Form and Quantity of Tritium

DOE-HDBK-1129-99

The fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm2 (or the area

of the surface if less than 300 cm2) does not exceed 4 x 104 Bq/cm2 (1 Ci/cm2) for

beta emitters such as tritium.

The nonfixed plus the fixed contamination on the inaccessible surface averaged over

300 cm2 (or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm2) does not exceed 4 x 104

Bq/cm2 (1 Ci/cm2) for beta emitters such as tritium.

-- SCO-II is defined as a solid object on which the limits for SCO-I are exceeded and meets

all of the following requirements:

The nonfixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm2 (or the

area of the surface if less than 300 cm2) does not exceed 400 Bq/cm2 (10-2 Ci/c m 2) for

beta emitters such as tritium.

The fixed contamination on the accessible surface averaged over 300 cm2 (or the area

of the surface if less than 300 cm2) does not exceed 8 x 105 Bq/cm2 (20 Ci/cm2) for

beta emitters such as tritium.

The nonfixed plus the fixed contamination on the inaccessible surface averaged over

300 cm2 (or the area of the surface if less than 300 cm2) does not exceed 8 x 105

Bq/cm2 (20 Ci/cm2) for beta emitters such as tritium.

Type A packages are limited to an A2 quantity of radioactivity. The A2 limit for tritium is 40 TBq

(1080 Ci) per package. The physical form of the package contents must be within the

envelope of the contents used during testing of the package. Type A packages are

significantly less expensive and much easier to obtain than Type B packages.

Type B packages provide the highest level of safety features of all types of radioactive material

packaging. The contents are limited by the requirements of the Certificate of Compliance

(CoC) for the package. The CoC is issued by the agency that certifies that the package meets

the Type B requirements.

7.2.1 Form and Quantity of Tritium

The form of the tritium affects the quantity of tritium that may be shipped in one package and the

design and testing requirements for the packaging. Table 7-1 is a comparison of the allowable

quantities of tritium in various package types.

7.2.2 Evaluation of Approved Packaging

Tritium-contaminated solid waste is typically packaged in DOT Type A, Specification 7A open head

55-gallon drums or Type A metal boxes. The maximum amount of tritium that may be shipped in a

Type A package is 40 TBq (1080 curies).

Packages containing over 40 TBq of tritium must meet the Type B container requirements. These

containers are few in number, and, compared to Type A packages, expensive to manufacture and

use. If Type B packages are to be considered for shipments, the CoC should be reviewed

carefully against the form and quantity of tritium to be shipped.