HOUSEHOLD INDICATOR RADIATION POLLUTION BIR-3 -------------------------------- Household indicator of radiation pollution BIR-3 Technical description and brief information on the operation Moscow NPP "RAST" -------------------------------- Technical description and brief information OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD INDICATOR RADIATION CONTAMINATION "BIR-3" 1. Purpose of the device "BIR-3" The household radiation pollution indicator ("BIR-3") is intended for use in everyday life in order to check for radiation pollution (under the influence of gamma radiation and hard beta radiation) of the environment: air, earth, water, as well as various materials, objects or products. 2. Technical specifications 2.1. The device "BIR-3" is an indicator device that allows you to indicate three levels: natural radiation background. At the same time, 2 - 8 sound pulses are heard per minute and only the green indicator lights up; the level is approximately 60 microrentgens per hour. At the same time, 20-30 sound pulses per minute are heard and in addition to the green indicator, a yellow indicator is regularly displayed; the level is approximately 120 microrentgens per hour. At the same time, 40 - 60 beeps per minute are heard and, in addition to the green indicator, yellow and red indicators are alternately displayed. 2.2. During the manufacture of the BIR-3 device, the approximate levels of 60 and 120 micro-X-rays / hour are compared with the radiation of an exemplary source - the isotope Co60. In the process of operation, these levels are not subject to verification. 2.3. With fully charged batteries, the duration of the device operation is not less than 15 hours (with continuous power-on). 2.4. The device is operable at a temperature of -10 °C - +40 °C. 2.5. The device remains operational after being in extreme temperatures -50 °C - +50 °C. Attention! The "BIR-3" design is not subject to disassembly, because part of the elements the electrical circuit is under a high voltage of 400 - 500 V! 3. Device device 3.1. Structurally, the device is made in the form of a removable indicator head on the basis of a common electric rechargeable pocket flashlight "Lux" and is powered by the same three batteries of type D-0.26, from which the electric lamp of the flashlight was powered. 3.2. In the rear part of the device housing, under the removable cap, there is a plug for connecting to an alternating electric current network with a voltage of 127 or 220 V for recharging batteries. 4. Preparation for work 4.1. Before you start using the device "BIR-3", it is necessary to carefully read the technical description and brief information on the operation of "BIR-3". 4.2. Immediately after the purchase of the device and in the future, every three months, it is necessary to perform a control charge of the batteries. For this it is necessary to remove the cap in the back of the device body and plug the two-pole plug into the socket of the lighting AC electrical network (it does not matter what voltage is in it, 127 or 220 V). A test charge of the battery should last approximately 10-12 hours. Attention! Charging should be performed with the device turned off! 4.3. During intensive operation of the device, charging should be carried out as necessary: when the total operating time of the device is more than 15 hours or when the green indicator light weakens. 5. The procedure for using the device 5.1. The device is switched on by a switch located on the housing and comes into a state of readiness for operation in 15-20 seconds after switching on. It should be borne in mind that immediately after switching on, the device may simultaneously display indicators of any color that go out (except green) after reaching readiness. 5.2. If the device is switched on in a normal radiation environment, i.e. when there is only a natural background and there is no radiation contamination, then after the readiness only the green indicator will be constantly lit, briefly going out after each measurement period equal to 15-20 seconds. 5.3. After switching on the device, irregular sound signals appear. These signals arise due to the registration of the natural radiation background. The natural radiation background always exists. However, its level is unstable and varies significantly depending on the geographical location, time of day, time of year and a number of other natural factors. Therefore, the frequency of sound signals may vary. In a normal radiation environment (natural radiation-background) the frequency of the sound signals will vary between 2 - 8 per minute. In addition, the presence of sound signals simultaneously indicates the serviceability of the device. 5.4. In an environment with increased radiation, the frequency of sound signals increases. A yellow indicator may flash at the same time. Flashing of the yellow indicator regularly, during each measurement period (15-20 seconds), means that the exposure dose rate is approximately 60 microrentgens per hour or more. This dose, in accordance with the currently accepted norms (see appendix), is the maximum permissible for the population, even when staying around the clock in an environment with such a level of radiation pollution. 5.5. When the environment is polluted to a level that creates an exposure dose rate of about 120 microrentgens per hour or more, a red indicator will be displayed alternately with a yellow indicator during each measurement period (15-20 seconds). In accordance with the existing norms, this is twice the permissible dose for the population, provided that they are in such an environment around the clock. 5.6. With an increase in radiation pollution over 120 microrentgens per hour, the alternating flashing of yellow and red indicators will occur with greater frequency for the same measurement period of 15-20 seconds. Attention! If you have detected a regular flashing of the red indicator, you are advised to leave the contaminated area and report the radiation contamination you have detected to the district sanitary and epidemiological station, the district executive committee or the district police department. 5.7. To assess the radiation purity of individual objects, materials or products, the head of the switched-on device should be brought to them. If the object is radiation free, then the frequency of the sound signals should not increase compared to with sound signals arising during the registration of natural radiation background. 6. Warranty obligations 6.1. The warranty period of operation of the device "BIR-3" is 18 months from the date of its manufacture, but not more than 12 months from the date of sale. Complaints are accepted if the device has not been opened during operation and does not have any mechanical damage. 6.2. If malfunctions are detected during the warranty period, the device should be sent for its replacement to the address: 111250, Moscow, Krasnokazarmennaya str., 14 NPP "RAST". Date of manufacture Date of sale ... 199 G. M.P. ... signature Appendix Summary of current sanitary standards Currently, in the USSR, the "Standards of radiation safety NRB-76/87" are mandatory for all departments and organizations. These standards are compiled on the basis of data on the impact of exposure to ionizing radiation on the human body and taking into account the experience of eliminating the consequences of the Chernobyl accident. These norms establish three different categories of irradiated persons: Category A Professional workers who permanently or temporarily work directly with sources of ionizing radiation (III). In accordance with the tre-According to NRB-76/87, the maximum permissible dose (SDA) for persons of this category has been established (in the case of general body irradiation) 5 X-rays* per calendar year, i.e. 2.9 millirentgen per hour (taking into account the 36-hour working week). Category B - A limited part of the population - persons who do not work directly with sources of ionizing radiation, but according to the conditions of residence or placement of workplaces, may be exposed to radioactive substances. * It should be noted that in the text of NRB-76/87 these values are indicated in units of the equivalent dose REM. (REM is the biological equivalent of an X-ray.) However, since the exposure dose rate, measured in millirentgens per hour, is approximately equal to the dose rate absorbed in the tissues of the human body, measured in millibers/hour; they can be considered numerically equal. Exactly: the exposure dose of 1 X-ray corresponds to the absorbed dose in the tissues. equal to 0.93 REM; respectively, a dose of 1 microrentgen = 0.93 microbe. The environment of la cov radiation used in the institution and NRE-76/87 ohms of them in the external (PD) is set 10 times less than for category A and is equal to 0.5 X-rays per calendar year, i.e. 0.06 millirentgen per hour, i.e. 60 microrentgen per hour, taking into account year-round stay in this environment. Category C - the population of a country, republic, territory or region for which PD is not set separately, but it should be minimal, in any case no more than the PD for persons of category B.