Overview
EN ISO 3925:2015 (ISO 3925:2014) specifies requirements for the identification and documentation of unsealed radioactive substances that are commercially supplied for further physical or chemical handling. It applies to unsealed materials placed in containers (not sealed sources) and sets minimum labelling and certificate information to support safe use, traceability and radiological protection. Radiopharmaceuticals and standard sealed sources are excluded.
Key Topics
- Definitions: unsealed radioactive substance, radionuclidic purity, radiochemical purity, specific activity, activity concentration.
- Container identification requirements:
- Manufacturer’s name or symbol
- Chemical symbol and mass number of the radionuclide, and, where feasible, the chemical preparation name
- Radiation symbol per ISO 361, and, if possible, the word “RADIOACTIVE”
- Cross-reference to the supplier’s certificate
- Certificate (manufacturer-supplied) must, as appropriate, include:
- Manufacturer name and address; preparation name and chemical form; radionuclide identity and position in the molecule (if applicable)
- Cross-reference to container label
- Physical form, solvent, mass or volume
- Activity concentration and/or specific activity at a stated time and date; for mixtures, activity of each radionuclide
- Total activity at a stated time and date
- Radionuclidic and radiochemical purity, chemical impurities, pH/acidity/alkalinity
- Production and expiry dates, storage conditions, container characteristics and process batch identification
Applications
- Suppliers and manufacturers of unsealed radioactive substances use the standard to produce compliant labels and certificates.
- Laboratories, research facilities and industrial users rely on the required documentation for safe handling, dose calculations, quality control and regulatory compliance.
- Radiation protection officers, procurement teams and auditors use EN ISO 3925:2015 to verify traceability, purity specifications and storage/expiry information before processing or chemical manipulation.
Benefits
- Improves safety and radiation protection by ensuring clear hazard identification.
- Enhances traceability, quality assurance and inventory control for unsealed radioactive materials.
- Facilitates consistent supplier-to-user communication of activity, purity and chemical form - critical for measurements, processing and waste management.
Related Standards
- ISO 361 - Basic ionizing radiation symbol
- ISO 921 - Nuclear energy - Vocabulary
- ISO 2919 - Sealed radioactive sources (for distinction between sealed and unsealed sources)
- Adopted as a European standard: EN ISO 3925:2015
Keywords: EN ISO 3925:2015, ISO 3925:2014, unsealed radioactive substances, identification and documentation, radiation protection, radionuclidic purity, activity concentration.