Regulatory framework for IP-2 freight containers

The publication by the IAEA of the 1985 Edition of Safety Series No 6 (IAEA SS6) Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material introduced performance requirements for packaging for a wide range of low activity bulk materials designated as Low Specific Activity material or Surface Contaminated Objects. Materials which could be transported in simple packaging (such as drums or boxes) which had few regulatory requirements under the superceded 1973 Edition of IAEA SS6, were now required to be carried within tested and approved packagings. After a review of options, it was clear that the most economic packagings for such materials were the largest packagings that could be used within transport weight and dimensional limitations. Freight containers of length of 20' and width of 8' and height of 4' and 8'6'' were identified as the most appropriate. Design specifications were developed for freight containers to meet the requirements of the IAEA Transport Regulations, and to maximise the technical and commercial benefits offered to consignors by this type of container for the transport and handling of bulk low activity materials. This paper discusses the regulatory considerations which had to be reviewed and interpreted in developing freight containers as Industrial Package Type 2 (IP-2) packagings, and the development of performance standards required to meet the regulatory requirements. (author)