TCSC 1086: GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE TO DROP TESTING OF TYPE B TRANSPORT PACKAGES - Presentation

The Transport Container Standardisation Committee (TCSC) is a UK nuclear industry club whose main function is to maintain and develop codes of practice relating to radioactive materials transport. It’s role is to examine the requirements for the safe transport of radioactive material with a view to standardisation and, as appropriate, produce and maintain guidance in the form of standards documentation. Drop tests, calculations and reasoned arguments could be used on their own or in combination to demonstrate that a transport package meets the relevant impact requirements of the Transport Regulations. Drop tests are often time consuming and are expensive exercises, and therefore it is important that not only are they carried out correctly, but that they are performed efficiently. TCSC 1086 “Good Practice Guide to Drop Testing of Type B Transport Packages” has been developed by TCSC to provide practical guidance on good practice in the planning, executing and analysing of drop tests. It is a companion volume to TCSC 1087 “Good Practice Guide - The Application of Finite Element Analysis to Demonstrate Impact Performance of Transport Package Designs” which discusses good practice in using finite element calculation techniques to demonstrate compliance with impact performance requirements. It’s contents include the planning of a test programme, design of test specimen, design of a test matrix including choice of drop orientation and selection of test sequence, instrumentation, photography, metrology, leak testing, developing a test specification, requirements for test reporting. The Advisory Material for the IAEA Regulations for the Safe transport of Radioactive Material contains useful advisory and guidance material to satisfying the requirements of the Transport Regulations. TCSC 1086 aims to supplement the Advisory Material and covers specific areas in more detail. Although the context of this guide is the application for approval from the UK Competent Authority, it is also relevant to applications for approvals from other Competent Authorities. This paper introduces TCSC 1086.