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Re: Type A transport containers
First a brief summary of my background:
I initiated the DOE's Type A testing program in 1975 (at Mound Lab.),
conducted all of the DOE's Type A testing for the next 22 years and
published the Type A packaging catalogs (the "Red Book") until I retired
and the program went to Hanford. Thus, I know as much about Type A
packaging testing and certification as anyone in the world.
Response to your questions:
Without further information it is difficult to answer your questions,
but, I will generalize for a bit. Within the next week I will respond in
more detail.
Question: Is it possible to repair Type A transport containers?
Response: "Yes" at times.
Question: Is it possible to repair Type A transport containers
(drums)that have small rust holes in them.
Response: From a practical standpoint, "No."
Question: Would the container have to be re-certified?
Response: "Yes"
Discussion: This re-certification could be by any of the means
given in 173.461 - prototype testing, actual
testing, testing of models, reference to similar
testing, calculations, etc. And, this
must be documented and made part of the
documentation required per 173.415(a).
The difficult part to address in this
re-certification would be, "What is the condition
of the rest of the drum, the parts that have not
rusted through as yet?" And, "How do I know!!"
Plus the obvious question, "How do I know my
repairs to the "rusted" areas are as strong as the
original steel?"
Remember, when one introduces this "refurbished"
or any Type A package into commerce, as the
shipper, one is saying that "It meets or exceeds
the ability of the original test package to comply
with the DOT Type A performance requirements!"
The shipper has to be able to logically defend the
above position/statement. Try convincing a
concerned person from the public, an inspector
from the DOT or the NRC or the State or the DOE
that a rusty, patched-up steel drum is as good as
the new drum/package and would perform as well in
actual testing.
The fact that the epoxy resin might not spill out
is not of any significance. One would have to be
concerned abut water getting into the drum and
corroding the steel from the inside - undetected
until a hole opens.
Other information of interest - the type of drum closure, is the AmBe
source certified as Special Form, how old are these packagings?
Just some thoughts, but I think it will be cheaper to buy new packagings
than to try fix & patch & re-certify. As long as you did this work in
compliance with the intent of the DOT regulations.
Don Edling
CROFT Inc.
andrew neil wrote:
>
> Dear radsafers,
>
> Is it possible to repair Type A transport containers
> that have small rust holes in them. Would the
> container have to be re-certified.
>
> The container was puchased from a vendor who certified
> it as a Type A transport container. The container is
> cylindrical in shape and measures 21"x19"x19".
>
> The Am241Be source is secured by screwing it into the
> middle of the container. The shielding material
> inside the metal container consists of polypropelene
> beads which are solidified together in an epoxy resin
> and therefore designed not to spill out of any holes.
>
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