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Measurement comparison for portable ambient dose rate meters

BfS Federal Coordinating Office carries out measurement comparison for portable ambient dose rate meters

  • The measurement comparison is used by

    • authorities,
    • companies,
    • research institutions,
    • experts,
    • measuring device manufacturers and
    • consulting engineers

    for the quality control of dose rate meters that are used to take measurements of ambient dose equivalent rate.
    • The measurement comparison takes place annually.
    • The registration deadline for this year's measurement comparison is 20 June, 2025.

ODL measuring devices of various designs lie on a table or are mounted on tripods ODL measuring devicesExamples of different ambient dose rate measuring devices during measurement comparison

In its capacity as the Federal Coordinating Office for questions of monitoring of the radioactivity at enhanced natural radioactivity (ENORM), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) carries out a measurement comparison for portable ambient dose rate meters on an annual basis.

The measurement comparison is conducted in collaboration with Wismut GmbH and takes place on the reference areas owned by the Wismut Company in Reust, Germany,

  • Tuesday, 24 June 2025 between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, 25 June 2025 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Measurement comparison for quality control

The measurement comparison is used for the quality control of meters that are used to take measurements of ambient dose equivalent rate. The three reference measurement areas, each measuring about 400 square metres, are made of the following materials:

  • concrete
  • waste rock from previous uranium ore extraction
  • tailings that arose as residues at the former company Wismut AG following the extraction of uranium.

This choice of materials has allowed the creation of reference measurement sites with considerable differences in ambient dose rate.

The aerial photo of the site shows the three reference measurement areas with numerous participants on the day of the measurement comparison. Overview of the reference measurement sitesOverview of the reference measurement sites Source: Wismut GmbH

Response to natural sources of radiation

Ambient dose rate meters are usually calibrated in the laboratory using photon radiation from artificial radioactive sources (generally caesium-137).

The proper use of these devices in the context of natural radioactivity, such as in the rehabilitation of former mining areas, also requires knowledge of their response to natural radiation sources.

Deadline for registration: 20 June 2025

Companies, research institutions, experts, measuring device manufacturers, consulting engineers and authoritiesare cordially invited to take part in the measurement comparison with their measuring devices.

In case you consider participation please contact us via e-mail to odl-messvergleich@bfs.de by 20 June 2025.

Coordinating Offices for Environmental Monitoring

State of 2025.03.27

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