SIST EN ISO 9978:2023 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 9978:2022 - Radiation protection - Sealed sources - Leakage test methods (ISO 9978:2020) specifies standardized procedures to detect and characterise leakage from sealed radioactive sources. The standard covers both radioactive and non‑radioactive test techniques and is intended for use in design testing, production quality control and periodic in‑service inspections throughout a sealed source’s working life. It also provides guidance (Annex A) on choosing appropriate methods by source type and situation.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose
  • Defines leakage test methods applicable after ISO 2919 design classification tests, during production QC, and for routine periodic inspections.
  • Emphasises that following this standard does not replace compliance with IAEA and national regulatory requirements.
• Test methods by radioactive means
  • Immersion tests (hot, boiling, room temperature, liquid scintillator techniques).
  • Gaseous emanation tests (radium‑226, krypton‑85 and other specific gaseous tests).
  • Wipe tests (wet and dry wipes) with absolute acceptance criteria (no correction for wiping efficiency).
• Test methods by volumetric means
  • Helium mass spectrometer leak testing (referencing ISO 20485 procedures and acceptance calculations).
  • Bubble leakage tests (vacuum, hot‑liquid, gas pressurisation, liquid nitrogen variants) with cautions about visibility and self‑heated sources.
  • Water pressurisation tests.
• Quality and competency
  • Measurement uncertainty must be considered when interpreting non‑binary results.
  • Personnel performing leak tests shall be appropriately trained and qualified (informative reference to ISO 9712).
• Guidance
  • Annex A provides practical guidance on selecting the most suitable method(s) for specific source designs and use cases.
  • Recognises that special or additional tests may sometimes be required.

Applications and users

• Manufacturers of sealed radioactive sources - for production QC and design verification following ISO 2919.
• Calibration and reference source producers - to confirm long‑term integrity.
• Radiation Protection Officers and service organizations - for routine leak testing and periodic inspections.
• Regulatory bodies and transport/storage managers - to verify compliance and support safety assessments.
• Test laboratories - implementing helium leak testing, immersion assays, wipe sampling and gaseous emanation measurements.

Related standards and references

• ISO 2919 - Sealed radioactive source classification (design testing)
• ISO 20485 - Tracer gas (helium) leak testing methods
• ISO 19361, ISO 19581 - Assay techniques for immersion test samples (informative)
• ISO 7503‑2 - Wipe testing techniques (informative)
• Relevant IAEA regulations and applicable national statutory requirements

By standardising leakage test methods for sealed sources, EN ISO 9978 helps organisations implement consistent radiation protection practices, choose appropriate test strategies, and document leak‑testing procedures for regulatory and quality assurance purposes. Keywords: sealed sources leakage test, radiation protection, EN ISO 9978, helium leak testing, immersion test, wipe test, gaseous emanation.