Protocol calibration UV-meter January 2013

Calibration protocol
Biomed equipment: UV-meter
Performed by: Technical (or qualified) staff

Model UV-meter: ILT1400 with detector model XRL140T254 (www.intl-lighttech.com) or

PLIGZNL0033 Radiometer (ILT) IL1472 Germicidal (254 nm)

UV-meter and sensitivity

Efficacy test, Performance monitoring test and Safety test must be done once or several times per
year. Protocols for the tests can be found on the logistic website. The tool for these tests is an UV-
meter with a high sensitivity. If not using one of the above mentioned UV-meters, always mention
this during documentation of testing. The costs of a UV-meter are high but the use of the meter
is low; therefore one UV-meter per mission would be enough.

Calibration set-up
The UV-meter needs to be calibrated every year, to confirm radiation is around 0.2 uW/cm2 and
not too low or too high. Calibration can be done by the manufacturer but this is expensive and the
transport can cause problems on the calibration1.

The alternative is to calibrate the meter at the location by a designated user/supervisor once a year.
This should be done according the use of a standard set-up situation (fig.1) and comparing the
outcome every year.

Figure 1 - example of set-up for calibration UV-meter

Position 1
 Document [uW/cm2] of the 3 positions, every year

Unused bulb
UV light Position 2
Determine fixed
distances + angles (3x)

Position 3

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The costs for calibration are:
ECAL/1400 ILT1400 Radiometer Electrical $183 Electrical accuracy and linearity check, and recalibration to NIST
standards. Includes I/O check.
PIR(IPIR) Peak Irradiance Response $272 Irradiance response, (amps)(cm²)(watt-1), at peak sensitivity of an IL
detector.

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Written by biomed referent FSU, MSF-OCA
Protocol calibration UV-meter January 2013

Calibration procedure

1. Make sure you have spare, unused bulbs;

2. Install the unused bulb in a UV-lamp;
3. Make a drawing of the room and the positions of measuring:
a. Measure the 3 positions and distance from the UV-lamps and
b. Measure the distance and angle of the sensor of the UV-meter to the UV-lamps
carefully.
4. Measure UV-light with the UV-meter at 3 different positions in the room: do this at the same
time per year with more or less the same humidity and temperature;
5. Write down amount of uW/cm2 of the 3 positions and the average. Save this for
comparison for every year!
6. The UV-meter should RELATIVELY measure the same amount of uW/cm2. If it measured
much lower values; than the meter or sensor might have an error.
7. Write down date of last calibration UV meter (last calibration in Uzbekistan, Nukus is in
2007)
8. Write down any other issues: damaged cables, damaged detector or display etc.

Storage and costs

It is important to store and use the meter correctly to prevent unnecessary high expenses. The
meter can be used for >10 years, when stored and used correctly.
For replacement of the sensor or repairs on the cable; the UV-meter needs to be send to and
calibrated by Intl_lighttech, USA.

A new sensor will cost:

XRL140T254 Low Profile Germicidal Probe $883 33 mm2 silicon detector. Spectral range:
249-259 nm. PIR(IPIR) Calibration.
ILT1700 measurement range: 6.67(10-9)
to 6.67 W/cm². (Intl_lighttech)

2
Written by biomed referent FSU, MSF-OCA