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
Revision:	0
From:	US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
To:
References
RG-6.004
Download: ML13350A236 (1)

March 1974U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSIONSREGULATORY GUlCI01 DIRECTORATE OF REGULATORY STANDARDSREGULATORY GUIDE 6.4CLASSIFICATION OF CONTAINMENT PROPERTIESOF SEALED RADIOACTIVE SOURCES CONTAINED INCERTAIN DEVICES TO BE DISTRIBUTED FOR USE UNDER GENERAL LICENSEEA. INTRODUCTIONSection 32.51, "Certain Measuring, Gauging orControlling Devices Gencrally Licensed Under §31.5 ofthis Chapter: Requirements for License to Distribute,"of 10 CFR Part 32, "Specific Licenses to Manufacture,Distribute, or Import Exempted and Generally LicensedItems Containing Byproduct Material," requires, in part,that each application for a specific license to distributedevices containing byproduct material to personsgenerally licensed under §31.5 of IOCFR Part 31include sufficient information relating to qualificationtesting of a prototype unit to provide reasonableassurance that the byproduct material contained in thedevice will not be lost. Frequently, retention of thebyproduct material within the device is dependent uponthe containment properties of a. sealed source. Thisregulatory guide identifies terminology acceptable to theRegulatory staff for describing the containmentproperties of a sealed source based on prototype testing.B. DISCUSSIONThe USA Standards Institute Committee N5.4, nowthe American National Standards Institute CommitteeN43-3.3, developed a classification system for sealedsources (USASI N5.10. 1968).' To classify a sealedsource under the system, a determination is made of itsability to withstand the conditions of eachenvironmental test prescribed in the standard.Classification is determined by physically testing twoprototype sources for each test or by calculations basedon previous tests which demonstrate that, if the sourcewere tested, it would pass. Maintenance of containmentintegrity after each test constitutes satisfactoryperformance of a source.C. REGULATORY POSITIONThe sealed source classification system contained inUSASI N5.10.1968' provides acceptable terminologyfor use in describing the containment properties of asealed source used in a device intended for distributionfor use under the general license in §31.5 of I0 CFRPart 31. When the classification system is so used, theapplicant should state whether calculational techniquesor physical testing techniques were applied. If the latterwere applied, the integrity (leak) test(s) used todetermine conformity with the assigned classificationshould be identified and described.Copies may be obtained from the American NationalSi-ndards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway. New York, New York10018.USAEC REGULATORY GUIDES Copies of published guid"t may be obtained by request indicating the divisionsdesired 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 forrmethods acocptable to the AEC Regulatory staff of Implemenling specilic pi4t1 Of Improvements In these gutdes awe encouraged and should be sent to the Secretarythe 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 compliancewith 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 tothe isuance or continuance of a permit of license by the Comrmslstion. 1. Power Reactors d. Products2. Reaseardh and Test Reactors 7. Transportation3. Fuels and Materietl Facilities a. Occuolalonal HealthPublIshedI gudes will be revised periodically, at appropriate, to eccommodate 4. Environmmentl an-d SilIng 9. Antitrust Reviewcomments end to reflect new Intorn"tlon or espeflence. 6. Meteslels and Plant Protectltor 10.