As radiation protection standards continue to evolve globally, collaboration and knowledge-sharing remain at the heart of industry progress. We recently had the distinct pleasure of hosting an exclusive, behind-the-scenes site visit to our UKAS Accredited calibrations laboratory located in Deeside.
The event took place as part of the 7th European International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) Congress, bringing together leading minds and experts from across the radiation safety sector. Over 20 delegates took time out of their congress schedules to tour our state-of-the-art facility, explore our specialised calibration capabilities and engage with our technical experts.
Exploring an Industry-Leading Calibration Facility
The site visit offered our international guests a comprehensive, firsthand look at what goes into maintaining peak accuracy and compliance for radiation protection instrumentation.
Divided into interactive sessions, the tour walked delegates through the entire lifecycle of calibration inside our facility:
- Goods Inwards & Asset Tracking: Guests saw where the calibration journey begins, learning how incoming instruments are logged, checked, and securely prepped for testing.
- The Irradiation & Testing Chambers: A major highlight was stepping inside our specialised testing environments, where precision-engineered automated tracking systems allow for precise, repeatable exposures essential for high-standard calibration work.
- Interactive Expert Talks: The tour concluded with two deep-dive technical talks hosted by our very own Nick Hutchinson and Steve Newton. These sessions sparked excellent discussions regarding current industry challenges, calibration methodologies, radiation protection advise and the rigorous standards required to maintain a UKAS-accredited status.
A Truly Global Gathering
Radiation protection is a global effort, and our visitor list certainly reflected that. We were incredibly proud to welcome guests travelling from all over the world, including:
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Romania
- Italy
- Norway
- Finland
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Canada
Having such a diverse group of international practitioners under one roof allowed for a fantastic exchange of ideas, comparing regional practices against international standards.
Why UKAS Accreditation Matters in Radiation Protection
For facilities handling radiation safety equipment, there is no room for error. A slight variance in an instrument’s reading can have major safety implications.
Hosting events like the IRPA site visit gives us the platform to demonstrate why rigorous accreditation matters. Our Deeside laboratory operates under strict UKAS guidelines, ensuring that every piece of equipment we calibrate delivers traceably precise and legally defensible measurements.
