RSO Services, Inc. provides consulting, procurement, and radiation services for projects using radioactive sources. It is important to ensure you understand Special vs. Normal Form radioactive source holders. Please visit our website for additional information www.rsoservices.com.
Special form radioactive material must be either a single solid piece or must be contained in a sealed capsule that can be opened only by destroying the capsule to qualify as special form. In addition, no dimension may be smaller than 5 millimeters or 0.197 inches.
Special form radioactive materials must meet the test requirements detailed in 49 CFR 173.469. The test includes an impact test, percussion test, bending test, heat test, and a leak assessment test.
“Normal Form Radioactive Material” means radioactive material that has not been demonstrated to qualify as “special form radioactive material.”
Some sealed sources used in gauging, such as Iron-55 or the gas Krypton-85, classification maybe as normal form. Krypton is a beta source and is in a gas form.
Container Safety
Radioactive materials must be packaged for transportation in one of four types of containers. All containers must meet U S D O T General Design requirements. Materials with very low radiation levels may be transported in what the regulations refer to as a strong, tight container such as a plywood box secured with steel bands. Materials with higher radiation must be shipped in Type A or Type B containers. These must meet more stringent requirements before they can be used to transport radioactive materials. Type A containers are typically steel drums or steel boxes. Type B containers are heavily engineered metal casks. U.S. D O T has recently authorized the use of materials with low concentrations of radioactivity.