The Transport Regulations — TS-R-1 (IAEA, 2009a) — establish a sound basis for both the design of packages used for the transport of radioactive materials and the operations associated with their use.

19.4.1 Regulatory requirements for packages

The packages used for the transport of radioactive material are structured into five categories: (1) excepted packages, (2) industrial packages, (3) Type A packages, (4) Type B packages and (5) Type C packages; where the activity and/or risk posed by the contents, and the design requirements both increase from the excepted packages to the Type B and Type C packages.

Excepted packages are used for the transport of very small quantities of radioactive material. Minimal design and operational requirements are imposed on these packages because of the very low risk posed by their contents. They are expected to be able to survive routine conditions of transport (i. e. incident free) without loss of contents.

Industrial packages, which come in three types (IP-1, IP-2 and IP-3), are used for the transport of low specific activity material and surface-contaminated objects, where the risk posed by these contents and, therefore, the design requirements again increase from IP-1 to IP-3. Over the range of contents and package requirements, these packages might be expected to retain their shielding and containment integrity under both routine and normal conditions of transport (i. e. minor mishaps), depending upon the level of activity of the contents involved.

Type A packages are used for the transport of limited quantities of radioactive material, where the content limits are established by the individual radionuclides using a methodology for assessing risks, which assumes that the packaging is capable of retaining its shielding and containment integrity under both routine and normal conditions of transport.

Type B packages are used for the transport of higher activity contents (i. e. higher than Type A quantities). Their designs undergo a rigorous review and certification by competent authorities before they can be used. They are designed to withstand, without significant loss of shielding or containment (the values of which are specified quantitatively in the Regulations), not only routine and normal conditions of transport, but also accident conditions.

Type C packages are similar to Type B packages, but must be designed to even more stringent conditions and are for use in the air transport of significant quantities of radioactive material. The accident conditions of transport that are imposed on these designs are more demanding than those imposed on Type B packages.

In addition to the above, if the contents of the package are fissile, they must be assessed under normal and accident-related conditions to demonstrate that criticality will not occur. For fissile material, the packages may be either Industrial — Fissile (Type IF), Type A Fissile (Type AF) or Type B Fissile (Type B(U)F or Type B(M)F where the ‘U’ and the ‘M’ designate unilateral approval and multilateral approval requirements as set forth in the Regulations).

Finally, if the package contains uranium hexafluoride, specific design requirements apply, and they are given the unique identifiers H(U) and H(M), unilaterally and multilaterally approved, respectively.

Although this may appear to be a complex structure for specifying regulatory packaging requirements, it is structured in a sound manner, uses a graded approach, and is based upon the experience of the development and application of the Regulations for over 50 years.

To illustrate the graded approach, Table 19.2 shows the increase in package design requirements as the contents move from the very small quantities of radioactive material allowed in excepted packages, to the very large quantities that are allowed in the Type B and Type C packages. The increase in design requirements from Type B to Type C results from the potentially more severe environments during normal transport and accidents that a Type C package might experience in air transport. The table does not show the additional requirements imposed on fissile or uranium hexafluoride packages.

Package design / test requirement*

General requirements for all packagest

Increased capability to withstand specific temperature and pressure environments expected during transport by air

Limit smallest package dimension to 10cm

Withstand drop onto an unyielding target from a height of 0.3 to 1.2 m depending upon the mass of the package; and compressive load equal to greater of 5 times the package mass or 13 kPa

Incorporate a seal providing evidence the package has remained unopened, and provide a securely closed containment system

Incorporate tiedown attachments so that package integrity will be retained during normal and accident conditions of transport Design to package temperatures ranging from -40°C to +70°C; and retain contents to reduced pressure of 60kPa Design to national and international standards

Withstand a water spray test for one hour and a penetration test by a 6kg bar dropped 1 mf

Withstand a drop from 9m onto an unyielding target so as to suffer maximum damage

Withstand a drop from 1 m onto a rigidly mounted bar so as to suffer maximum damage

Industrial Type A Type В Type C

packages package package package

Package design / test requirement Excepted Industrial Type A Type В Type C package packages package package package Withstand impact of 500kg plate from a height of 9m (some Type В and all Type C packages) # X Withstand a thermal test at 800°C for 30min so as to suffer maximum damage X Withstand 8 hour immersion in water at 15m depth in attitude for maximum damage X X Withstand 1 hour immersion in water at 200 m depth (some Type B, all Type C packages) # X Withstand burial at steady state in a thermal insulating environment X Withstand drop of 250 kg puncture probe from height of 3m forsmall packages, or drop of package onto probe for large packages X Withstand a thermal test at 800°C for 60 min so as to suffer maximum damage X Withstand impact onto unyielding target at 90 m/s velocity so as to suffer maximum damage X

Notes:

* ‘#’ applies to some of the packages within that type, ‘X’ applies to all of the packages within that type.

t General requirements are covered in paragraphs 606-616 of TS-R-1; addressing such items as properly securing the package, ensuring lifting attachments cannot fail, having easily decontaminated external surfaces and preventing collection of water, capable of withstanding routine transport accelerations and vibrations, having physically and chemically compatible materials, protecting any valves, and taking into account routine transport ambient temperatures and pressures.

t A drop height of the 6kg bar of 1.7 m is required for Type A packages containing liquids or gases.

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