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Diagnostic and Protection-Level Calibrations

Technician setting up measuring equipment

ARPANSA provides a calibration service for radiation measuring instruments designed for the assessment of radiation levels in areas such as diagnostic radiology and personal monitoring. The types of radiation for which calibrations are possible are listed below.

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Gamma/x-ray survey meter calibration services

  1. Calibration of a survey meter for gamma radiation, in terms of air kerma, exposure, or ambient dose equivalent H*(10). Radiation qualities are given in Table 1.
  2. Calibration of a survey meter for ISO Series X-rays in terms of air kerma, exposure or ambient dose equivalent H*(10). Radiation qualities are given in Table 2.

Contact our Ionizing Radiation Standards Section for assistance.

Table 1:Gamma radiation qualities available for survey meter calibrations
Radiation quality Average energy (keV) Distance (m) Ambient dose equivalent rates* (μSv/h)
60Co 1250 1-3 1 – 1,000
137Cs 662 1-3 50 – 250
241Am 59.6 1-2 100 – 300

 

Table 2: ISO Wide Series and Narrow Series X-ray qualities available for survey meter calibrations at 1331 mm source-detector distance. These beams are also available at 3426 mm and 5106 mm.
Beam ID Tube kVp(kV) Tube current (mA) Additional filtration Air kerma rate (μGy/s) First HVL (mm Al) First HVL (mm Cu) Average energy (keV)
Al   (mm) Cu (mm) Sn (mm) Pb (mm)
W60 60 15 4 0.35     30 5.0 0.19 45
W80 80 20 4 0.55     80 7.6 0.36 57
W110 110 20 4 2.12     50 12.3 0.96 80
W150 150 20 4   1.03   130 15.4 1.85 105
W200 200 20 4   2.06   200 18.0 3.10 140
W250 250 20 4   4.14   240 20.0 4.27 174
W300 300 20 4   6.72   280 21.5 5.19 208
N40 40 12 4 0.22     5 2.6 0.08 33
N60 60 15 4 0.75     5 6.1 0.25 48
N80 80 20 4 2.00     5 9.9 0.57 65
N100 100 20 4 5.06     5 13.0 1.10 83
N120 120 20 4 4.86 1.04   5 15.0 1.68 100
N150 150 20 4   2.58   30 16.6 2.35 118
N200 200 20 4 2.00 3.10 1.03 10 19.5 3.99 165
N250 250 15 4   2.06 3.07 10 21.4 5.21 209
N300 300 12 4   3.11 5.02 5 23.0 6.11 251

 

Survey meters sensitive to beta particles

  1. Calibration of a survey meter for beta particles in terms of air kerma or personal dose equivalent Hp(0.07). Radiation qualities are given in Table 3.
Table 3: Beta Emitting Radionuclides Suitable For Beta Survey Meters
Nuclide(s) Average energy (MeV) Maximum energy (MeV) Distance (cm)
147Pm 0.062 0.23 20
204Tl 0.24 0.8 20
90Sr+90Y 0.56 2.3 30

Neutron monitors

  1. Calibration of neutron monitors for Am/Be neutrons in terms of ambient dose equivalent H*(10).
  2. Calibration performed using shadow cone technique
  3. Ambient dose equivalent rates of approximately 20 - 80 μSv/h

 

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Personal dosimeters

  1. Personal dosimeter irradiation on a slab phantom to a known personal dose equivalent Hp(10) or Hp(0.07) for the gamma and x-ray qualities given in Tables 1 and 2
  2. Personal dosimeter irradiation on a slab phantom to a known personal dose equivalent Hp(10) for Am/Be neutrons
  3. Personal dosimeter irradiation on a slab phantom to a known personal dose equivalent Hp(0.07) for beta qualities given in Table 3.
Table 1:Gamma radiation qualities available for survey meter calibrations
Radiation quality Average energy (keV) Distance (m) Ambient dose equivalent rates* (μSv/h)
60Co 1250 1-3 1 – 1,000
137Cs 662 1-3 50 – 250
241Am 59.6 1-2 100 – 300

 

Table 2: ISO Wide Series and Narrow Series X-ray qualities available for survey meter calibrations at 1331 mm source-detector distance. These beams are also available at 3426 mm and 5106 mm.
Beam ID Tube kVp(kV) Tube current (mA) Additional filtration Air kerma rate (μGy/s) First HVL (mm Al) First HVL (mm Cu) Average energy (keV)
Al   (mm) Cu (mm) Sn (mm) Pb (mm)
W60 60 15 4 0.35     30 5.0 0.19 45
W80 80 20 4 0.55     80 7.6 0.36 57
W110 110 20 4 2.12     50 12.3 0.96 80
W150 150 20 4   1.03   130 15.4 1.85 105
W200 200 20 4   2.06   200 18.0 3.10 140
W250 250 20 4   4.14   240 20.0 4.27 174
W300 300 20 4   6.72   280 21.5 5.19 208
N40 40 12 4 0.22     5 2.6 0.08 33
N60 60 15 4 0.75     5 6.1 0.25 48
N80 80 20 4 2.00     5 9.9 0.57 65
N100 100 20 4 5.06     5 13.0 1.10 83
N120 120 20 4 4.86 1.04   5 15.0 1.68 100
N150 150 20 4   2.58   30 16.6 2.35 118
N200 200 20 4 2.00 3.10 1.03 10 19.5 3.99 165
N250 250 15 4   2.06 3.07 10 21.4 5.21 209
N300 300 12 4   3.11 5.02 5 23.0 6.11 251

 

Table 3: Beta Emitting Radionuclides Suitable For Protection Level Dosemeters
Nuclide(s) Average energy (MeV) Maximum energy (MeV) Distance (cm)
147Pm 0.062 0.23 20
204Tl 0.24 0.8 20
90Sr+90Y 0.56 2.3 30

 

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Diagnostic calibration services

  1. Calibration of diagnostic x-ray equipment in terms of air kerma or exposure for the radiation qualities given in Table 4.
  2. Calibration of kVp meters 30 – 300 kVp.
Table 4: Diagnostic X-ray beams available for the calibration of diagnostic x-ray equipment
Beam ID Tube kVp (kV) Tube current (mA) Additional filtration Al (mm) Air kerma rate (μGy/s) First HVL (mm Al) First HVL (mm Cu) Average energy (keV)
SD1 65 15 1.95 0.5 1.95 0.06 37
SD2 80 20 1.95 1.0 2.32 0.08 42
SD3 80 20 2.95 0.7 2.88 0.10 44
SD4 100 20 1.95 1.4 2.97 0.11 48
SD5 100 20 2.95 1.1 3.74 0.14 50
SD6 135 20 2.95 1.7 4.87 0.22 58
SD7 120 20 4.96 1.0 5.67 0.25 58
SD8 140 20 4.96 1.3 6.34 0.32 62

 

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Other services

  1. In situ calibration of source output for protection-level sources given in Table 1.
  2. Angular dependence of an ionization chamber or survey meter.
  3. Exposures to client items to known doses of radiation for any of the beam qualities in Tables 1-2.
Table 1:Gamma radiation qualities available for survey meter calibrations
Radiation quality Average energy (keV) Distance (m) Ambient dose equivalent rates* (mSv/h)
60Co 1250 1-3 1 – 1,000
137Cs 662 1-3 50 – 250
241Am 59.6 1-2 100 – 300

 

Table 2: ISO Wide Series and Narrow Series X-ray qualities available for survey meter calibrations at 1331 mm source-detector distance. These beams are also available at 3426 mm and 5106 mm.
Beam ID Tube kVp(kV) Tube current (mA) Additional filtration Air kerma rate (mGy/s) First HVL (mm Al) First HVL (mm Cu) Average energy (keV)
Al   (mm) Cu (mm) Sn (mm) Pb (mm)
W60 60 15 4 0.35     30 5.0 0.19 45
W80 80 20 4 0.55     80 7.6 0.36 57
W110 110 20 4 2.12     50 12.3 0.96 80
W150 150 20 4   1.03   130 15.4 1.85 105
W200 200 20 4   2.06   200 18.0 3.10 140
W250 250 20 4   4.14   240 20.0 4.27 174
W300 300 20 4   6.72   280 21.5 5.19 208
N40 40 12 4 0.22     5 2.6 0.08 33
N60 60 15 4 0.75     5 6.1 0.25 48
N80 80 20 4 2.00     5 9.9 0.57 65
N100 100 20 4 5.06     5 13.0 1.10 83
N120 120 20 4 4.86 1.04   5 15.0 1.68 100
N150 150 20 4   2.58   30 16.6 2.35 118
N200 200 20 4 2.00 3.10 1.03 10 19.5 3.99 165
N250 250 15 4   2.06 3.07 10 21.4 5.21 209
N300 300 12 4   3.11 5.02 5 23.0 6.11 251

 

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