THE QUALIFICATION TESTING FACILITY FOR TYPE A, B AND C PACKAGES TO BE USED FOR TRANSPORT AND STORAGE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS

                Within the Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti (INR) there has been built a new testing facility for type A, B, and C Packages to be used for transport and storage of dangerous goods-class #7 radioactive materials. This facility was authorized and recognized by Roumanian nuclear regulatory body.
                This facility, unique in Soutth-Eastern Europe, was co-funded by INR Pitesti and the Ministry of Education and Research from Romania and has build within the Excellence Scientific Project CEEX 7175/2006 and in accordance with the following applicable national and internationals standards, documents and recommentation:

• Order CNCAN no. 357/2005 - Norms for a Safe Transport of Radioactive Material issued by CNCAN-Romanian National Regulatory Body;
• IAEA Vienna Standard TS-R-1 Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material, 2005 Edition;
• The regulatory of ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization;
• The regulatory of IMO - International Maritime Organization;
• ADR-European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, applicable as from 1 January 2007 - UN-ECE;
• Recommendation of IATA - International Air Transport Association;
• Recommendation of IFALPA - International Federation of Airline Pilot's Associations.

                The following qualifications tests can be performed (for maximum package's weight up to 5 tones):

• Water spray test;
• Free drop testing from maximum 9m heigh;
• The stacking (compression) test;
• The penetration test;
• The rolling down test on a slope ;
• The free drop test on a bar rigidly mounted perpendicularly on the target;
• The dynamic crash test;
• The puncture/tearing test;
• The thermal test.

                The Qualification tests are accredited by Roumanian National Association - RENAR trough the Certificate LI 714/2008, and authorized by the NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES CONTROL-CNCAN through the Notification no. LI 02/2009.
                The testing facility can be used also, for the Qualification testing for Packages to be used for transportation and storage of other Dangerous Goods, in accordance with the ADR- requirements.

                Futher information: Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti, ROMANIA
                Contact person: Dr. Gheorghe VIERU, e-mail: gheorghe.vieru@nuclear.ro, office@nuclear.ro
                Telephone: +40 248 213 400 int. 130; Fax: +40 248 262 449