Regulatory Guide 6.4

Classification of Containment Properties of Sealed Radioactive Sources Contained in Certain Devices to Be Distributed for Use Under General License

ML13350A236
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/31/1974
From:	US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
To:
References
RG-6.004
Download: ML13350A236 (1)

March 1974 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

SREGULATORY

GUlC I01 DIRECTORATE

OF REGULATORY

STANDARDS REGULATORY

GUIDE 6.4 CLASSIFICATION

OF CONTAINMENT

PROPERTIES

OF SEALED RADIOACTIVE

SOURCES CONTAINED

IN CERTAIN DEVICES TO BE DISTRIBUTED

FOR USE UNDER GENERAL LICENSE E

A. INTRODUCTION

Section 32.51, "Certain Measuring, Gauging or Controlling Devices Gencrally Licensed Under §31.5 of this Chapter: Requirements for License to Distribute," of 10 CFR Part 32, "Specific Licenses to Manufacture, Distribute, or Import Exempted and Generally Licensed Items Containing Byproduct Material," requires, in part, that each application for a specific license to distribute devices containing byproduct material to persons generally licensed under §31.5 of IOCFR Part 31 include sufficient information relating to qualification testing of a prototype unit to provide reasonable assurance that the byproduct material contained in the device will not be lost. Frequently, retention of the byproduct material within the device is dependent upon the containment properties of a. sealed source. This regulatory guide identifies terminology acceptable to the Regulatory staff for describing the containment properties of a sealed source based on prototype testing.

B. DISCUSSION

The USA Standards Institute Committee N5.4, now the American National Standards Institute Committee N43-3.3, developed a classification system for sealed sources (USASI N5.10. 1968).' To classify a sealed source under the system, a determination is made of its ability to withstand the conditions of each environmental test prescribed in the standard.Classification is determined by physically testing two prototype sources for each test or by calculations based on previous tests which demonstrate that, if the source were tested, it would pass. Maintenance of containment integrity after each test constitutes satisfactory performance of a source.C. REGULATORY

POSITION The sealed source classification system contained in USASI N5.10.1968'

provides acceptable terminology for use in describing the containment properties of a sealed source used in a device intended for distribution for use under the general license in §31.5 of I0 CFR Part 31. When the classification system is so used, the applicant should state whether calculational techniques or physical testing techniques were applied. If the latter were applied, the integrity (leak) test(s) used to determine conformity with the assigned classification should be identified and described.

Copies may be obtained from the American National Si-ndards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway.

New York, New York 1001

8. USAEC REGULATORY

GUIDES Copies of published guid"t may be obtained by request indicating the divisions desired to the US. Atomic Energy Commission.

Washington.

DC. 20546, Regulatory Guiclies ere Islued to teIVTbae and make available to the public Attention:

Director of Regulatory Stendards.

Comments end suggestions for rmethods acocptable to the AEC Regulatory staff of Implemenling specilic pi4t1 Of Improvements In these gutdes awe encouraged and should be sent to the Secretary the Commrislon's reIsetions.

to delineate techniques used by the Itaff IM of the Commission, U.S. Atomic Energiy Commsttion, Washington.

D.C. 70545, evaluting specdiic robtolornt or postulated aciciadn.t of to provide guidence 1o Attention:

Chief, Public Proosedinp Staff.appliants.

Regutltory Guides a not tubltiltutes Cx regulations and compliance with them Is not required.

Methods and eolutlons different from those wt out in The guide$ are issued in Ithe following len broad divisions:

the gulde will be accepteble if they provide a tails for the findings requisite to the isuance or continuance of a permit of license by the Comrmslstion.

1. Power Reactors d. Products 2. Reaseardh and Test Reactors

7. Transportation

3. Fuels and Materietl Facilities a. Occuolalonal Health PublIshedI

gudes will be revised periodically, at appropriate, to eccommodate

4. Environmmentl an-d SilIng 9. Antitrust Review comments end to reflect new Intorn"tlon or espeflence.

6. Meteslels and Plant Protectltor

10.