WG 9 - TC 45/SC 45B/WG 9

IEC 61322:2020 applies to installed dose equivalent rate meters, warning assemblies and monitors, as defined below. It covers equipment intended to measure neutron radiation in dose equivalent rates in the energy region between thermal and 20 MeV for the purposes of radiation protection.
Assemblies of this type are commonly defined as area radiation monitors. They are normally employed to determine continuously the radiological situation in working areas in which the radiation field may change with time, for example, nuclear power plants, particle accelerators, high-activity laboratories, fuel reprocessing plants, etc., and provide alarms when the radiation field goes outside predetermined limits.
The assemblies considered in this document comprise at least:
a detector assembly, which may, for example, consist of a detector probe (for thermal neutrons such as BF3 proportional counter, 3He proportional counter, 6LiI(Tl) scintillation detector, etc.) and a moderating and absorbing medium surrounding the detector;
a processing assembly, which may be fitted into a centralized panel, which, in the case of warning assemblies and monitors, provides signal outputs and contacts capable of activating alarm or other trip circuits;
alternatively, the case when all the processing electronics are placed within the detection unit (so called "smart blocks") may be considered. In this case the functions of the processing assembly will be composed of only the indication, the providing signal outputs and contacts.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1994This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
this document has been updated to take account of the requirements of the relevant IEC standards, IEC 60532:2010 and IEC 61005:2014.

IEC 60860:2014 prescribes general, radiation detection, environmental, mechanical, electromagnetic and documentation requirements and specifies acceptance criteria for criticality accident warning equipment. This International Standard applies to equipment intended to provide warning of a criticality accident by the detection of gamma radiation, neutrons or both from such an event. The main technical changes with regard to the previous edition are as follows:
- reference to IEC 61508 concerning the safety classification;
- introducing requirement for the alarm sound level;
- energy response requirement changes;
- specification of time period of 1 min for the overload requirement;
- updated EMC, mechanical and environmental requirements according to IEC 62706.

IEC 60532:2010 applies to installed dose rate meters, warning assemblies and monitors that are used to prevent or mitigate a minor radioactive release, or minor degradation of fuel, within the nuclear power plants/nuclear facility design basis, and to warn personnel or to ensure their safety during or following events that involve or result in release of radioactivity in the nuclear power plants/nuclear facility, or risk of radiation exposure. This equipment is typically classified as category "A" or "B" or "C" or "not classified" in IEC 61226. The main technical changes with regard to the previous edition are updates taking account of the requirements of IEC standards published since 1996.

IEC 62463:2010 lays down standard requirements and also specifies general characteristics, general test procedures, radiation characteristics, electrical characteristics, environmental influences, mechanical characteristics, safety requirements; provides examples of acceptable methods in terms of dose to the whole or part of the body for each screening procedure and the time taken for each screening procedure.

IEC 61559-1:2009 specifies general characteristics, general test procedures, radiation, electrical, safety, and environmental characteristics and the identification certificate for centralized systems intended for continuous monitoring of radiation and/or levels of radioactivity installed in nuclear facilities, primarily in support of radiological protection in the working areas.

Defines an installed monitor for the control and detection of radioactivity of gamma emitters contained in recyclable or non-recyclable materials transported by vehicle, the conceptual requirements, general characteristics, mechanical characteristics, environmental conditions, minimal requirements, test procedures and documentation.

Specifies general characteristics, general test procedures, electrical, safety and environmental characteristics and the identification certificate for installed, portable or transportable assemblies intended to measure a) the direction of an X or gamma radiation source in terms of azimuth and elevation angles, b) the X or gamma air kerma rate at the equipment location; c) the attenuation coefficient in a given medium.