This standard applies to dosimetry systems used to determine personal dose equivalent for occupational conditions and absorbed dose for accident conditions. Tests are conducted under controlled conditions and include irradiation with photons, beta particles, neutrons, and selected mixtures of these radiations. The range of delivered absorbed doses or personal dose equivalents and tolerance levels are based on considerations of radiation protection expressed in current publications of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP 1993), the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU 1992), and the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP 1991, 1997). Organizations should be tested in those categories that best represent the dosimetry services they provide or use. The tests outlined in this standard may be used to test the suppliers of dosimetry services (processors).

The standard integrates angular testing using photon fields incident at various angles to the plane of the dosimeter. Such tests provide the test participant with:

• a method to continuously evaluate long-term changes in dosimeter construction, and
• information for improving absorbed dose or personal dose equivalent estimation under field conditions.

Several dosimetry uses and radiological conditions are outside the scope of this standard because of dosimeter design, limitations of dosimetry systems, and practical considerations of testing equipment and sources. These include:

• thermal neutrons,
• high-energy neutrons (E ≥ 3 MeV), and
• extremity dosimeters (covered in ANSI/HPS N13.32-2008).

The scope of this standard is sufficiently comprehensive that satisfactory performance implies that a dosimetry processor or user is competent to assess personal dose under a broad range of field conditions using the tested dosimetry system for those categories for which they were tested.