[ RadSafe ] Metric Units

[Lawrence Jacobi]

Regarding Mike Brennan’s comment on the use of metric units, I have a practical example where it is occasionally problematic.  

I have been engaged recently to prepare applications to register sealed sources and devices and obtain SS&D certificates for sources and devices manufactured in Europe.  In order to obtain such certificates, one must show that the source or device complies with ANSI or other applicable US standards.  Having been manufactured in Europe, the sources and devices are built to ISO standards.  In some cases, these standards are more up-to-date than the relevant US standard.  However, the US NRC and some Agreement States require the devices to conform to the US standard.  That means the applicant must prepare (at some cost) a cross-reference to show that the two standards are comparable.  Another issue arises when one must review and understand (and occasionally be confused by) engineering drawings and specifications that use metric units.  We’d be well served if we could get on the same page with the rest of the world.