Sealed radioactive sources - General requirements and classification
1 Scope
This standard establishes a system of classification of sealed radioactive sources based on test performance and specifies general requirements, performance tests, production tests, marking and certification.
It provides a set of tests by which the manufacturer of sealed radioactive sources can evaluate the safety of his products in use and by which the user of such sources can select types which are suitable for the required application, especially where protection against the release of radioactive material, with consequent exposure to ionizing radiation, is concerned. This International Standard may also be of guidance to regulating authorities.
The tests fall into several groups, including, for example, exposure to abnormally high and low temperatures, and a variety of mechanical tests. Each test can be applied in several degrees of severity. The criterion of pass or fail depends on leakage of the contents of the sealed radioactive source.
Note 1: Leakage test methods are given in GB 15849-1995.
A list of the main typical applications of sealed radioactive sources with a suggested test schedule for each application is given in Table 4. The tests are minimum requirements corresponding to the applications in the broadest sense. Factors to be considered during applications in adverse environmental conditions (see Annex C) are listed in Sub-clause 4.2.
Note 2: Manufacturers and test organizations shall prepare their own programme for quality assurance, in accordance with the requirements of GB/T 19001-2000.
This standard makes no attempt to classify either the design and construction method of source or their calibration in terms of the radiation emitted. Radioactive materials inside a nuclear reactor including sealed sources and fuel elements are not covered by this standard.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of this standard. For dated references, subsequent amendments (excluding corrections), or revisions, of any of these publications do not apply to this standard. However parties to agreements based on this standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated references, the latest edition applies.
GB 15849-1995 Sealed radioactive sources - Leakage test methods (eqv ISO 9978: 1992)
GB/T 19001-2000 Quality management systems - Requirements (idt ISO 9001:2000)
Coding rules for radioactive sources (HUAN FA [2004] No.118)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
capsule
protective envelope used to prevent leakage of radioactive material
3.2
dummy sealed source
facsimile of a sealed source, the capsule of which has the same construction and is made with exactly the same materials as those of the sealed source, but the radioactive material containing in source core is replaced by a substance resembling it as closely as practical in physical and chemical properties
3.3
fluence rate
number of particles and/or photons of ionizing radiation emitted per unit time from the sealed source in defined geometry
Note: This is best expressed in terms of radiation fluence rate.
3.4
leakage
transfer of contained radioactive material from the sealed source to the environment
3.5
leak tight
term applied to sealed sources which, after leakage testing, have met the limiting values given in Table 1 of GB 15849-1995
3.6
model designation
unique term (number, code or combination of these) which is used to identify a specific type of sealed source
3.7
non-leachable
term used to convey that the radioactive material in the form contained in the sealed source is virtually insoluble in water and is not convertible into dispersible products
3.8
prototype sealed source
original of a sealed source which serves as a pattern for the manufacture of all sealed sources identified by the same model designation
3.9
quality assurance
all the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system, and demonstrated as needed, to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality
3.10
radiotoxicity
the ability of a radionuclide to produce injury by virtue of its emitted radiations, when incorporated in the human body
3.11
Foreword i
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Classification and designation
5 Activity level requirements
6 Performance requirements
7 Test methods
8 Source marking
9 Source certificate
10 Quality assurance
Annex A (Informative) Grouping of radiotoxicity
Annex B (Informative) Example of certificate for sealed radioactive source
Annex C (Informative) General requirements on adverse environmental conditions
Annex D (Informative) Additional tests
Bibliography
