This document describes procedures for calibrating and determining the response of dosemeters and dose-rate meters in terms of the operational quantities for radiation protection purposes defined by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU). However, as noted in ICRU 56, the ambient dose equivalent, H*(10), used for area monitoring, and the personal dose equivalent, H_p(10), as used for individual monitoring, of strongly penetrating radiation, are not appropriate quantities for any beta radiation, even that which penetrates 10 mm of tissue (E_max > 2 MeV).

This document is a guide for those who calibrate protection-level dosemeters and dose-rate meters with beta-reference radiation and determine their response as a function of beta-particle energy and angle of incidence. Such measurements can represent part of a type test during the course of which the effect of other influence quantities on the response is examined. This document does not cover the in-situ calibration of fixed, installed area dosemeters. The term “dosemeter” is used as a generic term denoting any dose or dose-rate meter for individual or area monitoring. In addition to the description of calibration procedures, this document includes recommendations for appropriate phantoms and the way to determine appropriate conversion coefficients. Guidance is provided on the statement of measurement uncertainties and the preparation of calibration records and certificates.