Safety requirements

Based on the concept of the ‘safe package’, the packaging or transport cask, together with the contents to be transported, makes a significant contribution to the safe transport of radioactive materials.

There are different technical requirements for packaging in terms of material and design, depending on whether, for example, the contents are very limited or whether they are highly active radioactive materials. In addition, additional requirements are imposed on packages containing fissile radioactive materials in order to ensure criticality safety (i.e. the exclusion of a nuclear chain reaction) during transport.

Mandatory approval

The developer or manufacturer of transport casks for radioactive materials is responsible for ensuring that safety requirements are met and that legal requirements are therefore complied with.

If casks for radioactive materials with an increased hazard potential are to be used, for example transport and storage casks for spent fuel elements, higher safety requirements also apply to the resistance of the casks. In these cases, official testing and approval is also required. Approval is granted by BASE for the design of a package (and not for individual casks). Type B and C packages, as well as packages containing fissile radioactive materials, are subject to approval.

Procedure

If casks subject to approval are to be used for the transport of radioactive materials, the developer or manufacturer must submit an application for a design approval to BASE. The application must include proof of compliance with safety regulations in the form of a so-called ‘safety report’. BASE carries out a comprehensive safety assessment in collaboration with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). After summarising the results of the assessment, BASE carries out a final evaluation. If this is positive, BASE grants a design approval for these casks.

Approval will normally be issued for a period of three years. A different period of validity will be considered if requested and justified by the applicant.

The validity of the approval will be extended on request, provided that there are no legal changes or safety reasons against an extension.

Packages not requiring approval

Packages that are subject to less stringent requirements due to their limited contents do not require approval. An example of such packages is the Type IP package for radioactive waste with negligible heat generation. However, even for these types, documented evidence must be available to demonstrate compliance with all applicable safety requirements of the Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Validation of foreign transport casks

For transport casks with a foreign design approval to be transported in Germany, it may be necessary to obtain recognition from the competent national authority. BASE is responsible for the recognition of foreign transport casks.

Cask transports

Prior to the transport of radioactive material, even in approved casks, a licence is generally required under the Atomic Energy Act or the Radiation Protection Act.

Valid licences and approvals

• The table of valid approvals contains the design approvals for transport casks issued by BASE (in German).

  Gültige Zulassungen (PDF, 272KB, File meet accessibility standards)

• The table of valid recognitions contains the recognitions of the design approvals of foreign transport casks issued by BASE (in German).

  Gültige Anerkennungen (PDF, 227KB, File meet accessibility standards)