ELECTRONIC PERSONAL DOSEMETER HANDBOOK
EPD/HB/40521/000
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
ISSUE 5
Thermo
Page
57
♦
Three Dose alarm flags indicate that a dose has exceeded the
corresponding dose alarm thresholds. There are 1
st
and 2
nd
dose alarms
for Hp(10) and a single dose alarm for Hp(0.07).
♦
Three Dose rate alarm flags indicate that a dose rate has exceeded the
dose rate alarm thresholds. There are 1
st
and 2
nd
dose rate alarms for
Hp(10)/h and a single dose rate alarm for Hp(0.07)/h. The dose-rate flags
are not cleared automatically when the dose-rate falls below the reset
threshold.
The 2
nd
alarm threshold (dose or dose rate) always has a higher priority than the
1
st
alarm threshold. The 1
st
alarm threshold can be considered as a warning value
and the 2
nd
alarm threshold as a critical value. Therefore, the 2
nd
alarm threshold
should always be set to the higher value.
Dose rate alarms can be configured to work with hysteresis. That is, the Hp(10)/h
1st and 2nd dose alarms and the Hp(0.07)/h dose rate alarm are each provided
with separate ON and OFF thresholds. When the dose rate equals or exceeds
the alarm ON threshold the EPD will set an alarm flag and the sounder will sound
and the LED flash (if enabled). The alarm is self-cancelling when the dose rate
falls below the alarm OFF threshold, but the alarm flag remains set.
Alarm thresholds are set via the IR communications link, or by the button if the
user is granted authority (see Figure 3.4), to any value in the following ranges:
1
st
& 2
nd
Hp(10)/h
0
µ
Sv/h to 16.777215 Sv/h
Hp(0.07)/h
0
µ
Sv/h to 16.777215 Sv/h
1
st
& 2
nd
Hp(10)
1
µ
Sv to 16.777215 Sv
Hp(0.07)
1
µ
Sv to 16.777215 Sv
It is not recommended to set dose rate alarms to less than 7uSv/h (Hp10)/h or
100
µ
Sv/h Hp(0.07)/h as the statistical errors on the dose rate reading at these
levels will be greater than ±50%, and false alarms may occur in normal
background radiation conditions.
4.6.9
EPD Operating Status
The EPD retains information regarding its status. EPD status can only be read via
the IR communications link. Status information provided is:
♦
EPD Run Times
♦
EPD State
♦
Alarms
♦
Warnings
♦
Faults
♦
Event history