Advancing Radiation Safety Standards Across Asia

- KRISS exports primary radioactivity measurement standards to Thailand, reinforcing Korea's leadership in radiation measurement across the Asia–Pacific region -

The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS, President Lee Ho Seong) has successfully exported its proprietary radioactivity measurement standard to Thailand. This milestone marks a significant step in establishing South Korea's metrology technology as a benchmark for radiation safety management across the Asia-Pacific region.

▲ Group photo of the KRISS Radioactivity Group and officials from Thailand’s Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP)

KRISS finalized an agreement with Thailand's Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) to export its "Primary Standard for the Measurement of Alpha and Beta Particle Surface Emission Rate" and successfully completed on-site system installation, as well as the transfer of related technical expertise.

The exported system is the ultimate reference for ensuring the reliability of surface contamination monitors. These monitors are essential in medical, research, and industrial settings to detect radioactive contamination on personnel, equipment, and environments. To remain accurate, these devices must undergo periodic calibration using "area sources"—reference materials with precisely verified radiation emission rates. KRISS's primary standard serves as the core infrastructure that validates the absolute accuracy of these area sources.

▲ The Primary Standard for the Measurement of Alpha and Beta particle Surface Emission Rate exported by KRISS to Thailand's Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP)

Developed by the KRISS Radioactivity Group, the system boasts a world-class measurement uncertainty of less than 1%. This performance was made possible by the integration of a windowless Multi-Wire Proportional Counter (MWPC) that eliminates measurement loss from detector covers, along with an advanced signal-processing system that ensures both device miniaturization and high-sensitivity performance by minimizing noise.

* A multi-wire proportional counter is a highly sensitive radiation detector in which multiple fine wires are arranged inside a gas-filled chamber to amplify and measure electrical signals generated as radiation passes through.

Following its export of the system to the National Metrology Institute of South Africa in 2016, KRISS has now succeeded in exporting the technology to the Asian region as well, further demonstrating its world-class capabilities in radioactivity measurement. In particular, this achievement is significant in that it lays the groundwork for South Korea’s radioactivity measurement technology to be operated as a regional standard across the Asia–Pacific region.

▲ A KRISS researcher utilizes the primary measurement standard to determine the surface emission rate of an area source

"As Thailand utilizes this system to participate in Key Comparisons (KC) and gains international recognition for its measurement reliability, South Korea's technical standing will reach new heights," said Dr. Kim Byoung-Chul, Head of the Radioactivity Group at KRISS. "We will leverage this achievement to continuously expand our export channels across various ASEAN nations."