ASTM C1238-97(2003)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Installation of Walk-Through Metal Detectors
Standard Guide for Installation of Walk-Through Metal Detectors
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This guide is intended for use by the designers, evaluators, and users of walk-through metal detectors to be installed to screen persons entering or leaving a controlled access area. This guide is not meant to constrain design liberty but is to be used as a guide in the selection of location and installation of walk-through metal detectors.
SCOPE
1.1 Some facilities require that personnel entering designated areas be screened for concealed weapons and other metallic materials. Also, personnel exiting designated areas are often screened for metallic shielding material and other types of metallic contraband. Walk-through metal detectors are widely used to implement these requirements. This guide describes various elements to be considered when planning to install walk-through metal detectors.
1.2 This guide is not intended to set performance levels, nor is it intended to limit or constrain operational technologies.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation:C1238–97(Reapproved2003)
Standard Guide for
Installation of Walk-Through Metal Detectors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1238; 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 2.4 ANSI Standard:
Z41.1-PT-1983 Class 50 and 75—For Non-ferrous and
1.1 Some facilities require that personnel entering desig-
Ferrous Safety Footwear
nated areas be screened for concealed weapons and other
2.5 National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal
metallic materials.Also, personnel exiting designated areas are
Justice (NILECJ) Standard:
often screened for metallic shielding material and other types
0601.00 ForDesign,Performance,andAllowableMagnetic
of metallic contraband. Walk-through metal detectors are
Field Strength
widely used to implement these requirements. This guide
describes various elements to be considered when planning to
3. Terminology
install walk-through metal detectors.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.2 This guide is not intended to set performance levels, nor
3.1.1 continuous-wave-type metal detector—a system gen-
is it intended to limit or constrain operational technologies.
erally employing one or more pairs of closely coupled coils.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
One coil is electrically energized to establish an electromag-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
netic field; the other detects disturbances in that field. In
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
operation, the coils are configured so that the person or object
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
being screened passes through the field. When metal passes
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
through the field, the field is modified by the magnetic and
2. Referenced Documents electrical properties of the metal. Any change in the field is
sensedbymeasuringoneormoreofmanypossibleparameters,
2.1 NRC Document:
including mutual inductance, power loss, phase shift, fre-
NUREG-1329 Entry/Exit Control At Fuel Fabrication Fa-
quency shift, permeability, etc.
cilities Using or Possessing Formula Quantities of Strate-
2 3.1.2 nuisance alarm—an alarm not caused by a weapon or
gic Special Nuclear Material
shielding material but by other causes such as outside interfer-
2.2 U.S. Government Documents:
ence or other operationally or environmentally induced stimu-
DOE 5632.2A Physical Protection of Special Nuclear Ma-
lus. In practice, these alarms are a nuisance because they are
terials and Vital Equipment, February 9, 1988
not obvious and must be investigated and the cause eliminated.
DOE 5633.3 Control and Accountability of Nuclear Mate-
3.1.3 pulse-wave-type metal detectors—a system in which
rials, February 3, 1988
briefcurrentpulsesaregeneratedintransmittercoilswhenthey
2.3 National Fire Protection Associations (NPA) Life Safety
are switched on. The electromagnetic field generated by these
Code Handbook:
4 pulses induces eddy currents in metallic objects in the field.
NFPA-101-1988, Chapter 28, Industrial Occupancy
Theeddycurrentsdecaywhenthetransmittercoilsareshutoff.
The decay of the eddy currents produces secondary voltages in
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel
the receiver coils, which are switched on only when the
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.12 on Safeguard
transmitter coils are switched off. The voltages induced in the
Applications.
receiver coils are processed and compared against a bias or
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2003. Published February 2003. Originally
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 1997 as C1238 - 97. DOI:
background level.
10.1520/C1238-97R03.
3.1.4 shielding—ametallicmaterialconfiguredasacredible
Available from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
gamma-radiation shield for special nuclear materials (SNM).
20555.
AvailablefromU.S.GovernmentPrintingOfficeSuperintendentofDocuments,
732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http://
www.access.gpo.gov.
4 5
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C1238–97 (2003)
3.1.5 throughput—the actual rate at which a metal detector audible or visual alarms, or both, as needed to meet all safety
and system can screen personnel for a given application. and security requirements.
3.1.6 walk-through metal detector—a free-standing screen-
7.6 Where it is necessary to operate metal detectors in close
ing device having an electromagnetic field within its portal proximity to each other, they should be of the same manufac-
structure (aperture) for detecting metallic objects, including
turer and model so that the coils can be synchronized or
some nuclear shielding materials, carried by persons walking operated at different frequencies in accordance with the manu-
through the aperture.
facturer’s recommendations. If it is necessary to operate metal
3.1.7 weapon—adeviceintendedtododamagetopersonnel detectors of different models or manufacturers, a test should be
or equipment without intentionally harming the attacker, but
conducted for interference before the detectors are installed.
requiring the attacker to physically activate or use the device. Where metal detectors are not compatible it may be necessary
to isolate the fields of each detector by as much as 20 to 30 ft.
4. Significance and Use
7.7 If all electronic equipment is not designed for outdoor
4.1 This guide is intended for use by the designers, evalu-
use, provide cover and protect the equipment from the ele-
ators, and users of walk-through metal detectors to be installed
ments, especially high temperature and high humidity. Ad-
to screen persons entering or leaving a controlled access area.
equate ventilation should also be provided. Make sure the
This guide is not meant to constrain design liberty but is to be
metal-detector system is stable over a wide range of environ-
used as a guide in the selection of location and installation of
mentalfactors(temperature,humidity,etc.).Allmetaldetectors
walk-through metal detectors.
are sensitive to changes in the surrounding electromagnetic
environment, and that should be the only factor affecting stable
5. Safety Considerations
operation.
5.1 Warning signs should be posted if the metal detector’s
electromagnetic field strength is of such a magnitude that
8. Layout of the Installation Site
personal medical devices may be affected or damaged when
8.1 The site layout for walk-through metal-detector instal-
they pass through the portal. See NILECJ Standard 0601.00.
lation should be designed to minimize the guard force person-
5.2 Local fire and safety codes should be reviewed concern-
nel required and to avoid processing delays.The site may be in
ing requirements for areas selected for metal detector installa-
a new area or building, or in an existing area modified to house
tion. Metal-detector installations needing exemption from the
security screening devices.
fire and safety requirements should be approved in advance.
8.2 It is good practice to channel people through separate
entry and exit lanes. In areas where more extensive outbound
6. Throughput Consideration
screening is required, separate lanes and equipment are even
6.1 The rate at which persons may be screened is generally
more desirable so that equipment can be optimized for detec-
an important factor in security applications. Metal-detector
tion of the specified objects on entry or exit.
systemsshouldbecapableofdealingwithlargetransienttraffic
8.3 If alarms are remotely monitored, the response tactic
flow such as found during shift changes.
(guard’s action, intercept corridors, lockdown schemes, etc.) to
6.1.1 Throughput varies from one metal detector model to
alarmsmustbeconsideredearlyinthedesignprocesstoensure
the next. Throughput also varies from one application to the
effective and efficient interdiction.
next. Applications that require high-sensitivity settings will
8.4 Installation of equipment should be arranged to mini-
have lower throughput.
mize nuisance alarms from outside interference. If nuisance
6.1.2 Once the application specific throughput for a detector
alarms are too numerous, the guard force will lose confidence
model has been established, the number of detector lanes
in the equipment, and security may be compromised.
required to achieve system throughput at peak times can be
8.5 Security equipment often must fit into a space-critical
calculated. See 9.2.
site, but adequate space is the single greatest asset for a
7. Other Considerations security screening area. Maintaining a well-defined screening
area is essential so that when an alarm occurs, the security
7.1 Review applicable regulatory orders and policies of
inspector can clearly identify and isolate the person that caused
appropriate regulatory agencies and facilities for information
the alarm.
pertinent to metal detector installation and operation.
8.5.1 Layout of the area selected for installation of a
7.2 Examine the power capability of the building electrical
walk-through metal detector should provide adequate space for
system to ensure that it is adequate to support the metal-
calibration and maintenance of the metal detector.
detector system, especially current, voltage, and voltage sta-
8.5.2 Locate equipment in a manner to clear doors, duct
bility.
work, piping, and other equipment.
7.3 Confirm that the available primary and emergency
8.5.3 The site layout should provide an alternate m
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