Termination of Radon Metrology

More than 20 years ago, PTB began setting up calibration facilities for radon measuring instruments. Since then it has continuously extended these facilities for the benefit of its customers and for scientific work and has expanded its range of calibration services. This means that PTB has up to now calibrated measuring instruments for the detection of Rn-222, Rn-220, mixed atmospheres from both radon isotopes as well as their progenies in air with small measurement uncertainties in a large range of activity concentrations. From 2015 onwards, these services will no longer be offered by PTB.

As a higher federal authority under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, PTB has been affected by the cutbacks in government spending over the last few years and here, in particular, by the considerable cuts to staff appointments.  Due to the expenditure reductions in the last 10 years, more than 30 % of the jobs in the "Radioactivity" Department, which the "Radon Measuring Technique" Working Group is part of, have been lost. Because of this, it will, in future, no longer be possible to carry out research and calibrations in the breadth and depth we have been accustomed to in the area of radionuclide metrology. At the proposal of the head of Division 6, and with the consent of the Presidential Board, PTB's "Radon Measuring Technique" will stop working by the end of 2014. Calibrations of measuring instruments for radon (Rn-222 and Rn-220) and radon progenies as well as the exposure of passive measuring systems will, thus, no longer be offered.

Contact persons
A. Röttger(at)ptb.de, Department 6.1, Working Group 6.13
D. Arnold(at)ptb.de, Department 6.1

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