Inspections - std301320040056

DOE-STD-3013-2004

3. Inspections

1) Initial Inspection. Flaws in initial packaging are expected to be detected by

inspection of every package within 30 days of packaging. Ordinarily, this

inspection would be done immediately after packaging, but 30 days delay

reasonably accommodates operational considerations. This initial inspection

should provide baseline information on the leak rate of both welded containers

(the inner container should be inspected after it is closed and before insertion

into the outer container, and the outer container inspected after it is closed),

verification of contents through NDA measurements, and any other information

deemed desirable and attainable through non-destructive measurements such as

radiography. This initial inspection may be part of the quality program for

verifying package integrity.

2) Early failures are caused by mistakes, missteps, or other problems in the

manufacturing, stabilizing or packaging processes that result in flawed or

defective packages that are not detected during the initial inspection. To detect

these types of failures, the initial program plan should consider alternatives such

as: 1) provisions to inspect each package at least once during the first few years

of storage; 2) an inspection of each package as it is put into storage;

3) inspection of all "high risk" packages identified based on their material

contents, whether the container was among the first manufactured, whether it

was non-conforming and accepted "as-is", etc. and inspection of only a pre-

determined sample of other packages; and 4) inspections appropriate to the

"random failure" approach, but with a higher frequency or larger sample size.

During most or all of the storage period, mechanical failures, if any, are likely to

be random. Uniform changes in the storage package population, such as a

potential gradual pressure generation in oxide containers, may also occur.

Surveillance during this period may include sampling to monitor the behavior of

the population. If a "shelf-life" program is established, it may be used to evaluate

changes in the contents so that corrective action can be taken in advance of

package failure. It should also be used to assess corrosion effects over the long

term, particularly stress corrosion cracking in containers containing chlorides. The

program plan should include provisions to assess the failure rate and to detect