---
kind: "range"
citation: "49 C.F.R. §§ 173.465–173.469"
title: "49"
from: "173.465"
to: "173.469"
count: 5
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/173.465..173.469"
---

# §173.465. Type A packaging tests.

- (a) The packaging, with contents, must be capable of withstanding the water spray, free drop, stacking and penetration tests prescribed in this section. One prototype may be used for all tests if the requirements of [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section are met. The tests are successful if the requirements of [§ 173.412(j)](/cfr/49/173.412.md?p=j) are met.
- (b) **Water spray test.** The water spray test must precede each test or test sequence prescribed in this section. The water spray test must simulate exposure to rainfall of approximately 5 cm (2 inches) per hour for at least one hour. The time interval between the end of the water spray test and the beginning of the next test must be such that the water has soaked in to the maximum extent without appreciable drying of the exterior of the specimen. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, this interval may be assumed to be two hours if the water spray is applied from four different directions simultaneously. However, no time interval may elapse if the water spray is applied from each of the four directions consecutively.
- (c) **Free drop test.** The specimen must drop onto the target so as to suffer maximum damage to the safety features being tested, and:
  - (1) The height of the drop measured from the lowest point of the specimen to the upper surface of the target may not be less than the distance specified in table 10, for the applicable package mass. The target must be as specified in [§ 173.465(c)(5)](#c-5). Table 10 is as follows:
  - (2) For packages containing fissile material, the free drop test specified in [paragraph (c)(1)](#c-1) of this section must be preceded by a free drop from a height of 0.3 m (1 foot) on each corner, or in the case of cylindrical packages, onto each of the quarters of each rim.
  - (3) For fiberboard or wood rectangular packages with a mass of 50 kg (110 pounds) or less, a separate specimen must be subjected to a free drop onto each corner from a height of 0.3 m (1 foot).
  - (4) For cylindrical fiberboard packages with a mass of 100 kg (220 pounds) or less, a separate specimen must be subjected to a free drop onto each of the quarters of each rim from a height of 0.3 m (1 foot).
  - (5) The target for the free drop test must be a flat, horizontal surface of such mass and rigidity that any increase in its resistance to displacement or deformation upon impact by the specimen would not significantly increase the damage to the specimen.
- (d) **Stacking test.**
  - (1) The specimen must be subjected for a period of at least 24 hours to a compressive load equivalent to the greater of the following:
    - (i) A total weight equal to five times the maximum weight of the package; or
    - (ii) The equivalent of 13 kilopascals (1.9 psi) multiplied by the vertically projected area of the package.
  - (2) The compressive load must be applied uniformly to two opposite sides of the specimen, one of which must be the base on which the package would normally rest.
- (e) **Penetration test.** For the penetration test, the specimen must be placed on a rigid, flat, horizontal surface that will not move significantly while the test is being performed.
  - (1) A bar of 3.2 cm (1.25 inches) in diameter with a hemispherical end and a mass of 6 kg (13.2 pounds) must be dropped and directed to fall with its longitudinal axis vertical, onto the center of the weakest part of the specimen, so that, if it penetrates far enough, it will hit the containment system. The bar may not be significantly deformed by the test; and
  - (2) The height of the drop of the bar measured from its lower end to the intended point of impact on the upper surface of the specimen must be 1 m (3.3 feet) or greater.

# §173.466. Additional tests for Type A packagings designed for liquids and gases.

- (a) In addition to the tests prescribed in [§ 173.465](/cfr/49/173.465.md), Type A packagings designed for liquids and gases must be capable of withstanding the following tests in this section. The tests are successful if the requirements of [§ 173.412(k)](/cfr/49/173.412.md?p=k) are met.
  - (1) **Free drop test.** The packaging specimen must drop onto the target so as to suffer the maximum damage to its containment. The height of the drop measured from the lowest part of the packaging specimen to the upper surface of the target must be 9 m (30 feet) or greater. The target must be as specified in [§ 173.465(c)(5)](/cfr/49/173.465.md?p=c-5).
  - (2) **Penetration test.** The specimen must be subjected to the test specified in [§ 173.465(e)](/cfr/49/173.465.md?p=e) except that the height of the drop must be 1.7 m (5.5 feet).
- (b) [Reserved]

# §173.467. Tests for demonstrating the ability of Type B and fissile materials packagings to withstand accident conditions in transportation.


Each Type B packaging or packaging for fissile material must meet the test requirements prescribed in [10 CFR part 71](/cfr/10/part71.md) for ability to withstand accident conditions in transportation.


# §173.468. Test for LSA-III material.

- (a) LSA-III Class 7 (radioactive) material must meet the test requirement of [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. Any differences between the material to be transported and the test material must be taken into account in determining whether the test requirements have been met.
- (b) **Test method.**
  - (1) The specimen representing no less than the entire contents of the package must be immersed for 7 days in water at ambient temperature.
  - (2) The volume of water to be used in the test must be sufficient to ensure that at the end of the test period the free volume of the unabsorbed and unreacted water remaining will be at least 10% of the volume of the specimen itself.
  - (3) The water must have an initial pH of 6-8 and a maximum conductivity of 10 micromho/cm at 20 °C (68 °F).
  - (4) The total activity of the free volume of water must be measured following the 7 day immersion test and must not exceed 0.1 A2.

# §173.469. Tests for special form Class 7 (radioactive) materials.

- (a) Special form Class 7 (radioactive) materials must meet the test requirements of [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section. Each solid Class 7 (radioactive) material or capsule specimen to be tested must be manufactured or fabricated so that it is representative of the actual solid material or capsule that will be transported with the proposed radioactive content duplicated as closely as practicable. Any differences between the material to be transported and the test material, such as the use of non-radioactive contents, must be taken into account in determining whether the test requirements have been met. The following additional conditions apply:
  - (1) A different specimen may be used for each of the tests;
  - (2) The specimen may not break or shatter when subjected to the impact, percussion, or bending tests;
  - (3) The specimen may not melt or disperse when subjected to the heat test; and
  - (4) After each test, leaktightness or indispersibility of the specimen must be determined by—
    - (i) **A method no less sensitive than the leaching assessment prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.** For a capsule resistant to corrosion by water, and which has an internal void volume greater than 0.1 milliliter, an alternative to the leaching assessment is a demonstration of leaktightness of 10−4 torr-1/s (1.3 × 10−4 atm-cm 3/s) based on air at 25 °C (77 °F) and one atmosphere differential pressure for solid radioactive content, or 10−6 torr-1/s (1.3 × 10−6 atm-cm 3/s) for liquid or gaseous radioactive content; or
    - (ii) A specimen that comprises or simulates Class 7 (radioactive) material contained in a sealed capsule need not be subjected to the leaching assessment specified in [paragraph (c)](#c) of this section provided it is alternatively subjected to any of the volumetric leakage assessment tests prescribed in the International Organization for Standardization document ISO 9978-1992(E): “Radiation protection—Sealed radioactive sources—Leakage test methods” (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).
- (b) **Test methods—**
  - (1) **Impact Test.** The specimen must fall onto the target from a height of 9 m (30 feet) or greater. The target must be as specified in [§ 173.465(c)(5)](/cfr/49/173.465.md?p=c-5).
  - (2) **Percussion Test.**
    - (i) The specimen must be placed on a sheet of lead that is supported by a smooth solid surface, and struck by the flat face of a steel billet so as to produce an impact equivalent to that resulting from a free drop of 1.4 kg (3 pounds) through 1 m (3.3 feet).
    - (ii) The flat face of the billet must be 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter with the edge rounded off to a radius of 3 mm ±0.3 mm (0.12 inch ±0.012 inch).
    - (iii) The lead must be of hardness number 3.5 to 4.5 on the Vickers scale and thickness not more than 25 mm (1 inch), and must cover an area greater than that covered by the specimen.
    - (iv) A fresh surface of lead must be used for each impact.
    - (v) The billet must strike the specimen so as to cause maximum damage.
  - (3) **Bending test.**
    - (i) This test applies only to long, slender sources with a length of 10 cm (4 inches) or greater and a length to width ratio of 10 or greater.
    - (ii) The specimen must be rigidly clamped in a horizontal position so that one half of its length protrudes from the face of the clamp.
    - (iii) The orientation of the specimen must be such that the specimen will suffer maximum damage when its free end is struck by the flat face of a steel billet.
    - (iv) The billet must strike the specimen so as to produce an impact equivalent to that resulting from a free vertical drop of 1.4 kg (3 pounds) through 1 m (3.3 feet).
    - (v) The flat face of the billet must be 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter with the edges rounded off to a radius of 3 mm ±0.3 mm (.12 inch ±0.012 inch).
  - (4) **Heat test.** The specimen must be heated in air to a temperature of not less than 800 °C (1475 °F), held at that temperature for a period of 10 minutes, and then allowed to cool.
- (c) **Leaching assessment methods.**
  - (1) **For indispersible solid material—**
    - (i) The specimen shall be immersed for seven days in water at ambient temperature. The volume of water to be used in the test shall be sufficient to ensure that at the end of the seven day test period the free volume of the unabsorbed and unreacted water remaining shall be at least 10% of the volume of the solid test sample itself. The water shall have an initial pH of 6-8 and a maximum conductivity of 1 mS/m (10 micromho/cm) at 20 °C (68 °F).
    - (ii) The water with specimen must then be heated to a temperature of 50 °C ±5° (122 °F ±9°) and maintained at this temperature for four hours.
    - (iii) The activity of the water must then be determined.
    - (iv) The specimen shall then be kept for at least seven days in still air at not less than 30 °C (86 °F) and relative humidity not less than 90%.
    - (v) The specimen must then be immersed in water under the same conditions as in [paragraph (c)(1)(i)](#c-1-i) of this section, and the water with specimen must be heated to 50 C ±5° (122 °F ±9°) and maintained at that temperature for four hours.
    - (vi) The activity of the water must then be determined. The activities determined in [paragraph (c)(1)(iii)](#c-1-iii) of this section and this paragraph, (c)(1)(vi), may not exceed 2 kilobecquerels (0.05 microcurie).
  - (2) **For encapsulated material—**
    - (i) The specimen shall be immersed in water at ambient temperature. The water shall have an initial pH of 6-8 and a maximum conductivity of 1 mS/m (10 micromho/cm) at 20 °C (68 °F).
    - (ii) The water and specimen must be heated to a temperature of 50 °C ±5° (122 °F ±9°) and maintained at this temperature for four hours.
    - (iii) The activity of the water must then be determined.
    - (iv) The specimen shall then be kept for at least seven days in still air at not less than 30 °C (86 °F) and relative humidity not less than 90%.
    - (v) The process in paragraphs [(c)(2)(i)](#c-2-i), [(c)(2)(ii)](#c-2-ii), and [(c)(2)(iii)](#c-2-iii) of this section must be repeated.
    - (vi) The activity determined in [paragraph (c)(2)(iii)](#c-2-iii) of this section may not exceed 2 kilobecquerels (0.05 microcurie).
- (d) A specimen that comprises or simulates Class 7 (radioactive) material contained in a sealed capsule need not be subjected to—
  - (1) The impact test and the percussion test of this section provided that the mass of the special form material is—
    - (i) Less than 200 g and it is alternatively subjected to the Class 4 impact test prescribed in ISO 2919 (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter), or
    - (ii) Less than 500 g and it is alternatively subjected to the Class 5 impact test prescribed in ISO 2919 (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter); and
  - (2) The heat test of this section, provided the specimen is alternatively subjected to the Class 6 temperature test specified in the International Organization for Standardization document ISO 2919 (IBR, see [§ 171.7](/cfr/49/171.7.md) of this subchapter).
- (e) Special form materials that were successfully tested prior to October 1, 2014 in accordance with the requirements of [paragraph (d)](#d) of this section in effect prior to October 1, 2014 may continue to be offered for transportation and transported without additional testing under this section.