IEC TR 62461-2015 PDF

Full title and description

St IEC TR 62461-2015 — Radiation protection instrumentation — Determination of uncertainty in measurement. This Technical Report gives guidance for applying the ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 (GUM) and its Supplement 1:2008 (GUM S1, Monte Carlo) to measurements and standards for radiation protection instrumentation, with worked examples taken from individual dosimetry of external radiation.

Abstract

IEC TR 62461:2015 explains principles of uncertainty evaluation per the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and its Supplement 1 and describes special considerations for radiation protection measurements (for example, personal dosimetry). It adds the Monte‑Carlo approach from GUM S1 and a simple method to assess whether a measured result is significantly different from zero.

General information

• Status: Technical Report (published / active edition).
• Publication date: 23 January 2015.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 13.280 (Radiation protection).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (IEC TR 62461:2015).
• Number of pages: 60 (IEC publication).

Scope

This Technical Report provides guidance for applying the GUM (ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008) and its Supplement 1 (GUM S1:2008) to uncertainty evaluation in the context of radiation protection instrumentation standards developed by IEC TC 45 / SC 45B. It does not address uncertainty linked to the concept of the measuring quantity itself (for example, differences between phantom‑based and on‑person quantities). The document uses examples from individual external dosimetry to illustrate procedures and judgement methods.

Key topics and requirements

• Overview and practical interpretation of the GUM framework for measurement uncertainty in radiation protection.
• Application of the Monte‑Carlo method for uncertainty evaluation as described in GUM Supplement 1.
• Worked examples for individual dosimetry (external dosemeters) illustrating uncertainty budgets and component evaluation.
• Guidance on judging whether a measured result is significantly different from zero (simple practical test referenced to ISO 11929).
• Notes on limitations: excludes uncertainty arising from the definition/concept of the measurand (e.g., phantom vs. personal quantity differences).

Typical use and users

Primary users are standards developers, test laboratories, calibration laboratories, manufacturers of radiation protection instruments (personal dosemeters, area monitors), and technical assessors needing a practical, domain‑specific interpretation of the GUM framework for dosimetry and related measurements. Regulatory bodies and accreditation assessors may also use the TR as supporting guidance.

Related standards

Key related documents include ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3:2008 (GUM), GUM Supplement 1:2008 (Monte‑Carlo method), ISO 11929 (decision thresholds and detection limits), and other IEC standards and technical documents for dosemeters and radiation measurement procedures developed by TC 45/SC 45B. The 2006 edition of IEC TR 62461 is the previous version; the 2015 edition supersedes the 2006 TR.

Keywords

radiation protection instrumentation; measurement uncertainty; GUM; GUM S1; Monte‑Carlo uncertainty; individual dosimetry; personal dosemeters; uncertainty budget.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TR 62461:2015 is a Technical Report giving guidance on determining measurement uncertainty for radiation protection instrumentation, interpreting and applying the GUM framework and its Supplement 1 in this domain.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers methods for constructing uncertainty budgets for dosemeters and related instruments, includes the Monte‑Carlo approach from GUM S1, provides worked examples (notably individual external dosimetry), and offers a simple practical test for assessing whether a measured result differs significantly from zero. It does not cover uncertainty due to the measurand concept itself.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Standards authors, test and calibration laboratories, manufacturers of radiation measurement instruments, accreditation and regulatory personnel, and technical experts in dosimetry and radiation protection.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2015 edition (Edition 2.0) is the current IEC Technical Report; the 2006 edition is the previous version. The IEC record lists the 2015 TR with a stability horizon (review/stability) noted toward 2027. Users should confirm status with the IEC catalogue for the absolute current standing.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is an IEC Technical Report produced under TC 45/SC 45B (Radiation protection instrumentation) and complements IEC standards and guides addressing dosemeters and calibration procedures; it is the 2015 revision of IEC TR 62461 (previous edition 2006).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Measurement uncertainty, GUM, GUM S1, Monte‑Carlo, radiation protection instrumentation, dosimetry, personal dosemeters.