Within the domain of radiation protection, the exploitation of an elaborate array of radiation detection and characterization equipment is of utmost importance. The determination of flux and dose is not easy and has to be accurate. In order to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the nuclear equipment, regular calibration is a prime requirement. Frequency and calibration method depend on the type of equipment. The Nuclear Calibration Laboratory at the Belgian Nuclear Research Center owns several radioactive sources for the calibration of a wide range of nuclear apparatus, from personal dosimeters to survey monitors.
All sources are traceable to primary standards.
For neutron sources, a primary calibrated Studsvik 2202D monitor is used as a transfer standard. The first step in the calibration of a nuclear device comprises the accurate determination of a reference value. This is achieved by means of primary calibrated transfer standards. The device under calibration is subsequently positioned in the reference field for the determination of the calibration factor. The Belgian Nuclear Research Center is the first Belgian institute for nuclear research and development to obtain the EN 45001 European accreditation.