IEC 61331-3-2014 PDF

Full title and description

Protective devices against diagnostic medical X-radiation - Part 3: Protective clothing, eyewear and protective patient shields. This international standard specifies requirements for protective clothing, eyewear and patient shields used to reduce exposure from diagnostic X‑radiation up to 150 kV during radiological examinations and interventional procedures.

Abstract

IEC 61331-3:2014 (2nd edition) establishes general requirements for design, materials, sizing, marking, statements of compliance and minimum attenuation properties for a range of protective devices (operator aprons, thyroid collars, gloves and mittens, protective eyewear, gonad aprons, scrotum/ovary/shadow shields and dental aprons). It updates and replaces the 1998 edition and adds device types and improved methods for determining attenuation over a clinically relevant range of radiation qualities.

General information

• Status: Published — current international standard (2nd edition); stability date indicated as 2026.
• Publication date: 7 May 2014.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 11.040.50 (Radiographic equipment).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2014).
• Number of pages: 56 pages.

Scope

Applies to protective clothing and eyewear intended to protect persons from diagnostic X‑radiation up to 150 kV in examinations and interventional procedures. The standard addresses accompanying documentation, design and materials, sizing and particular design features, minimum attenuation properties of materials, marking and standardized statements of compliance. It covers devices intended primarily for operator protection (aprons, thyroid collars, gloves, mittens, eyewear) and devices intended for patient gonadal protection and dental use (gonad aprons, scrotum/ovary shields, shadow shields, dental aprons).

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and terms specific to radiation-protective devices.
• Design and material requirements for protective clothing, eyewear and patient shields.
• Sizing and ergonomic considerations for operator and patient devices.
• Minimum attenuation properties and methods for determining attenuation over clinically relevant X‑ray qualities (measurement methodology and reporting of attenuation ratio / attenuation equivalent / build-up factors where applicable).
• Marking, labelling and required accompanying documentation and standard forms of statements of compliance.
• Specific requirements for device types: protective aprons, thyroid collars, gloves and mittens, protective eyewear, gonad aprons and shields, shadow shields, and dental aprons.
• Requirements to support manufacturer claims (test methods, homogeneity and mass-per-unit-area considerations).

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers of radiation-protective clothing and eyewear, medical device designers, hospital procurement and radiation safety officers, clinical medical physicists, diagnostic imaging departments, test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies. The standard guides product specification, acceptance testing, labeling and selection of protective devices in clinical and dental radiology settings.

Related standards

Key related documents include other parts of the IEC 61331 series: - IEC 61331-1:2014 — Determination of attenuation properties of materials. - IEC 61331-2:2014 — Translucent protective plates (requirements for protective viewing plates). Also relevant are international references on X‑ and gamma‑reference radiations used for tests and calibrations (for example ISO 4037 series), which inform test radiation qualities and calibration methods.

Keywords

Radiation protection, X‑radiation, protective clothing, protective eyewear, gonad shields, thyroid collar, protective apron, attenuation, dosimetry test methods, IEC 61331 series, diagnostic radiology.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC 61331-3:2014 is the second-edition international standard that specifies requirements for protective clothing, protective eyewear and patient shields intended to reduce exposure from diagnostic X‑radiation (up to 150 kV).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers general requirements (design, materials, sizing), minimum attenuation properties and test/measurement methods (how attenuation is determined and reported), marking and required accompanying documentation for devices such as aprons, thyroid collars, gloves, mittens, eyewear and patient gonadal/dental shields.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, medical physicists, radiation safety officers, hospital procurement teams, conformity assessment bodies and testing laboratories involved with diagnostic radiology and interventional imaging.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: IEC 61331-3:2014 is the current (2nd) edition published 7 May 2014; it cancels and replaces the 1998 edition. The IEC product record indicates a stability date of 2026 (users should check for any amendments or newer editions issued after February 25, 2026).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 3 of the IEC 61331 series. Related parts include IEC 61331-1 (determination of attenuation properties) and IEC 61331-2 (translucent protective plates). These parts are commonly used together when specifying, testing and certifying radiation-protective devices.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Radiation protection, protective clothing, eyewear, aprons, gonad shields, thyroid collars, attenuation, test methods, diagnostic X‑radiation, IEC 61331.