BRITISH STANDARD BS 3385:1973

Specification for

Direct reading pocket

Licensed Copy: :FULLNAME, : DATE, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

type electroscope
exposure meters

UDC 614.876:539.12.083:621.317.722
 BS 3385:1973

Co-operating organizations

The Nuclear Energy Industry Standards Committee, under whose supervision

this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives of the following
Government departments and scientific and industrial organizations:

Association of Consulting Engineers

British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association*
British Insurance (Atomic Energy) Committee
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British Mechanical Engineering Confederation Limited

Department of Employment (HM Factory Inspectorate)*
Department of Trade and Industry*
Electricity Council, the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Area Boards in England and
Wales*
Institution of Chemical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Lloyd’s Register of Shipping
National Radiological Protection Board*
Scientific Instrument Manufacturers’ Association of Great Britain*
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority*

The Government departments and industrial organizations marked with an

asterisk in the above list, together with the following, were directly
represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
British Standard:

Association of University Radiation Protection Officers

British Institute of Radiology
British Steel Industry
Control and Automation Manufacturers’ Association
Glass Manufacturers’ Federation
Hospital Physicists’ Association
Institute of Physics
Institution of Nuclear Engineers
Ministry of Defence
Society for Radiological Protection

This British Standard, having

been approved by the Nuclear
Energy Industry Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Executive Board on
10 December 1973

© BSI 08-1999
Amendments issued since publication
First published May 1961
First revision December 1973
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference NCE/2 and
NCE/2/1
Draft for comment 72/43862 DC

ISBN 0 580 07599 0

 BS 3385:1973

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definition 1
3 Principle 1
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4 Markings 1
5 Adjustment and sealing 1
6 Cleaning 1
7 Mechanical strength 1
8 Effect of ambient conditions 1
9 Performance 2
10 Certificate 2

© BSI 08-1999 i
 BS 3385:1973

Foreword

Since BS 3385:1961 was published, ISO/R 1758 “Direct reading pocket type
electroscope exposure meters” has been developed and has the approval of 26
countries including the UK. The contents of this standard have been revised to
agree substantially with ISO/R 1758.
BS 3664 is a companion standard for film badges.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
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Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 and 2, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 08-1999

1 Scope
This standard applies to direct reading pocket type
exposure meters for X- and/or gamma radiation,
with an airtight sensitive volume, working in the
range, or part of the range, from 30 keV up
to 3 MeV, excluding use in mixed fields of ionizing
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radiation, for instance, gamma-neutron fields.
NOTE 1 In order to verify whether the exposure meters are in
accordance with the performance specifications set down in
clauses 8 and 9 of this standard, clearly defined methods of test
have to be used. These methods are to be dealt with in a future
standard.
NOTE 2 This standard does not cover the dimensions of the
terminals.
2 Definition
For the purposes of this British Standard the
following definition applies:
direct reading pocket type exposure meter
an instrument to be carried on the person and from
which the exposure can be read directly
NOTE See Clause 3 for the principle upon which the meter
operates.
3 Principle
A direct reading exposure meter consists essentially
of an electroscope connected to a capacitor. This
capacitor is charged by a charging device, which
may or may not be built-in, thus giving an indication
which can be read against a calibrated scale by
means of an optical system.
If the exposure meter is exposed to X- and/or gamma
radiation, ionization of the gas between the
electrodes occurs. As a result of this, the position of
the movable electrode changes; the change in the
deflection on the calibrated scale is a measure of the
exposure at the location of the exposure meter.
4 Markings
4.1 The scale shall be marked in röntgen (R) or
milliröntgen (mR). The scale shall indicate the unit
used. The scale shall be divided into at least 10 and
not more than 25 divisions. At least every 5th scale
line shall be larger and numbered.
4.2 An indication shall be provided on the meter of
the energy range for which it is intended. The
energy range shall be indicated in kiloelectronvolts
(keV) or in megaelectronvolts (MeV) [see also 9.3
and 10 5)].
4.3 Each meter shall be provided with an individual
indelible identification mark, for recording
purposes.
1)
1 bar = 105 Pa
© BSI 08-1999
BS 3385:1973
4.4 The proper reading position shall be given in the
directions for use and if possible on the instrument,
unless the reading of the instrument is independent
of the orientation (see also 9.6).
4.5 The number of this British Standard,
i.e. BS 3385, should be marked on the instrument.
NOTE Attention is drawn to the certification facilities offered
by BSI; see inside back cover of this standard.
5 Adjustment and sealing
If the response of the exposure meter is adjustable,
the instrument shall be sealed in such a way that
the adjustment cannot be changed without breaking
the seal.
6 Cleaning
All exterior surfaces of the instrument shall be hard
and smooth, with as few joints as practicable, to
ensure easy cleaning in case of radioactive
contamination.
7 Mechanical strength
The construction of the exposure meter shall be such
that the indication will not change by more
than 10 % of the full-scale deflection if the
instrument, charged to mid-scale, is dropped twice
from a height of 1 m (or 0.7 m with the eyepiece end
downwards) onto a hardwood floor. These tests shall
be performed with the end-caps fitted.
8 Effect of ambient conditions
8.1 All the specifications concerning performance
given in clause 9 shall be determined under test
conditions as follows:
temperature: 20 ± 5 °C
relative humidity: 65 ± 10 %.
8.2 The response to variations of temperature
between – 10 °C and + 50 °C shall be such that the
deviation compared with the response at + 20 °C is
less than 10 % of the full scale indication.
8.3 An exposure meter shall operate within the
performance limits specified in clause 9 at any
pressure within the range 600 mbar1)
to 1 200 mbar.
8.4 If the instrument is equipped with a lens, the
instrument shall be so constructed that it is not
damaged by exposure to direct sunlight. The
instrument should be readable at a lighting
of 300 cd/m2 at the inlet surface.
1
 BS 3385:1973
9 Performance
9.1 Accuracy. In the range between 20 %
and 100 % of full-scale indication, the response of
the exposure meter to a caesium 137 reference
radiation incident in the direction of maximum
response shall not deviate more than ± 10 % from
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the exposure, as measured by a calibrated reference
instrument, provided that the exposure rate does
not exceed the permissible maximum as indicated in
the directions for use.
9.2 Repeatability. Repeated exposures under the
same ambient conditions and using the same
radiation source shall not give indications which
deviate from the average reading by more than 5 %.
9.3 Energy response. For the energy range
indicated on the exposure meter the response shall
not deviate by more than 10 % of its nominal value.
9.4 Directional response. The response of the
instrument to radiation incident at any angle shall
be not less than 50 % of the response in the
calibration direction.
9.5 Leakage. The leak of charge of an exposure
meter with a measuring range of 100 mR or more
shall not exceed 2 % of its maximum scale reading
in 24 h, if it is placed in surroundings where the
exposure rate amounts to a maximum of 0.02 mR/h
and where the atmospheric conditions are as
defined in 8.1.
9.6 Reading position. The indication shall not
vary by more than 5 % of the full scale deflection
due to any change in position of the exposure meter.
If this condition cannot be fulfilled, the directions
for use shall give the proper position of the exposure
meter during the reading (see also 4.4).
2 © BSI 08-1999
9.7 Change of indication. When the exposure
meter is disconnected from the charging source and
the exposure meter charging pin has been shorted to
the exposure meter case, the change of indication
shall not exceed 5 % of the measuring range for
exposure meters with a range equal to or less
than 500 mR and shall not exceed 2 % for exposure
meters with a range of more than 500 mR.
10 Certificate
A certificate shall accompany each exposure meter
and shall include the following information:
1) the manufacturer’s name or registered
trademark;
2) the type of the instrument;
3) the exposure range in milliröntgen or röntgen;
4) the location and dimensions of the sensitive
volume;
5) the energy range of the instrument;
6) the response as a function of radiation energy,
to include the lowest energy at which the
response is 50 % of its nominal value;
7) the reference radiations adopted for the
calibration of the exposure meter;
8) the maximum permissible exposure rate for
the instrument (see also 9.1);
9) the material of the wall surrounding the
sensitive volume, and its mass per unit area in
milligrams per square centimetre (mg/cm2);
10) the voltage required to charge the
instrument;
11) a warning regarding reliability limitations in
mixed fields.
 BS 3385:1973
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© BSI 08-1999
 BS 3385:1973

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