The Development of ISO Freight Containers as IP-2 Packagings

In 1987, British Nuclear Fuels pic (BNFL) as a result of a major programme of improvements in the method of disposal of LL W at the Drigg site in Cumbria, introduced the requirement for containerisation of all LLW to be consigned to Drigg for disposal. In the UK, Low Level Waste (LLW) is defined as waste having a radioactivity content of not more than 12 GBq/tonne beta/gamma and 4 GBq/tonne alpha. Such LLW does not normally require to be shielded during normal handling and transport. Special freight containers were initially developed for the transport of this LLW to Drigg for disposal. However, the benefits offered by the use of freight containers for the transport, handling, and in some cases disposal, of large volume consignments of radioactive material were recognised and the use of special freight containers was subsequently adopted by the UK Nuclear Industry for the transport of LL W for both transport for Drigg disposal and for other transport operations.