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RE: Transport of a Self-Contained Irradiator
Radsafers:
For some reason, my posts take hours to hit the Radsafe list. I corrected my original post from this morning, and three hours later still have not seen it on Radsafe. Meanwhile Chris' post hit the list. My second post answers a lot of Chris' questions, but upon reflection, I see I could provide all of you a little more guidance. Thus a third post.
Chris is correct - many irradiators are designed to be US DOT 2R specification containers. Note that 49CFR178.360 specifically calls the 2R container an "inside containment vessel". A 2R container must still go in an overpack container. The overpack can be any other specification container (7A, 20WC, etc.) but it depends on the nuclide's form (special/normal) and activity (A1/A2 quantity limitations). A small irradiator may be designed as a 2R container, and could go in a 7A container, such as a steel drum. The larger irradiators, such as a blood irradiator, typically go into a 20WC or 21WC. These latter containers are quite large, and expensive to build, especially the 21WC. All specification containers require certification (Are you shipping waste in a steel drum? You are supposed to have the drum certification on file.)
Shepherd has built 20/21WC containers which fit their irradiators and had them certified for different irradiator configurations. I suggested that if Wesley could find a specification container that fits his irradiator, he might be able to use the Shepherd certifications. This is analogous to a university reusing an Amersham 7A box to ship a research nuclide to another university. It is legal to reuse the box if: 1) the box certification is on file; 2) the content configuration and closing devices are the same as stated on the certification; and 3) the box is not compromised. The trick is getting hold of the certification. Some manufacturers will not give out the certification. I am not sure if you can obtain the certification through the DOT/NRC, as I've never tried that route.
Wesley's post did not indicate what irradiator he has, but if it is a smaller one (such as an instrument calibrator) he may be able to simply put it in a steel drum (it likely will need bracing). If it is a larger one that he plans to transport frequently, which his post sort of indicates, I might consider building or buying a 20/21WC.
Chris is not suggesting it in his post, but I thought his post could be interpreted to say that you might have to remove the irradiator's source(s). NEVER, ever remove them unless you really know what you are doing and are authorized to remove them.
Larry Grimm, Senior HP
UCLA EH&S/ Radiation Safety Division
* lgrimm@admin.ucla.edu Phone:310/206-0712 Fax: 310/206-9051
Cell: 310/863-5556 Pager:1-800-233-7231ext93569
* On Campus: 501 Westwood Plaza, 4th Floor, MS 951605
* Off Campus: UCLA Radiation Safety Div, 501 Westwood Plaza 4th
Fl, Box 951605, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1605
* If this email is not RSD business, the opinions are mine, not
UCLA's.
-----Original Message-----
From: alstonchris@netscape.net [mailto:alstonchris@netscape.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 1:44 PM
To: LGrimm@FACNET.UCLA.EDU; wesvanpelt@ATT.NET;
radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
Subject: RE: Transport of a Self-Contained Irradiator
Larry
Don't many of Shepherd's "self-contained irradiators" constitute DOT containers, in and of themselves? Seems to me that he'd need a Type 2R container for the actual source(s), if the irradiator were not an approved container, and then he'd also have to remove the source from the irradiator, put it in the 2R, pack the 2R, etc. If it's a blood irradiator, or something of that sort, that would be a non-trivial exercise. Please advise.
Cheers
cja
"Grimm, Lawrence" <LGrimm@FACNET.UCLA.EDU> wrote
>Wesley:
>
>The DOT transportation requirements specifically require that the irradiator be contained in a 2R, or other specification, container that has been tested for the configuration/loading. It requires a certification. Unfortunately for you, Shepherd is probably the only one who has the container. Recently Shepherd got in trouble because they did not have valid certifications for some of their configurations and, from what I heard, it cost them dearly.
>
>I worked for Shepherd for a short period, and I have darn good DOT knowledge, so if you want further advice, contact me privately.
>
>Larry Grimm, Senior HP
>UCLA EH&S/ Radiation Safety Division
>* lgrimm@admin.ucla.edu Phone:310/206-0712 Fax: 310/206-9051
>Cell: 310/863-5556 Pager:1-800-233-7231ext93569
>* On Campus: 501 Westwood Plaza, 4th Floor, MS 951605
>* Off Campus: UCLA Radiation Safety Div, 501 Westwood Plaza 4th
>Fl, Box 951605, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1605
>* If this email is not RSD business, the opinions are mine, not
>UCLA's.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: RuthWeiner@AOL.COM [mailto:RuthWeiner@AOL.COM]
>Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2002 8:23 AM
>To: wesvanpelt@ATT.NET; radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu
>Subject: Re: Transport of a Self-Contained Irradiator
>
>
>In a message dated 9/26/2002 8:55:50 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
>wesvanpelt@ATT.NET writes:
>
><< Does anyone know of companies that will package up and transport a
> self-contained Shepherd irradiator? The device would be going between
> licensees on the East Coast. I know Shepherd will do it, but was
> looking for possible alternatives. >>
>Try Edlow or TRISM (Tri-State Motors). Both have Web pages.
>
>Ruth
>
>RuthF. Weiner, Ph. D.
>ruthweiner@aol.com
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