Class 7 Radioactive Material — Air Transport
IATA DGR Section 10 rules for Class 7 radioactive material air transport. Package types (Excepted, IP, Type A, B(U), B(M), C), activity limits (A1/A2), Transport Index (TI), Criticality Safety Index (CSI), and label categories.
A1 and A2 Activity Limits
"Special form" = encapsulated, solid, non-dispersible. Will not disperse in an accident. Examples: Co-60 sealed source (medical), Cs-137 sealed source. See IATA DGR 10.2.2.1 table for isotope-specific values.
"Other form" = powder, liquid, gas, granular. Dispersible — may spread in an accident. A2 is generally lower than A1 (more restrictive). Radiopharmaceuticals and LSA (low specific activity) are examples.
Example values (Bq): Co-60 A1 = 0.4 TBq, A2 = 0.4 TBq; Cs-137 A1 = 2 TBq, A2 = 0.6 TBq; I-131 A1 = 3 TBq, A2 = 0.7 TBq. Full list in DGR 10.2. Always verify from the official table for actual shipments.
Package Types (Section 10.5)
Very low activity, exempt from normal DG rules. The most economical way to ship radioactive material.
For LSA-I and SCO-I. Minimal testing required.
For LSA-II and SCO-II. 1.2 m drop test, daily leakage limit.
For LSA-III. Hydrostatic + thermal + 1.2 m drop test.
Medium activity — within A1/A2. Typical for normal air transport.
High activity, unilateral approval. Single country approval sufficient.
High activity, multilateral approval. Approval from every transit country required. NOT permitted on passenger aircraft (DGR 10.9.3.3.2).
Highest level of protection, specific to air transport. Extended fire + high-speed impact testing.
Label Categories
Each radioactive package is classified into one of three categories based on surface dose rate and Transport Index (TI).
Lowest radiation level. Practically no radiation on the package surface. Normal transport.
Low to medium radiation. Restrictions begin, stowage separation required.
High radiation. Crew dosimetry, cargo hold separation, Exclusive Use in some cases.
Radioactive Material Subcategories (Section 10.3)
DGR Section 10.3 classifies radioactive materials into subcategories based on activity level, physical form, and fissile properties. Correct package type selection depends on this classification.
Low specific activity material. Natural uranium, thorium ore, waste material. Requires IP-1/2/3 packaging. LSA-I may be shipped in unlimited quantities, LSA-III requires hydrostatic testing.
Objects with surface contamination. Contamination limits: SCO-I ≤ 4 Bq/cm² (beta/gamma), SCO-II ≤ 400 Bq/cm². IP-1/2 packaging required.
Will not disperse in an accident. Sealed sources (Co-60, Cs-137). A1 limit applies. Requires Special Form approval certificate. Tests: 9 m drop, 800°C/10 min fire, 1.7 MPa pressure.
Fissionable material — criticality risk. CSI must be calculated. Fissile-Excepted: mass < 15 g or concentration < 5 g/10 L means CSI = 0. Air transport requires special monitoring + isolation.
Excepted Package UN Numbers
10.3.11.1 — very low activity, exempt from normal DG rules
| UN | Description | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| UN 2908 | Radioactive material, excepted package — empty packaging | Empty packaging that previously contained radioactive material |
| UN 2909 | Radioactive material, excepted package — articles manufactured from natural or depleted uranium/thorium | Articles manufactured from natural or depleted uranium or thorium |
| UN 2910 | Radioactive material, excepted package — limited quantity | Limited quantity: less than 1/1000th of A1/A2 |
| UN 2911 | Radioactive material, excepted package — instruments or articles | Instruments/articles: dose rate at 10 cm from surface < 0.1 mSv/h |
Stowage & Loading — Air Transport Rules
- • Total TI ≤ 50 (per aircraft)
- • Total CSI ≤ 50 (fissile)
- • Single package max TI = 10
- • Cargo hold only, separated from crew
- • Must not be loaded near undeclared photographic film
- • Total TI ≤ 200 (per aircraft)
- • Total CSI ≤ 50 (fissile)
- • Exclusive use: TI > 10 permitted
- • Separation: minimum distance from cargo hold walls
- • NOTOC must include position and TI value
- • If overpack is used, "Overpack Used" must be stated on the DGD
- • Category II-YELLOW and III-YELLOW overpacks: TI total is rounded up
- • Dimensions must be stated: L × W × H or diameter (cylindrical/drum type)
- • Fissile material: each radionuclide's CSI must be labelled separately
- • Excepted package AWB example: Figure 10.8.J (shipper + UN2910 + limited quantity)
Transport Index (TI)
TI = maximum dose rate at 1 m from the package (mSv/h) × 100.
- • Example: 0.01 mSv/h → TI = 1
- • Written on the package label
- • PAX total TI ≤ 50
- • CAO total TI ≤ 200
- • Non-exclusive use: single package max TI = 10
- • Exclusive use: TI > 10 permitted (special reservation)
Criticality Safety Index (CSI)
Only for fissile materials: U-235, Pu-239. Measures criticality risk.
- • CSI = 50 / N (N = critical number of packages for criticality)
- • PAX total CSI ≤ 50
- • CAO total CSI ≤ 50
- • Exclusive use: CSI ≤ 100
- • Fissile-Excepted: CSI = 0 (no criticality risk)
- • Aviation: special monitoring + isolation required
WARNING — Type B(M): Type B(M) packages are NOT permitted on passenger aircraft (DGR 10.9.3.3.2). They may only be transported on cargo aircraft with multilateral approval from every country of transit.
DGD Form — Class 7 Additional Fields
In addition to standard DGD fields, radioactive shipments require:
- • Radionuclide name: Co-60, Cs-137, I-131, Tc-99m, etc.
- • Activity: Bq, GBq, TBq (unit must be specified)
- • Package type: Excepted / IP-1/2/3 / Type A / B(U) / B(M) / C
- • Fissile information: Mass, enrichment, geometry (if applicable)
- • Transport Index (TI): Measured value
- • Criticality Safety Index (CSI): If fissile
- • Category of label: I-WHITE / II-YELLOW / III-YELLOW
- • Type B approval: Country certificate reference (if applicable)
- • Exclusive use: Yes/No (if applicable)
References
- • IATA DGR 67th Ed Section 10 (Radioactive Material)
- • IAEA SSR-6 — Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material
- • ICAO TI Part 2;7 (Radioactive Material)
- • Table 10.9.B — TI and CSI limits per aircraft