The variation of beta dose- rate with depth below the surface of a porcelain slice was investigated. The variation is due to the build- up and attenuation effectS of beta dose in the slice. It is shown that the saturation value of build-up is 1.05 at the depth of 80μ m
and therefore the average dose increment or reduction is only 2% for a thickness of 200 or 300μ m. Hence the build-up effect is negligible in the dating of porcelain slices with similar thickness.