IEC 60861:2006 outlines the technical specifications for equipment designed to monitor alpha-, beta-, or gamma-emitting radionuclides in liquid effluents and surface waters. It provides general guidance on the detection capabilities of such equipment and indicates when and where its use may be practical.
Notably, alpha monitoring in liquids has been demonstrated using a concentration device and collection of the concentrate in a filter, which suggests that this standard may also apply to alpha monitoring in liquids. This standard applies to equipment for continuous monitoring of activity:
- in liquid effluents that could be released into the environment during normal operations;
- in environmental waters.
However, this standard does not apply to equipment specifically designed for use in accident conditions that may require additional capabilities.
The standard is limited to equipment for continuous monitoring of gross alpha or gross beta with maximum energy higher than 150 keV or gamma activity in liquid effluent streams and environmental waters. It does not address sample extraction and laboratory analysis.
The objective of this standard is to establish general requirements and provide examples of acceptable methods for equipment to continuously monitor water activity.
This International Standard specifies the general characteristics, test procedures, radiation, electrical, safety, and environmental characteristics, and the identification and certification of equipment for the described scope. Performance requirements for the safe operation of electrical equipment are provided in IEC 61010-1 .
These safety requirements and corresponding tests are applicable if the manufacturer wants to, or is required to, label its equipment with the appropriate safety mark (e.g., CE, UL, etc.).
This standard is applicable to water monitors intended to fulfill the following functions:
- measurement of the volumetric activity or count rate due to radionuclides in the liquid and its variation with time;
- actuation of an alarm when a limit value of volumetric activity or count rate in water is exceeded.
Annex A provides guidance for use with radioactive water monitors.
