ISO 14146:2024

Overview

ISO 14146:2024 - Radiological protection - Criteria and performance limits for the periodic evaluation of dosimetry services for external radiation - defines the dosimetric and organizational criteria, test procedures and performance limits used to verify dosimetry services that supply personal and area (workplace/environmental) dosemeters. The third edition (2024) updates definitions, clarifies environmental dosemeter requirements and adds a requirement at reference conditions. The standard is intended for periodic verification to demonstrate that a dosimetry service meets specified performance requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope of application: Personal and area dosemeters for external photon, beta and neutron radiation:
  • Photons: fluence-weighted mean energy 8 keV to 10 MeV
  • Beta: 60 keV to 1.2 MeV
  • Neutrons: thermal (25.3 meV, Maxwellian kT = 25.3 meV) up to 200 MeV
• Types of dosemeters covered: Laboratory-processed passive systems (TLD, OSL, RPL, track detectors, film), continuous or periodic area/environmental systems, and active or hybrid devices (DIS, SiPM) when treated as passive for evaluation.
• Corrected indication: The standard uses the corrected indicated value (final evaluated result in Sv or equivalent Gy) produced by the dosimetry system after application of correction factors and algorithms.
• Test conditions and irradiation qualities: Reference and standard test conditions are specified to simulate representative workplace fields; background and control dosemeters are used to estimate handling/transport contributions.
• Performance limits and approval criteria: Defined limits on dosemeter response and an approval criterion for periodic evaluations; procedures include sample size, evaluation sequence and reporting requirements.
• Organizational elements: Requirements link to calibration, staff competence, QA programmes and conformity assessment (references ISO/IEC 17025 and GUM).

Practical applications - who uses ISO 14146:2024

• Dosimetry service providers performing internal periodic verification and demonstrating compliance with regulatory or contractual performance requirements.
• Accreditation and qualification bodies assessing service competence and approving dosimetry systems.
• Radiation protection officers and employers who rely on personal and area monitoring to manage occupational and environmental exposures.
• Calibration laboratories and testing facilities designing irradiation tests consistent with workplace-representative radiation fields.
• Regulators and auditors referencing standard test procedures, performance limits and reporting formats.

Related standards

ISO 14146:2024 is used alongside relevant reference radiation and measurement standards, for example:

• ISO 4037 series (X and gamma reference radiations)
• ISO 6980 series (reference beta radiations)
• ISO 8529 and ISO 12789 series (neutron reference fields)
• ISO/IEC 17025 (laboratory competence)
• ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM - measurement uncertainty)

Keywords: ISO 14146:2024, dosimetry services, radiological protection, external radiation, personal dosemeters, area dosemeters, periodic evaluation, performance limits, calibration, TLD, OSL, DIS, SiPM.