacturers of dosemeters and survey meters: Design, test and declare instrument performance across radiation qualities and angles of incidence.
- Radiation protection specialists: Establish measurement programs for workplace monitoring (area and personal).
- Regulatory bodies & accredited testing bodies: Use the standard to define compliance, accreditation criteria and calibration reporting requirements.
Practical benefits include improved comparability of calibrations, consistent expression of measurement uncertainty, and reliable assessment of personal and area dose in occupational and environmental radiation protection.
Related standards
- ISO 4037, ISO 6980, ISO 8529 and ISO 12789 - complementary standards that describe production and characterization of photon, beta and neutron reference radiation fields and dosimetry methods.
- ICRU reports referenced for operational quantity definitions.
Keywords: EN ISO 29661:2017, ISO 29661:2012, reference radiation fields, radiation protection, calibration of dosemeters, doserate meters, personal monitoring, area monitoring, calibration laboratories, manufacturers.