Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (radio mast with waves)
The standard’s wording, as the sources below reproduce it:
“To indicate generally elevated, potentially hazardous, levels of non-ionizing radiation, or to indicate equipment or systems e.g. in the medical electrical area that include RF transmitters or that intentionally apply RF electromagnetic energy for diagnosis or treatment.”
IEC 60417-5140 · IEC 60601-1-2 (electromagnetic compatibility), as Verathon cites it
What it means for you
On medical equipment this nearly always means the device contains a radio transmitter — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or telemetry — or deliberately uses radio-frequency energy to diagnose or treat. It is why the instructions list distances to keep from other equipment and places where it should not be used. ICU Medical’s glossary puts it plainly as “RF Transmitter — Indicates a radio frequency is transmitted”. It is not about X-rays or radioactivity; that is ionizing radiation, with a different symbol.
Whether a device is right for you is a question for your pharmacist, nurse or doctor.
- What it looks like
- A small dot on top of a narrow, filled mast, with three curved lines on each side of the dot — radio waves spreading out.
- Where you see it
- On the label or rating plate of wireless patient monitors and telemetry packs, infusion pumps with Wi-Fi, insulin-pump controllers, ultrasound and diathermy equipment; the EMC tables in the instructions refer to it.
- Other names
- RF transmitter; radio waves symbol; wireless symbol; antenna with waves
What it does not tell you
It does not say how strong the emission is, which frequencies are used, or that the device is unsafe near you. The recommended separation distances are in the EMC section of the instructions.
More symbols in “Marks on the device casing”
Sources
IEC 60417 and IEC 60601-1 are paid standards, so the wording above is quoted as 4 publishers’ public documents reproduce it; our drawing is not the IEC artwork. Each was fetched and read on the date shown:
- Verathon: Symbol Glossary (0900-4757) — “Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation — To indicate generally elevated, potentially hazardous, levels of non-ionizing radiation, or to indicate equipment or systems e.g. in the medical electrical area that include RF transmitters or that intentionally apply RF electromagnetic energy for diagnosis or treatment.”, citing IEC 60601-1-2, 5.1.1. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Medela: Symbols Glossary (101046886 A) — Same wording, referenced ISO 7000-5140 / IEC 60417-5140. Checked 2026-09-28.
- ICU Medical: Symbols Glossary (IFU0000017 Rev 02) — Row “RF Transmitter — Indicates a radio frequency is transmitted”, IEC 60417 reference # 5140. Checked 2026-09-28.
- Biosense Webster: BWI Symbols Glossary (FORM-3534 Rev C) — Page 7 lists the mast with waves as “Non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation”, reference 5140, under IEC TR 60878. Checked 2026-09-28.
Plain-language parts are in our own words; quotations are the sources’ wording.