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09 February 2012

Answer to Question #1659 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Accelerators — Regulatory

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Is there any sort of independent agency approval we should be looking for when buying radiation-detection equipment? For example, on sound meters there are ANSI ratings, on light meters NIST traceability, and so forth. Best Regards, Devin Sper

The Health Physics Society is secretariat to two Accredited Standards Committees (ASCs)—N13 and N43. The two ASCs, along with the HPS Standards Committee (HPSSC) and the HPS Standards Coordinator, constitute the HPS standards organization. The HPS publishes several American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards each year related to radiation measurement; some have been on equipment. For example, refer to ANSI N42.17C-1989 on Performance Specifications for Health Physics Instrumentation, or ANSI N323a-1997 on Radiation Protection Instrumentation Test and Calibration. See the following websites:

Also, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) produces related testing standards. For example, I just cochaired the revision of an IEEE Std 309- 1970, Standard Test Procedures for Geiger-Mueller Counters, which is now IEEE Std 309- 1999 (ANSI N42.3- 1999), the IEEE Standard Test Procedures and Bases for Geiger-Mueller Counters. See the following websites:

Note: As a member of the Health Physics Society, ANSI standards published through the HPS standards committees are available online, in the "members only" section, at no charge. A wonderful membership benefit! David J. Allard, CHP

Answer posted on 11 February 2002. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.