ISO 12807:2018

Overview

ISO 12807:2018 - Safe transport of radioactive materials - Leakage testing on packages provides gas leakage test criteria and methods to demonstrate that transport packages meet the containment requirements of the IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material. The standard defines a gas leakage test methodology that relates permissible radioactive activity release rates to equivalent gas leakage rates under specified test conditions. It applies specifically to Type B(U), Type B(M) and Type C packages and covers verification at multiple stages: design, fabrication, preshipment, periodic and maintenance.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Gas leakage test methodology: Describes how to convert regulatory permissible activity release (activity per unit time) into an equivalent gas leakage rate for testing purposes.
• Permissible activity release rates: Responsibility of the package designer or consignor to estimate the maximum permissible release of radioactivity and select appropriately sensitive tests.
• Minimum test requirements: The document does not mandate specific procedures but specifies minimum requirements for any leakage test intended to demonstrate compliance.
• Verification stages: Procedures and permissible test leakage rates are defined for design verification, fabrication verification, preshipment verification, periodic verification and maintenance verification.
• Selection and performance of tests: Guidance on selecting suitable leak test methods and on test sensitivity, performance, recording of results and quality management systems.
• Calculations & supporting material: Annexes include preferred leakage test methods, methods of calculation, conversion tables, worked examples and rationale to support implementation.
• Competent authority interaction: Detailed guidance may require agreement with the competent authority during certification of Type B/U, B(M) or C packages; alternative methodologies are acceptable if they demonstrate regulatory compliance.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

• Nuclear packaging designers and manufacturers - to verify containment performance during design and fabrication.
• Consignors and shippers of radioactive materials - to perform preshipment and periodic leakage verification and to select test methods with adequate sensitivity.
• Regulatory bodies and competent authorities - to assess conformity of leakage test results with IAEA containment requirements.
• Test laboratories and quality assurance personnel - to apply the standard’s minimum test requirements, calculation methods and reporting formats.
• Maintenance teams - to confirm containment is retained after repairs or over service life.

Related standards and references

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (normative reference in ISO 12807:2018).
• ISO/TC 85 (Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies and radiological protection) - technical committee responsible for this standard.

ISO 12807:2018 is essential for organizations that must demonstrate containment of radioactive contents through validated leakage testing aligned to IAEA regulatory limits.