BS EN ISO 11665-2-2019 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 11665-2:2019 — Measurement of radioactivity in the environment — Air: radon-222 — Part 2: Integrated measurement method for determining average potential alpha energy concentration of its short‑lived decay products. This document specifies integrated (time‑averaged) sampling, detection, calibration, uncertainty assessment and reporting requirements for long‑term measurements of the potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) of short‑lived radon‑222 decay products in air, intended for environmental and building investigations and monitoring programmes.

Abstract

This part of ISO 11665 describes integrated measurement methods for short‑lived radon‑222 decay products and gives guidance on devices, sampling conditions and procedures for determining the average potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) over sampling periods ranging from a few weeks up to one year. It applies to PAEC values greater than 10 nJ/m3 and less than 1 000 nJ/m3 and is not intended for systems with maximum sampling durations of less than one week. For information only, radon‑220 decay products are discussed because of similar behaviour.

General information

• Status: Published (adopted as EN/BS national publication; ISO edition confirmed on review).
• Publication date: 2019 (ISO edition 2, published September 2019; UK/BS adoption November 2019).
• Publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI) — national adoption of ISO/CEN text (originally ISO).
• ICS / categories: 17.240 (Radiation protection); 13.040.01 (Air quality in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2019) — ISO 11665-2:2019 / BS EN ISO 11665-2:2019.
• Number of pages: ISO edition: 13 pages (national/adopted publications can include additional national forewords; BS adopted publication shown as 22 pages in some catalogs).

Scope

This standard specifies an integrated (time‑averaged) method to determine the average potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) of short‑lived decay products of radon‑222 in indoor and outdoor air. It covers equipment requirements, sampling and detection techniques, calibration and counting procedures, applicable sampling durations (from a few weeks up to one year), applicability limits (PAEC > 10 nJ/m3 and < 1 000 nJ/m3) and reporting of results and uncertainties. It excludes short‑term spot measurements and systems with maximum sampling duration under one week.

Key topics and requirements

• Purpose and measurement objective: integrated assessment of PAEC of short‑lived radon‑222 decay products (radiological protection metric).
• Sampling duration and strategy: long‑term integrated sampling (weeks to one year) and exclusions for sampling periods < 1 week.
• Measurement range and applicability: PAEC applicability range 10–1 000 nJ/m3.
• Equipment and detection: requirements and recommendations for sampling systems (aerosol collectors), detectors and counting systems appropriate for long‑term integrated measurements.
• Calibration and traceability: calibration procedures, reference sources and quality assurance for reliable quantification.
• Uncertainty estimation and data reporting: procedures to estimate measurement uncertainty and to report results, sampling duration and relevant environmental/operational conditions.
• Informative note on radon‑220 decay products: characteristics and comparison with radon‑222 decay product behaviour (informative only).

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and public‑health laboratories, radon survey and mapping programmes, building investigators, occupational radiation protection services, national/regulatory monitoring agencies and manufacturers of long‑term radon/radon‑progeny samplers. The standard is intended for organisations performing long‑term environmental monitoring, post‑mitigation verification or population exposure assessments where time‑averaged PAEC of radon progeny is required.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 11665 series on radon in air. Relevant related parts include ISO 11665‑1 (general guidance and origins of radon and decay products), ISO 11665‑4 (spot measurement methods / grab sampling and spot techniques), ISO 11665‑8 (methodologies for building investigations), and other parts of the 11665 series that cover continuous and spot methods and specific measurement contexts. Users should consult Part 1 for method selection and Parts addressing spot/continuous techniques when short‑term or continuous monitoring is required.

Keywords

radon, radon‑222, potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC), radon progeny, integrated measurement, long‑term sampling, radiation protection, air quality, environmental monitoring, BS EN ISO 11665.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is the ISO/CEN/BS specification (BS EN ISO 11665‑2:2019) that defines an integrated measurement method to determine the average potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC) of short‑lived decay products of radon‑222 in air, for long‑term sampling programmes.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling strategy, equipment and detection requirements, calibration, counting procedures, uncertainty assessment and reporting for integrated (time‑averaged) measurements over periods from a few weeks up to one year, applicable to PAEC between 10 and 1 000 nJ/m3. It does not cover short‑duration spot systems (< 1 week).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental laboratories, radon survey teams, building investigators, occupational radiation protection professionals, regulatory authorities and manufacturers of long‑term radon measurement equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The document is Edition 2 (2019). The ISO entry for this part was published in 2019 and has been confirmed on its periodic review; national adoptions (BS/EN) were published in 2019. Users should check their national standards body for any later confirmations or national amendments.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is one part of the ISO 11665 series on measurement of radon in air; other parts cover origins and guidance (Part 1), spot and continuous methods, building investigation methodologies (Part 8), and additional measurement techniques. Consult the series to select the appropriate part for spot, continuous or building investigation needs.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: radon, radon‑222, radon progeny, potential alpha energy concentration (PAEC), integrated sampling, long‑term monitoring, environmental radioactivity, measurement uncertainty.