bureau veritas EcotestVIP User manual

“EcotestVIP”
PERSONAL RADIOACTIVITY DETECTOR
Operating manual
ВIСТ.412129.020-02 РЭ

The enterprise works in accordance with the introduced and certificated Quality
Management System in compliance with the ISO 9001:2008 standard.

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Dear users,
You had chosen well if purchased the “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector. From
now on you will be able to evaluate the degree of your personal radiation safety whether you
are at home or in the office, in the country or during the trip. Your device is simple and
undemanding in use, and can be applied without special training of the user.
The company managers are always ready to consult and advice you by the telephone numbers:
([phone], fax [phone] and E-mail: [e-mail].
We would greatly appreciate to receive your comments and suggestions on operation of the
detector. Please keep in mind that the device is under 18-months (free of charge) warranty
maintenance since its purchase date.
Best regards, International Sales Department.

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CONTENTS
Overview .................................................................................................................9
1 Purpose of use...............................................................................................12
2 Technical specifications ...............................................................................14
3 Delivery kit..................................................................................................21
4 Design and principle of operation.................................................................23
5 Preparation for operation and testing ............................................................27
6 Use of the detector .......................................................................................35
7 Technical maintenance.................................................................................55

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8 Certificate of acceptance.............................................................................. 58
9 Packing certificate....................................................................................... 59
10 Warranty..................................................................................................... 60
11 Repair ......................................................................................................... 64
12 Storage........................................................................................................ 65
13 Shipping...................................................................................................... 67
WARRANTY CERTIFICATE............................................................................... 69
Practical tips for using the “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector ................ 71

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Shortly about radioactivity
Before you get acquainted with the operation of the “EcotestVIP” personal
radioactivity detector, we suggest you read some information about radioactivity.
Radioactive ionizing radiation is a natural phenomenon permanently existing in
the environment. Radiation background of the Earth and the space adversely affects
us on the regular basis. We are constantly influenced by natural radioactive materials
stored in soil and construction materials of the buildings we live and work in.

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It also happens that more and more frequently we are exposed to the radioactive
influence of specific life activities, for example, certain medical procedures, smoking
etc. To say nothing of the impact of radioactive sources of artificial origin produced
by Chernobyl Fallout that caused contamination of the vast territories. Therefore not
only natural ionizing radiation but also Chernobyl Atomic Power-Station Disaster
component that gets into human organism with agricultural products, grown on the
polluted territories, berries and mushrooms, makes a great impact on people.

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Ionizing radiation is primarily X-ray, gamma, beta, alpha and neutron
radiation.
X-ray and gamma radiation is transmitted as energy waves, similar to the
transmission of sunlight and sun warmth. X-ray and gamma radiation have similar
nature. They differ only in their origin and wavelength.
Normally, humans are influenced by X-rays emanated by electronic apparatuses
used in hospitals.

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Gamma rays are radiated by unstable radioactive isotopes.
X-ray and gamma radiation is characterized by deep permeability into human
organism, which is dependent on the energy of the rays. Gamma radiation permeability
is so high that it can be hindered only by the thick lead or concrete plates.
Alpha radiation is a flow of nucleuses of helium. It has small permeability and can
be hindered, for example, simply by a piece of paper. Therefore it is not hazardous
until radioactive materials emanating alpha particles get into human organism either
through open wound, or with food and air.

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Beta radiation is a flow of electrons. Beta radiation obtains higher
permeability and penetrates organism tissues at the depth of 1-2 cm.
Neutron radiation is a flow of neutrons originating from the process of nuclear
fission in the reactors, or as a result of spontaneous division in the nuclear
materials. Since neutrons are electroneutral particles they deeply penetrate any
substance, including living tissues.
However, because people are more often exposed to gamma radiation in everyday
life, the majority of radiation monitoring devices measure exactly this kind of
radiation. As a matter of fact, the “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector serves to
prevent gamma hazard.

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Overview
This operating manual (hereinafter referred to as the OM) is intended to inform
the user about the principles of operation of the “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity
detector and its operation procedure. The OM contains all information necessary for
proper use of the detector and full realization of its technical possibilities.
The OM contains the following abbreviations and symbols:
ED - equivalent dose;
EDR - equivalent dose rate;

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MODE - on/off button and switch between the corresponding modes of
indication (gamma radiation EDR, gamma radiation ED, real time (clock) and alarm
clock);
THRESHOLD - button of threshold levels programming and correction of clock
and alarm clock time.
Note. Equivalent dose (expressed in “Sieverts” (“Sv”)) characterizes the influence
of ionizing gamma radiation on the biological object (human), as opposed to exposure
dose (expressed in “Roentgens (“R”)”) that characterizes the capacity of gamma
radiation to ionize the air.

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Generally, to make it simple, use the coefficient circa 100 to covert equivalent
dose units into exposure dose units: 1.0 μSv  100.0 μR.
Dose rate conversion, correspondingly: 1.0 μSv/h  100.0 μR /h.
Natural radiation background normally equals circa 0.1 μSv/h (10 μR /h).
Maximum permissible level for premises according to the regulatory documents of
Ukraine is 0.30 μSv/h (30 μR /h).

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1 Purpose of use
The “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector (hereinafter called the detector)
is designed to alarm about dangerous levels of gamma radiation, as well as to evaluate
the levels of equivalent dose (ED) and equivalent dose rate (EDR) of gamma
radiation. The detector is sensitive to hard X-rays. Additionally, the detector performs
the functions of clock and alarm clock.
The detector is used:
 to control personal radiation safety of the user;

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 to carry out radiation monitoring of apartments, offices, items of everyday
use, clothes, ground surface of infields and vehicles;
 to evaluate radioactive contamination of wild berries and mushrooms.
Caution:
1 The “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector belongs to the class of
indicating and warning devices and is not an instrument for formal
(professional) measurements.
2 The “EcotestVIP” personal radioactivity detector is calibrated according to
standard sources of ionizing radiation after manufacture and is not subject to
verification.

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2 Technical specifications
2.1 Key specifications are presented in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 – Key specifications
Name Unit of
measurement
Standardized value
according to the
technical specifications
1 2 3
1 Indication range of gamma radiation
EDR μSv/h 0.1 – 999.9

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
2 Main relative permissible error limit
of gamma radiation EDR indication
with confidence probability of 0.95
(calibrated relative to 137Cs)
%
±(25+2/
H
),
where
H
 is a numeric
value of EDR in μSv/h
3 Indication range of gamma radiation
ED mSv 0.001 - 9999

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
4 Main relative permissible error limit of gamma radiation
ED indication with confidence probability of 0.95 % ±25
5 Energy range of registered gamma radiation MeV 0.05 – 3.00
6 Energy dependence of the detector readings at gamma
radiation EDR and ED evaluation in the energy range of
0.05 to 1.25 MeV
% ±30

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
7 Battery life (AAAA size×2 of 620 mA·h capacity)
under natural background radiation, not less than hour 2500
8 General operating supply voltage of the detector from
two AAAA size batteries V 3.0

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Table 2.1 (continued)
1 2 3
9 Mean time to failure, not less than hour 6000
10 Average service life of the detector, not
less than year 6
11 Dimensions, not more than mm 3315137
12 Weight (without batteries), not more
than kg 0.06