Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Control Manual

Chapter 5. - Radiological Health Support Operations

Part 6 - Instrumentation and Calibration

Table of Contents (Articles 56x)

• 561 Standardization
• 562 Inspection, Calibration and Performance Tests
• 563 Maintenance
• 564 Calibration Facilities

Article 561 - Standardization

Standardization on the use of commercially available radiological instrumentation in the DOE is highly encouraged. To assist in the selection of appropriate instrumentation, DOE intends to establish a formal program to evaluate and test each type of radiological instrumentation used throughout the DOE complex.

Return to Chapter 5, Part 6 Table of Contents

Article 562 - Inspection, Calibration and Performance Tests

1. Radiological instruments shall be used only to measure the radiation for which their calibrations are valid. DOE 5480.4 mandates the requirements contained in ANSI N323 for radiological instrumentation calibration. Calibrations shall use National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable sources.

2. Calibration procedures shall be developed for each radiological instrument type and should include frequency of calibration, precalibration requirements, primary calibration requirements, periodic performance test requirements, calibration record requirements and maintenance requirements.

3. Pocket and electronic dosimeters and area radiation monitors should be calibrated at least annually and in accordance with Article 562.1.

4. The effects of environmental conditions, including interfering radiation, on an instrument shall be known prior to use.

5. Functional tests should be used to assess instrumentation designs that include alarms or that involve a process control. A functional test should be developed to test all components involved in an alarm or trip function and performed at least annually.

6. In unusual and limited situations it may be necessary to use an instrument in an application other than that envisioned by the manufacturer. Special calibrations should be performed for use of instrumentation outside manufacturer's specifications. The instrument should be adjusted, calibrated and labeled to identify the special conditions and used only under the special conditions for which it was calibrated.

7. Instruments should bear a label or tag with the date of calibration and date calibration expires.

8. Instruments whose "as found" readings indicate that the instrument may have been used while out of calibration shall be reported to the Radiological Control Organization. The Radiological Control Organization should review surveys performed with the instrument while it was out of calibration.

Article 563 - Maintenance

1. A program for preventive and corrective maintenance of radiological instrumentation should be established and documented.

2. Preventive and corrective maintenance should be performed using components and procedural recommendations at least as stringent as those specified by the manufacturer of the instrument.

3. Radiological instruments shall undergo calibration prior to use following any preventive or corrective maintenance or any adjustment that voids the previous calibration. A battery change is not normally considered maintenance.

Article 564 - Calibration Facilities

1. Calibration facilities should perform inspections, calibrations, performance tests, calibration equipment selection and quality assurance in accordance with the recommendations of ANSI N323 and take the following actions:

2. Locate activities in a manner to minimize radiation exposure to operating personnel and to personnel in adjacent areas
3. Minimize sources of interference, such as backscatter and non-ionizing radiation, during the calibration of instrumentation and correct for interferences as necessary
4. Operate in accordance with the referenced standards
5. Generate records of calibration, functional tests, and maintenance in accordance with the referenced standards.

• For organizations that do not possess or use their own calibration facilities, contracted calibration services should be performed in accordance with the referenced standards. Return to Chapter 5, Part 6 Table of Contents