Re: RADSAFE digest 515

["Edwin F. Jackson" <EFJ@asbhr.byu.edu>]

  The radionuclide production people have just been given a photocopy of 
>      a new version of the IATA "SHIPPER'S DECLARATION FOR DANGEROUS GOODS" 
>      form. It has an extra column for "Packing Group" which was not on the 
>      old form. I assume that the photocopy has come from the IATA Dangerous 
>      Goods Regulations. Unfortunately, the edition we have (29th Edition , 
>      effective 1 January , 1988) does not have any reference to the 
>      "Packing Group." Can anybody tell me what this column refers to.
>      These forms will accompany packages containing cyclotron produced 
>      radiopharmaceuticals.
> 

Column F of the new IATA dangerous goods book lists a packing group.  
The packing group was introduced to allow people to choose the proper 
packaging type.   Packing Group I materials are  the most hazardous 
and Packaing Group III materials are the least hazardous.  

Since Radioactive Materials always used a package rating system I 
don't believe that they have assigned them packing groups.  

I just glanced at the 1995 edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods 
Regulations, and the classification of radioactive materials (see 
section 6  page 461) still assigns a hazard rating with type A and B 
packages and a transportation index.  I didn't see any packing group 
assignments,  nor are there any packing group entries on page 199 of 
the shipping tables listing radioactive materials.