HOW GOOD ARE SURPLUS FEMA CIVIL DEFENSE SURVEY METERS, GEIGER COUNTERS AND DOSIMETERS?

From the numerous FEMA technicians who have maintained, repaired and calibrated thousands of these Civil Defense Survey Meters, Geiger Counters and Dosimeters over many years, oftentimes even decades, we heard nothing but praise with a few specific maintenance cautions to be aware of. Most of these technicians have seen the same units come back in from active use in the field for their 1, 2 or 3 year re-calibration certification. (The calibration schedule varies based on the particular application they might be utilized for 'in the field'.) They know first-hand how well they hold up their calibration and can be counted on to perform.

(Many tens of thousands of these same exact type Civil Defense radiation survey meters and dosimeters are also currently deployed in various states and amongst hundreds of their local governments First-Responders; the fire, police, EMT, and HazMat teams. We are also aware that a fair number of hospitals also utilize them to periodically check their X-Ray machines, etc. for leaks, too.)

All the technicians variously described the properly maintained, calibrated, and stored Civil Defense survey meter and dosimeter as "accurate", "reliable" and "dependable". Many of these same technicians and radiological officers are also atop the call lists in their respective states for any radiological emergency and many of these same survey meters and dosimeters are what they will be confidently responding with. They know them well and trust them.

However, surplus or auction acquired Civil Defense meters and dosimeters are often brought onto the market with little or none of their previous history known of their maintenance, repairs, last calibrations, and past storage conditions. Many of these units, unlike the reliability proven units described above and maintained on a regular basis, may have been out of that maintenance 'loop' for as long 10, 15 or 20 years. Or, they may be new-in-the-box units, produced in the 60's or 70's, that never even got into the maintenance 'loop'.

BEWARE: Most internet websites selling surplus radiation detection instruments DO NOT test or calibrate the devices prior to shipment.

The functionality, reliability and accuracy of any particular individual surplus Civil Defense meter or dosimeter can not be assumed, until actually verified and proven to be so.

Our supplier knows this from the experience of culling out the bad units from amongst the good as they have evaluated, tested, and had calibrations attempted on literally thousands of these same surplus meters and dosimeters since early summer of 2001. (They have well over 100,000 of them at their facility.)

Many of these surplus meters can be every bit as reliable and accurate as those described above, but it first requires a systematic evaluation and testing process to identify them.

Bottom Line: We found the above positive sentiments by FEMA technicians so universal, and witnessed the successful tests and calibrations of enough regularly maintained meters, that we are confident that a properly maintained, calibrated, and stored Civil Defense Survey Meter or dosimeter will give its owner very reliable and accurate service. The goal then needs to be to assure that you acquire only a quality Civil Defense meter or dosimeter that is first proven to be fully up to these maintenance, calibration and storage standards.