Shipping Packages

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INTRODUCTION

This module provides information about identifying packagings used

to transport radioactive material and how to recognize this material

when responding to a transportation incident.

Four types of packages will be discussed; Excepted packaging,

Industrial packaging, Type A packaging and Type B packaging.

Consideration for the mode of transporting radioactive material will

be discussed. You will learn the philosophy behind radioactive

material packaging design as well as the safety features associated

with the radioactive material package and the stringent package

testing requirements.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this module is to provide you with a basic

understanding of the types of packages used to transport radioactive

material and the potential hazard posed by the material contained

within these packages. This information will help increase your

knowledge of appropriate responses to a radiological transportation

incident.

MODULE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Identify typical packages used in the transport of radioactive

material.

2. List examples of radioactive material that are shipped in

various shipping packages.

3. Identify the risks associated with the various shipping

packages.

4. Identify the testing methods for Type A and B Packages.

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TRANSPORTING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

Radioactive materials are a vital part of our modern society. They

are used in our hospitals, factories, laboratories and homes. Life

would be more difficult if we had to stop using radioactive material.

Many of the benefits we get from radioactive material cannot be

obtained by any other means.

Doctors use them to diagnose and treat many diseases. Smoke

detectors use a small amount of radioactive material to provide early

warning of fires in our homes. Products like plastic wrap, radial

tires, and coffee filters are manufactured in factories that use

radioactive material. There are many more uses of radioactive

materials in our modern society that provide enormous benefits.

Radioactive material is transported every day by highway, rail, air,

and water. Radioactive material must be shipped from where it is

produced to where it is used. The use of radioactive material

sometimes produces radioactive waste that must then be shipped

to a disposal site. Radioactive materials are transported according

to very strict federal regulations. The regulations are designed to

protect the public and the environment from risks associated with

radioactive material during normal and accident conditions. The

DOE complies with all applicable regulations pertaining to the

transport of radioactive material.

Radioactive material is generally shipped in its most stable form.

Typically, that means they are shipped as solids. When radioactive

liquids or gases are transported, federal regulations require

additional precautions. Careful research and design goes into

packaging radioactive materials. Emergency planning, driver

training, and strict government inspections are a part of a program

that has never resulted in a radiologically related death or injury

from a transportation incident.

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HAZARD EVALUATION

Federal regulations place strict administrative controls on the

transport of radioactive material. The worldwide philosophy of

radioactive material transport is that:

 Safety should be primarily focused on the package.

Packaging is the first line of defense.

 Package integrity should be directly related to the degree of

hazard of the material it contains.

This two-part philosophy means that small quantities of radioactive

material—quantities that would present little hazard if released—

may be shipped in less secure packages than those that contain

higher levels of radioactive material.

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PACKAGING

Radioactive material, like other commodities, is transported every

day by highway, rail, air, and water. Radioactive material is packaged

to ensure that radiation levels at the package surface do not exceed

federal regulations. This ensures that shippers, the public, and the

environment are not exposed to radiation levels that exceed

recognized safe limits.

Different shipping packagings are required for various types, forms,

quantities, and levels of radioactivity. We will discuss four packaging

types:

 Excepted Packaging

 Industrial Packaging

 Type A Packaging

 Type B Packaging

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Excepted Packaging is used to transport material with extremely

low levels of radioactivity. Excepted packagings are authorized for

limited quantities of radioactive material that would pose a very

low hazard if released in an accident. Examples of material typically

shipped in excepted packaging include consumer goods such as

smoke detectors. Excepted packagings are excepted (excluded)

from specific packaging, labeling, and shipping paper requirements;

they are however, required to have the letters “UN” and the

appropriate four-digit UN identification number marked on the

outside of the package. Requirements for excepted packaging are

addressed in 49 CFR 173.421.

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Industrial Packaging is used in certain shipments of low activity

material and contaminated objects, which are usually categorized

as radioactive waste. Most low-level radioactive waste is shipped

in these packages. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations

require that these packages allow no identifiable release of the

material to the environment during normal transportation and

handling. There are three categories of industrial packages: IP-1, IP-

2, and IP-3. The category of package will be marked on the exterior

of the package as shown below. Requirements for industrial

packaging are addressed in 49 CFR 173.411.

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Type A Packaging is used to transport small quantities of radioactive

material with higher concentrations of radioactivity than those

shipped in industrial packagings. They are typically constructed of

steel, wood, or fiberboard, and have an inner containment vessel

made of glass, plastic, or metal surrounded with packing material

made of polyethylene, rubber, or vermiculite. Examples of material

typically shipped in Type A Packages include nuclear medicines

(radiopharmaceuticals), radioactive waste, and radioactive sources

used in industrial applications. Type A packaging and its radioactive

contents must meet standard testing requirements designed to

ensure that the package retains its containment integrity and

shielding under normal transport conditions. Requirements for

Type A packaging are addressed in 49 CFR 173.412.

Type A Packages must withstand moderate degrees of heat, cold,

reduced air pressure, vibration, impact, water spray, drop,

penetration, and stacking tests. Type A Packages are not, however,

designed to withstand the forces of an accident. The consequences

of a release of the material in one of these packages would not be

significant since the quantity of material in this package is so limited.

Type A packagings are only used to transport non life-endangering

amounts of radioactive material.

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Type B Packaging is designed to transport material with the highest

levels of radioactivity. As illustrated in the photos below, Type B

packagings range from small hand-held radiography cameras to

heavily shielded steel casks that weigh up to 125 tons. Examples of

material transported in Type B packagings include spent nuclear

fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and high concentrations of other

radioactive material such as cesium and cobalt. These package

designs must withstand all Type A tests, and a series of tests that

simulate severe or “worst-case” accident conditions. Accident

conditions are simulated by performance testing and engineering

analysis. Life-endangering amounts of radioactive material are

required to be transported in Type B Packages. Requirements for

Type B packaging are addressed in 49 CFR 173.411. 49 CFR 173.413

and 10 CFR 71.

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To demonstrate that Type B Packages can withstand a severe

accident, a tractor-trailer (below) carrying a Type B Package

prototype was crashed into a massive concrete wall at 84 miles per

hour. The package was slightly dented, but it did not release its

simulated radioactive material.

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RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SHIPPING PACKAGES

Unlike other hazard classes, radioactive material in transport has

additional information about potential risk(s) to the responder.

Some of this information can be obtained by first identifying the

packaging type for the material being shipped. Excepted, Industrial,

and Type A Packages contain non life-endangering amounts of

radioactive material and present minimal risk if their contents are

released in an accident. Type B Packages, however, may contain

life-endangering amounts of radioactive material that could pose a

significant risk if released during an accident.

The philosophy behind radioactive material transportation—where

safety is primarily focused on packaging and package integrity being

appropriate to the material hazard—dictates that Type B Packages

be designed to withstand severe accident conditions. In DOE’s 50-

year history of transporting radioactive material, there has never

been a release from a Type B Package. In addition, there has never

been an injury or death resulting from the release of radioactive

material in a transportation incident.

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL PACKAGE TESTING

Two federal agencies regulate the testing of radioactive material

package designs for use in the United States: the U.S. Department of

Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC). DOT and NRC regulations are based on international

regulations issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The DOT is responsible for specifying required test conditions for

most packages. The NRC certifies that packages designed for

material with higher levels of radioactivity (i.e., Type B Packages),

such as spent fuel, meet NRC test requirements. Package designs

are tested using computer simulation, scale model testing, and/or

full-scale testing.

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PACKAGE TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Type A Tests

Type A Packages must be able to withstand a series of tests that

simulate normal transport conditions. These tests include:

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PACKAGE TESTING REQUIREMENTS

Type B Tests

In addition to the requirements for Type A Packages, the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires that Type B Packages be

able to withstand a series of tests that simulate severe accident

conditions. These tests are conducted sequentially and include:

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ANSWERS

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1. This type of packaging, along with its radioactive contents, must meet

standard testing requirements designed to ensure that the package

retains its containment integrity and shielding under normal transport

conditions.

a) Type A packaging

b) Type B packaging

c) Industrial packaging

d) Excepted packaging

2. _____ __ packaging must be able to withstand a series of tests that

simulate severe or “worst case” accident conditions.

3. Radiopharmaceuticals are typically shipped in _____ __ packagings and

spent nuclear fuel is typically shipped in _____ __ packagings.

4. Which of the following statements best applies to the risks associated

with material shipped in Type A Packages?

a) Type A Packages are used to transport very high levels of radioactive

material.

b) Type A Packages are used to transport exempt quantities of

radioactive material.

c) Type A Packages are built to withstand the most severe accident

conditions.

d) Type A Packages contain non life-endangering amounts of radioactive

material.

1. a

2. Type B

3. Type A

Type B

4. d