ASTM C1189-11

Standard Guide to Procedures for Calibrating Automatic Pedestrian SNM Monitors

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
SNM monitors are an effective means to search pedestrians for concealed SNM. Maintaining monitor effectiveness rests on appropriate calibration and adjustment being part of a continuing maintenance program.
The significance of this guide for monitor users who must detect SNM is to describe calibration and adjustment procedures for the purpose.
The significance of this guide for monitor manufacturers is to describe calibration procedures, particularly for detecting forms of SNM that may not be readily available to them.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers calibrating the energy response of the radiation detectors and setting the discriminator and alarm thresholds used in automatic pedestrian special nuclear material (SNM) monitors.
1.2 Automatic pedestrian SNM Monitors and their application are described in Guide C1112, which suggests that the monitors be calibrated and tested when installed and that, thereafter, the calibration should be checked and the monitor tested with SNM at three-month intervals.
1.3 Dependable operation of SNM monitors rests, in part, on an effective program to test, calibrate, and maintain them. The procedures and methods described in this guide may help both to achieve dependable operation and obtain timely warning of misoperation.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2011
• ICS: 17.240 - Radiation measurements
• Technical Committee: C26 - Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1189-02 - Standard Guide to Procedures for Calibrating Automatic Pedestrian SNM Monitors (Withdrawn 2011)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C1189 − 11
Standard Guide to
Procedures for Calibrating Automatic Pedestrian SNM
1
Monitors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1189; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope C993Guide for In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Auto-
matic Pedestrian SNM Monitors
1.1 This guide covers calibrating the energy response of the
C1112Guide for Application of Radiation Monitors to the
radiation detectors and setting the discriminator and alarm
ControlandPhysicalSecurityofSpecialNuclearMaterial
thresholds used in automatic pedestrian special nuclear mate-
3
(Withdrawn 2014)
rial (SNM) monitors.
C1169Guide for Laboratory Evaluation of Automatic Pe-
1.2 Automatic pedestrian SNM Monitors and their applica-
destrian SNM Monitor Performance
tion are described in Guide C1112, which suggests that the
E876Practice for Use of Statistics in the Evaluation of
monitors be calibrated and tested when installed and that, 3
Spectrometric Data (Withdrawn 2003)
thereafter, the calibration should be checked and the monitor
tested with SNM at three-month intervals.
3. Terminology
1.3 Dependable operation of SNM monitors rests, in part, 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
on an effective program to test, calibrate, and maintain them.
3.1.1 calibration—a multistep procedure that uniformly ad-
The procedures and methods described in this guide may help juststheenergyresponseofamonitor’sdetectorarrayandsets
both to achieve dependable operation and obtain timely warn-
the operating parameters of its detection circuits for optimum
ing of misoperation. performance. In a few monitors, an additional analog adjust-
ment of a signal detection circuit is required.
1.4 ThisguidecanbeusedinconjunctionwithotherASTM
3.1.2 SNM—special nuclear material: plutonium of any
standards.Fig.1illustratestherelationshipbetweencalibration
233
isotopic composition, U, or enriched uranium as defined in
and other procedures described in standard guides, and it also
Terminology C859.
shows how the guides relate to an SNM monitor user. The
3.1.2.1 Discussion—This term is used here to describe both
guidesbelowtheuserinthefiguredealwithroutineprocedures
for operational monitors. Note that Guide C993 is an in-plant SNM and strategic SNM, which is plutonium, uranium-233,
235
and uranium enriched to 20% or more in the U isotope.
performance evaluation that is used to verify acceptable
detection of SNM after a monitor is calibrated. The guides
3.1.3 SNM Monitor—a radiation detection system that mea-
shown above the user in Fig. 1 give information on applying
sures ambient radiation intensity, determines an alarm thresh-
SNM monitors (C1112) and on evaluating SNM monitors
oldfromtheresult,andthenwhenitmonitors,soundsanalarm
(C1169) to provide comparative information on monitor per-
if its measured radiation intensity exceeds the threshold.
formance.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The automatic pedestrian SNM moni-
tor discussed here is a walk-through or wait-in portal or
2. Referenced Documents
monitoring booth.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4. Summary of Guide
C859Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
4.1 This guide covers various instructions for calibrating
SNM pedestrian monitors for optimum performance in normal
1 operation. The order of procedures is as follows.
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.12 on Safeguard 4.1.1 The energy response of inorganic or organic scintilla-
Applications.
tion detectors or of neutron proportional counters, is calibrated
Current edition approved June 1, 2011. Published June 2011. Originally
to produce appropriate signal pulse heights for SNM radiation
approvedin1991.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2002asC1189–02whichwas
(see Section 10).
withdrawn January 2011 and reinstated June 2011. DOI: 10.1520/C1189-11.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
the ASTM website. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C1189 − 11
between calibration checks is cause for repair or renovation
and then recalibration.
7. Apparatus
7.1 SNM Automatic Pedestrian Monitors, having arrays of
radiationdetectorsthatformaportal
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C1189–02 Designation:C1189–11
Standard Guide to
Procedures for Calibrating Automatic Pedestrian SNM
1
Monitors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1189; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers calibrating the energy response of the radiation detectors and setting the discriminator and alarm
thresholds used in automatic pedestrian special nuclear material (SNM) monitors.
1.2 Automatic pedestrian SNM Monitors and their application are described in Guide C1112, which suggests that the monitors
be calibrated and tested when installed and that, thereafter, the calibration should be checked and the monitor tested with SNM
at three-month intervals.
1.3 Dependable operation of SNM monitors rests, in part, on an effective program to test, calibrate, and maintain them. The
procedures and methods described in this guide may help both to achieve dependable operation and obtain timely warning of
misoperation.
1.4 Thisguidecan be used in conjunction with otherASTMstandards. Fig. 1illustratestherelationshipbetweencalibrationand
other procedures described in standard guides, and it also shows how the guides relate to an SNM monitor user. The guides below
the user in the figure deal with routine procedures for operational monitors. Note that Guide C993 is an in-plant performance
evaluation that is used to verify acceptable detection of SNM after a monitor is calibrated. The guides shown above the user in
Fig. 1 give information on applying SNM monitors (C1112) and on evaluating SNM monitors (C1169) to provide comparative
information on monitor performance.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
C993 Guide for In-Plant Performance Evaluation of Automatic Pedestrian SNM Monitors
C1112 Guide for Application of Radiation Monitors to the Control and Physical Security of Special Nuclear Material
C1169 Guide for Laboratory Evaluation of Automatic Pedestrian SNM Monitor Performance
E876 Practice for Use of Statistics in the Evaluation of Spectrometric Data
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 calibration—a multistep procedure that uniformly adjusts the energy response of a monitor’s detector array and sets the
operating parameters of its detection circuits for optimum performance. In a few monitors, an additional analog adjustment of a
signal detection circuit is required.
233
3.1.2 SNM—special nuclear material: plutonium of any isotopic composition, U, or enriched uranium as defined in
Terminology C859.
3.1.2.1 Discussion—This term is used here to describe both SNM and strategic SNM, which is plutonium, uranium-233, and
235
uranium enriched to 20% or more in the U isotope.
3.1.3 SNMMonitor—aradiationdetectionsystemthatmeasuresambientradiationintensity,determinesanalarmthresholdfrom
the result, and then when it monitors, sounds an alarm if its measured radiation intensity exceeds the threshold.
3.1.3.1 Discussion—The automatic pedestrian SNM monitor discussed here is a walk-through or wait-in portal or monitoring
booth.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.12 on SafeguardApplications.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2002. Published April 2002. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as C1189–95(2001). DOI:
10.1520/C1189-02.
Current edition approved June 1, 2011. Published June 2011. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as C1189 – 02 which was withdrawn
January 2011 and reinstated June 2011. DOI: 10.1520/C1189-11.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C1189–11
FIG. 1 The Relationship of Calibration to Other Procedures
Described in Standard Guides for SNM Monitors
4. Summary of Guide
4.1 This guide covers various instructions for calibrating SNM pedestrian monitors for op
...