Calibration of survey instruments used in radiation protection for the assessment of ionizing radiation fields and radioactive surface contamination

This report is part of a series prepared under the auspices of Scientific Committee 46, Operational Radiation Safety. It provides guidance on the calibration of survey instruments for the assessment of ionizing radiation fields and radioactive surface contamination. One essential element in the effective use of survey instruments is the knowledge that instruments are properly calibrated, i.e. responding accurately when exposed to a source of ionizing radiation which has been characterized through appropriate comparative measurements with standards maintained by a primary or secondary calibration laboratory. This report discusses the factors which must be considered during calibration in order to increase confidence in measurements made for radiation protection purposes with portable survey instruments. Calibration of photon measuring instruments for external radiation field evaluation, beta dose measuring instruments for external radiation field evaluation, protable instruments for the assessment of neutron radiation fields, and field instrumentation for the assessment of surface contamination are all covered