ANSI/HPS N43.4:2005 pdf download.Classification of Radioactive Self-Luminous Light Sources.
Leakage: A transfer of radioactive material from the self-luminous light source to the environment external to any encapsulation.
Manufacturer: Any person or organization fabricating a self-luminous light source(s).
Mobile sources: Sources designed to meet certain anticipated environmental conditions, not necessarily intended for usage at any specific location(s), and known to be subject to possibly frequent or severe environmental changes.
Model: Descriptive term or number to identify a specific self-luminous light source design.
Non-leachable: Term used to convey that the radioactive material is virtually insoluble in water and not convertible into dispersible products.
Prototype source: The original source model that serves as a pattern for the manufacture of all sources identified by the same model designation.
Prototype testing: The performance testing of a new source design before sources of such design are put into actual use.
Quality control: Such tests and procedures as are necessary to establish that the sources comply with the performance characteristics for that source design as defined in Table 3 of this standard.
Radlotoxiclty: The toxicity attributable to the radiation emitted by a radioactive substance within the body.
Self-luminous light source: A source consisting of a radionuclide firmly incorporated in solid and/or inactive materials or sealed in a protective envelope strong enough to prevent any leakage of the contained radioactive substances to the environment under ordinary circumstances of use and incorporating a phosphor for the purpose of emitting light. Self-luminous light sources include:
Dry powder sources (D): in which the activated phosphor is introduced into a sealed container without the use of any binding medium,
Painted sources (P): in which a radionuclide is intimately mixed and bound with the phosphor and incorporated into a capsule,
Separable sources (S): in which the radionuclide, bonded to or in a supporting stratum, and the phosphor constitute independent elements that can be isolated from each other, and
Gaseous sources (G): in which the phosphor is coated on the inside wall of or on a component within the container in which the radionuclide, in gaseous form, is contained.
Shall: Where shalr is used for a provision specified herein, that provision is intended to be a requirement if the intent and objectives of this standard are to be met.
Should: Where should” is used indicates provisions that are not required but are recommended as good practices.
Source holder: A mechanical support for the self-luminous hght source.
3. General conditions
Sell-luminous light sources considered in this standard are of four general types: dry powder sources (0), painted sources (P). separable sources (S), and gaseous sources (G).
3.1 Activity Level (Table 1)
Table 1 establishes the maximum activity, in curies, of an individual classification of each type of source under this standard. The radionuclides most commonly used and those exhibiting potential use in selfluminous sources are listed in Table 1.
3.3 Performance standards for classification of self-luminous light sources (Table 3)
Table 3 establishes test requirements for self-luminous light sources according to intended usage and source activity. These performance requirements are minimums for applications involving normal usage (including typical accidents). Where generally extreme environmental conditions may be encountered, a ‘special” test appropriate to that situation shall be developed. There also may be situations where a source in its intended usage shall encounter only one extreme environmental condition. Under such a condition the general classification shall be modified to accommodate the abnormal condition.
3.4 Fire and explosion
Table 2 does not consider exposure of the source or source-device to fire and explosion. In the evaluation of self-luminous light sources and source-devices, the manufacturer and user shall consider the probability of fire and explosion and the possible results. Factors that should be considered in determining the need for tests more stringent than those suggested for specific classes in Table 3 are:
consequences of loss of activity, quantity of material in the source, radiotoxicity, physical form of the material environment in which the source is used, and protection afforded the source or source-device combination.
It is recognized that the possibility of fire or explosion exists in many areas where light sources are used. However, light sources, because of certain inherent characteristics, cannot always be constructed so as to completely resist the effects of fire or explosion. Therefore, special test requirements shall be specified where the probability of fire or explosion is known to be abnormally high. These special tests shall include temperature, thermal shock. pressure and impact resistance.
