IEC 60412:2007

Nuclear instrumentation - Scintillation detectors - Nomenclature (identification) - Standard dimensions of scintillators

Gives guidelines for scintillation detectors nomenclature (identification) and standard dimensions of scintillators. Is applicable to all types of solid organic and inorganic scintillators used in detectors for scintillation counting and spectrometry. The purpose is to facilitate interchangeability of non-encapsulated scintillators and to facilitate comparisons of measurements with encapsulated scintillators. The main change with respect to the previous edition is the addition of the nomenclature.

Instrumentation nucléaire - Détecteurs à scintillation - Nomenclature (identification) - Dimensions normalisées des scintillateurs

Apporte des recommandations pour la nomenclature des détecteurs à scintillation (identification) et pour les dimensions normalisées des scintillateurs. Est applicable à tous les types de scintillateurs organiques et inorganiques solides utilisés dans les détecteurs pour le comptage par scintillation et en spectrométrie. Le but est de faciliter l'interchangeabilité des scintillateurs sans boîtier et de faciliter la comparaison des mesures effectuées avec les scintillateurs avec boîtier. La modification principale par rapport à l'édition précédente est l'ajout de la nomenclature.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 04-Jun-2007
• ICS: 27.120.01 - Nuclear energy in general
• Technical Committee: TC 45 - Nuclear instrumentation
• Drafting Committee: WG 9 - TC 45/WG 9
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 24-Sep-2014
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: IEC 60412:2014 - Nuclear instrumentation - Nomenclature (identification) of scintillators and scintillation detectors and standard dimensions of scintillators
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 60412:2007 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that provides comprehensive guidelines for the nomenclature (identification) and standard dimensions of scintillators used in nuclear instrumentation. This standard applies to all types of solid organic and inorganic scintillators employed in detectors for scintillation counting and spectrometry.

The primary goal of IEC 60412:2007 is to facilitate interchangeability of non-encapsulated scintillators and enable precise comparison of measurements involving encapsulated scintillators. One of the key updates in this edition compared to the previous version is the formal introduction of standardized nomenclature for scintillation detectors.

Key Topics

1. Scintillation Detectors Nomenclature

IEC 60412:2007 defines a structured and uniform system of identification for scintillation detectors by specifying a fixed sequence of descriptive items. These items collectively describe the geometric shape, dimensions, material composition, housing, photomultiplier tube (PMT) specifications, and any additional features of the detector. For example:

• Geometry codes include V (square), R (rectangular), S (spherical), H (hexagonal), and C (cylindrical).
• Dimensions such as diameter and height are expressed predominantly in millimeters, with options for inches following specific markings.
• Materials like NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl), LiI(Eu), CaF(Eu), BGO, and plastic scintillators are standardized.
• Housing and window types use codes for aluminum, beryllium, carbon epoxy, steel, and more.
• Additional PMT features and special detector capabilities (e.g., built-in voltage dividers, low background materials, ruggedized construction) are covered.

This structured naming convention enhances clarity and helps end-users specify and compare detectors from different manufacturers efficiently.

2. Standard Dimensions of Scintillators

The standard defines specific diameters and heights for scintillators to promote consistency:

• Diameters typically range from 3.2 mm up to 203.2 mm (or their inch equivalents).
• Heights vary from 0.5 mm to nominal heights as large as 400 mm.
• A table of commonly used standard dimensions accompanies the guidelines, facilitating the selection and interchange of scintillator sizes.

3. Tolerances

IEC 60412 specifies dimensional tolerances to ensure quality and compatibility:

• Class I tolerance: ±0.1 mm for crystals smaller than 2 mm.
• Class II tolerance: ±0.3 mm for typical sizes.
• Class III tolerance: ±1.0 mm for larger scintillators.

These tolerance classes provide practical ranges to accommodate manufacturing limits while maintaining functional interchangeability.

Applications

The IEC 60412:2007 standard is essential for:

• Nuclear instrumentation manufacturers who design, produce, and label scintillation detectors.
• Laboratories and facilities engaged in radiation detection, scintillation counting, and spectrometry, requiring precise and consistent scintillator specifications.
• Quality assurance and procurement teams to verify compliance and compatibility with international standards, facilitating equipment interchange without performance loss.
• Research and development in nuclear physics and related fields, where uniform scintillator metrics enable reproducible experiments and comparative analysis.

By adhering to this standard, organizations ensure uniformity, reliability, and compatibility across scintillation detectors used globally, optimizing device performance and measurement accuracy.

Related Standards

• IEC 60050-845: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Nuclear instrumentation terms.
• ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2: Rules for the structure and drafting of IEC and ISO standards.
• Other IEC standards in nuclear instrumentation addressing detector performance, calibration, and safety parameters may complement IEC 60412.

Summary

IEC 60412:2007 establishes a clear, structured nomenclature and dimension standards for scintillation detectors, enabling interoperability and fostering international collaboration in nuclear instrumentation. The adoption of this standard enhances user understanding, optimizes ordering processes, and supports the advancement of radiation detection technology worldwide.

Keywords: IEC 60412, scintillation detectors, nomenclature, scintillator dimensions, nuclear instrumentation, scintillation counting, spectrometry, standard dimensions, detector identification, photomultiplier tube, nuclear detection standard.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
CEI
NORME
Second edition
INTERNATIONALE
Deuxième édition
2007-06
Nuclear instrumentation –
Scintillation detectors –
Nomenclature (identification) –
Standard dimensions of scintillators

Instrumentation nucléaire –
Détecteurs à scintillation –
Nomenclature (identification) –
Dimensions normalisées des scintillateurs

Reference number
Numéro de référence
IEC/CEI 60412:2007
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
CEI
NORME
Second edition
INTERNATIONALE
Deuxième édition
2007-06
Nuclear instrumentation –
Scintillation detectors –
Nomenclature (identification) –
Standard dimensions of scintillators

Instrumentation nucléaire –
Détecteurs à scintillation –
Nomenclature (identification) –
Dimensions normalisées des scintillateurs
PRICE CODE
K
CODE PRIX
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
International Electrotechnical Commission
МеждународнаяЭлектротехническаяКомиссия
For price, see current catalogue
Pour prix, voir catalogue en vigueur

– 2 – 60412 © IEC:2007
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
INTRODUCTION.5

1 Scope and object.6
2 Scintillation detectors nomenclature (identification) .6
3 Standard dimensions of scintillators .9
3.1 Diameters of scintillators .9
3.2 Heights of scintillators .9
3.3 Tolerances .10

Table 1 – Diameters of scintillators .7
Table 2 – Heights of scintillators .7

60412 © IEC:2007 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTATION –
SCINTILLATION DETECTORS –
NOMENCLATURE (IDENTIFICATION) –
STANDARD DIMENSIONS OF SCINTILLATORS

FOREWORD
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patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60412 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 45: Nuclear
instrumentation.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1973. It constitutes a
technical revision.
The main changes with respect to the previous edition are as follows:
– addition of nomenclature of scintillation detectors.

– 4 – 60412 © IEC:2007
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
45/642/FDIS 45/644/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
60412 © IEC:2007 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
Now the manufacturers of scintillation detectors carry out nomenclature of production at their
own choosing emphasizing, first of all, trade marks as corresponding abbreviations.
Nomenclature is complex enough and includes type of detector, scintillator material, geometry
and dimensions scintillator, material of housing and window, type and dimensions of
photomultiplier tube, presence of additional electronic units, presence of other special units.
Moreover, various manufacturers have different order and contents of the mentioned sections
of type numbering. It is difficult for a customer of scintillation detectors to understand such
systems of nomenclature. The situation can be improved by the introduction of uniformity in
type numbering system, thus preserving firms marks and abbreviations. Thus it is advisable to
place sections of nomenclature in strict order, being guided by the principle of "expansion" of
scintillation detector complication.
Following such order brings uniformity in nomenclature construction, facilitates its
comprehension and promotes a correct choice of scintillation production by consumers.

– 6 – 60412 © IEC:2007
NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTATION –
SCINTILLATION DETECTORS –
NOMENCLATURE (IDENTIFICATION) –
STANDARD DIMENSIONS OF SCINTILLATORS

1 Scope and object
This International Standard gives guidelines for scintillation detectors nomenclature
(identification) and standard dimensions of scintillators.
This Standard is applicable to all types of solid organic and inorganic scintillators used in
detectors for scintillation counting and spectrometry.
The object of this standard is to define a standardized nomenclature for scintillation detectors
in which most of the properties can be found.
The object of this standard is to standardize the dimensions of bare scintillators in order to
facilitate interchangeability of non-encapsulated scintillators and to facilitate comparisons of
measurements with encapsulated scintillators.
NOTE The identification label laid down in clause 2 of the present standard includes certain dimensions which
may be expressed in millimetres or inches. The SI system recommends the use of millimetres rather than inches.
2 Scintillation detectors nomenclature (identification)
The identification of a detector is by a predefined sequence of specification items described
below. Each specification item refers to a specific property of the detector material and/or
construction.
If an item is not specifically defined, the item is entered as an “X” and the specification shall
be defined by the manufacturer.
The general structure of an identification label is:
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6/2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10
Where:
2.1 – Geometry of the scintillator
V – square;
R – rectangular;
S – spherical;
H – hexagonal;
C – cylindrical.
2.2 – Diameter of the scintillator in millimetres (specification in inches shall be marked
as such, e.g. 2’’)
60412 © IEC:2007 – 7 –
In the case of rectangular scintillator dimensions, the two measures are separated by the
letter "x" (see Example 3, below). The most frequently found (standard) dimensions of
scintillator diameters are listed in Table 1.
Table 1 – Diameters of scintillators
Diameter Diameter
mm Inches mm Inches
3,2 0,125 44,5 1,750
4,0 0,157 50,8 2,000
6,3 0,250 63,0 2,480
10,0 0,394 63,5 2,500
12,7 0,500 76,2 3,000
16,0 0,630 100,0 3,937
19,0 0,750 101,6 4,000
25,0 0,984 127,0 5,000
25,4 1,000 152,4 6,000
31,8 1,250 160,0 6,299
38,1 1,500 203,2 8
40,0 1,575
2.3 – Detector configuration
This definition is producer-specific, for example:
IMP – integrally mounted photomultiplier;
C – crystal without photomultiplier.
2.4 – Height of the scintillator in millimetres (specification in inches shall be marked as
such, e.g. 4")
The most frequently found (standard) dimensions of scintillator heights are listed in Table 2.

Table 2 – Heights of scintillators
Height Height
mm Inches mm Inches
0,5 0,020 38,1 1,500
1,0 0,039 40,0 1,575
2,0 0,078 44,5 1,750
3,2 0,125 50,8 2,000
4,0 0,157 63,0 2,480
6,3 0,250 63,5 2,500
10,0 0,394 76,2 3,000
12,7 0,500 100,0 3,937
16,0 0,630 101,6 4,000
19,0 0,750 127,0 5,000
25,0 0,984 152,4 6,000
25,4 1,000 160,0 6,299
31,8 1,250 400,0 16 (nominal)
– 8 – 60412 © IEC:2007
2.5 – Scintillator material; doping elements are written in parentheses
N – NaI(TI);
CT – CsI(TI);
CN – CsI(Na);
C – CsI(pure);
LiI – LiI(Eu);
CaF – CaF (Eu);
BGO – Bi Ge O ;
4 3 12
CWO – CdWO ;
PWO – PbWO ;
LC – LaCl (Ce);
LB – LaBr (Ce);
P – Plastic;
LSO – Lu SiO
2 5;
LYSO – Lu Y SiO
1,8 0,8 5;
GSO – Gd SiO .
2 5
Other materials as viable.
2.6 – Type of entrance window
A – aluminium window;
B – beryllium window;
K – carbon epoxy window;
M – polyethyleneterphthalate window;
S – steel window.
2.7 – Type of housing
S – steel housing (chrome plated or stainless);
C – copper housing;
St – standard aluminium 0,5 mm.
2.8 – Diameter of the photomultiplier tube (PMT) in millimetres (specification in inches
shall be marked as such, e.g. 7")
In the case when a detector has several PMT, the diameters are separated by a slash (/).
2.9 – Extra features of PMT
M – external solid µ-metal shield;
E1 – built-in Voltage Divider (VD);
E2 – built-in voltage divider and preamplifier;
HV – built-in high voltage generator;
P – pure NaI used as light-guide;
Q – quartz glass used as light-guide;

60412 © IEC:2007 – 9 –
PS – position sensitive anode.
In the case when PMT has several extra features these are separated by commas.
2.10 – Extra features of scintillation detector
Am – Alpha source built-in (Am-241 or Am-243);
PMT L – LED or laser built-in;
X – customized configuration;
LB – low background materials;
R – ruggedized construction;
Pxx.x-yy – axial well in crystal with xx.x millimetres diameter and yy millimetres
depth;
Lxx.x-yy – lateral well in crystal with xx.x millimetres diameter and yy millimetres
depth.
In the case when a scintillation detector has several extra features these are separated by
...